IMPRISONED WOMEN - A HISTORY OF THE TREATMENT OF WOMEN INCARCERATED IN NEW YORK CITY (NY), 1932-1975

• NCJ Number: 61100
• Author(s): C FEINMAN
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 336 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: NEW YORK UNIVERSITY - DOCTORAL DISSERTATION

Annotation

THIS DOCTORAL DISSERTATION DISCUSSES THE HISTORICAL TREATMENT OF WOMEN INCARCERATED IN NEW YORK CITY (1932-1975), INCLUDING THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN CORRECTIONS.

Abstract

ALTHOUGH WOMEN HAD MUCH STATUS AND FREEDOM BEFORE THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, THEIR POSITION DETERIORATED AFTERWARDS, AS REFLECTED IN THE TREATMENT OF WOMEN CRIMINALS. THE USE OF PRISONS TO REFORM CRIMINALS WAS STARTED BY THE QUAKERS IN THE 18TH CENTURY, BUT WOMEN CRIMINALS WERE INITIALLY NOT INCLUDED IN THIS MOVEMENT BECAUSE THEY WERE DEEMED UNWORTHY OF REFORM; CONSEQUENTLY, UNHEALTHY, OVERCROWDED, AND DANGEROUS CONDITIONS IN WOMEN'S PRISONS PREVAILED INTO THE 19TH CENTURY. AFTER 1870, HOWEVER, WOMEN CRIMINALS BEGAN TO BE VIEWED WITH MORE COMPASSION, AND THE ATTITUDE TOWARD THEM BECAME REHABILITATIVE DUE, IN PART, TO THE EFFORTS OF WOMEN REFORMERS. BY THE 1930'S, WOMEN'S PRISONS WERE SEPARATE FROM MALE INSTITUTIONS. NEW YORK HOUSE OF DETENTION FOR WOMEN (HDW), OPENED IN 1932 AFTER A LONG STRUGGLE, WAS BUILT TO HOUSE WOMEN AWAITING TRIAL. IT WAS SOON TO HOUSE LONG-TERM PRISONERS WITHOUT HAVING PROPER FACILITIES FOR THEM. THE RESULTING CROWDED CONDITIONS WERE UNSUCCESSFULLY FOUGHT BY WOMEN PRISON REFORMERS FOR OVER 20 YEARS, WITH A SECOND PRISON NOT APPROVED UNTIL 1961. PROFILES OF PRISONERS AND STAFF DURING THE PERIOD 1932-1975, ARE PRESENTED, ALONG WITH DISCUSSIONS ON PRISON PROBLEMS, PRISON ROUTINE, PRISON SERVICES TO INMATES, AND DISCHARGE PROCEDURES. MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS WERE MADE IN CORRECTIONS FOR WOMEN IN NEW YORK UNDER TWO FEMALE COMMISSIONERS OF CORRECTIONS, A. KROSS (1954-1966) AND K. DAVIS (1913-1917); THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AND PROBLEMS THEY FACED ARE DISCUSSED, ALONG WITH SPECIAL PROGRAMS INSTITUTED AFTER THE ATTIC RIOTS AND THE EVOLUTION OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO AID PRISONERS IN NEW YORK. THE TREATMENT OF WOMEN IN PRISON REFLECTS SOCIETY'S OPINION OF THE WOMAN'S ROLE, WITH WOMEN MAKING THE GREATEST CONTRIBUTION IN IMPROVING WOMEN'S PRISON CONDITIONS IN NEW YORK. FOOTNOTES AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED. (PAP)