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What did the first women’s prison reformer do?

What did the first women’s prison reformer do?

Getty Images A black and white drawing of Elizabeth Fry in Newgate Prison in the early 19th century. She approaches a wooden prison door on the right, which is opened by a locksmith with a large key. Through the door you can see bars and behind them the faint figures of female prisoners. Behind her is another woman and behind her two men standing at a door. On the far right, a boy and a man sit at a wooden table.Getty Images

Elizabeth Fry was accompanied by friends on her first visit to Newgate in 1813, bringing provisions for the inmates, but was horrified by the experience

It’s not the prison According to Justice Minister Shabana Mahmood, they work for womenwhile Prisons Minister James Timpson said he sees “many very sick women” during visits.

More than 200 years ago, Elizabeth Fry felt the same way after she was deeply shocked by her visits to Newgate Prison in London.

The Quaker philanthropist led a campaign that led to the introduction of women-only prisons overseen by female guards who treated inmates with humanity and emphasized rehabilitation.

So while the ministers consider Changes in the criminal justice system for female offenderswhat can be learned from the Norwich-born 19th century reformer?

“A bunch of wild animals”

Getty Images A black and white line portrait of Elizabeth Fry. She wears a turban-style hat and her hair curls over her forehead. The high collar of her shirt reaches around her neck and her dress is crossed over the chest, revealing a lighter colored shirt underneath.Getty Images

Her commitment to prison reform was inspired by her membership in the Society of Friends, or Quakers, who interpret Christianity to mean that “all are equal before God.”

Fry first visited Newgate Prison in 1813 and discovered “an absolute hellhole,” according to Prof Rosalind Crone of the Milton Keynes-based Open University.

“The guard said, ‘I don’t think we can let you in, they’re a bunch of wild animals, they’ll steal your valuables,'” the history professor said.

“But she went in and saw some horrific sights recorded in her diary, including women taking a dead baby’s clothes to give to another living baby.”

Many of the women who were separated from the male prisoners awaiting deportation to Australia were drunk and violent.

Some had their children with them; others gave birth to babies in prison.

“When she returned in 1816, women were now separated from men, but conditions were still dire and she decided to open her Bible to read to them. They became quiet and listened,” Prof Crone said.

“There was her heart and she came up with a plan for the prison – a way to structure it that she thought would be beneficial and transform these ‘wild animals’ into Christian women capable of one To contribute to society – and to give them peace.” So.”

“The men were speechless”

Getty Images A colorful drawing showing Elizabeth Fry sitting at a table in Newgate Prison in the early 19th century. She has a book in front of her. On the right sit female prisoners listening and talking, as well as two small children playing. To her left are four well-dressed women and at least three clergy in dark clothing. Getty Images

An illustration based on a mid-19th century painting depicting a largely fictionalized version of her Bible readings to women and child prisoners and prison visitors

Elizabeth Fry’s plan had three pillars, Prof Crone explained.

  • Superintendence: Female prisoners should be cared for by female officers supervised by a superintendent or matron. Men should not have access to these women unless supervised by a woman, and the system should be “supervised by moral and religious ladies.” like themselves”.
  • Occupation: Fry thought the prisoners needed to do something, such as sewing or knitting, and she used her contacts to sell her products outside Newgate, giving some of the earnings back to the women. She also founded a school to teach prisoners reading, writing and arithmetic.
  • Religious Education: She believed that if they opened up to God and repented, their lives would change and a better society would emerge outside of prison.

Still, she knew not to present this plan to the City of London authorities who ran the prison.

Prof Crone said: “Instead she works largely in secret to run things in the prison after going to prisoners and getting their consent.”

“She brings together a group of ladies that she calls the Ladies’ Newgate Association, they train the matron and begin to bring work and care for the prisoners.

“In April 1817 they called in the authorities, and the men were completely amazed at the change in the women: they were quiet, obedient and sober.”

Their small rehabilitation home for ex-Newgate prisoners ensured that they had “feminine skills” for domestic service, while the Ladies’ Association helped ex-offenders find work.

Who was Elizabeth Fry?

They were remembered for the “Fry Fiver,” which was in circulation between 2002 and 2016 but has since been discontinued

Fry was born into the wealthy Gurney family in 1780 and grew up at Earlham Hall, just outside Norwich.

Prof Crone said: “They were Quakers and Elizabeth had what she called a revelation at the age of 17 and became a believer.”

After marrying and moving to London in 1800, she continued her philanthropic efforts and had eleven children.

“The idea that all are equal before God is absolutely essential to the Quaker faith and that is very important in this story,” Prof Crone said.

As a result, the Society of Friends, or Quakers, treated women almost equally, and Fry later became one of its ministers.

Prof Crone said: “It also means that there is some kind of equality before God for prisoners or the poor, although that is not necessarily equality in society.”

This wealthy and activist evangelical Christian background gave her access to a network of other influential philanthropists at a time when prison reform was increasingly on the political agenda.

“An outsized influence on the law”

Getty Images A late 18th century sepia drawing of Newgate Prison, showing the prison building on the left. It extends over four floors and is made of brick. On the right there is a four-story terrace. And in front of it there are horse-drawn carriages, a horse-drawn cart and men and women walking aroundGetty Images

Newgate Prison was used to hold prisoners before trial or after their conviction in the early 19th century

Fry toured the country with her campaign for women’s prison reform and encouraged the formation of many local prison visiting associations.

She was one of the first women to be called to a parliamentary inquiry and give evidence about prisons in 1818.

Prof Crone said: “And when the Prisons Act 1823 comes out there is a clause that says women will be separated from men and women will also be supervised by female officers.”

She believes Fry’s campaign for a woman-centered system that treats women differently than male prisoners has had “an outsized influence on this legislation” – and continues to do so.

“I just find it remarkable because you see it spreading through society, then it becomes a thing in hospitals too – that women should be cared for by women or that there should be some sort of female chaperone – we accept that. “This is now a given when we go to the family doctor,” she added.

Are there lessons from the 19th century?

Getty Images A white marble statue of Elizabeth Fry. She wears a cap, a high-necked undershirt and a dress pulled up under her breasts in the style of the first two decades of the 19th century. The statue is surrounded by a brass barrier and stands in front of a wall of swirling black and white marbleGetty Images

The philanthropist continued to organize homeless shelters and in 1840 founded a national system of libraries for Coast Guard men and their families and the Institution of Nursing Sisters

Prof Crone said: “At the start of the 19th century, women were expected to be more virtuous than men, so female criminals were considered truly deviant, and the purpose of Fry’s rehabilitation regime – and those that followed – was to rehabilitate women to feminize again.” .

“Then female criminality becomes linked to female biology – mania, menstruation, menopause – and by the end of the century, female criminals are seen as weak-minded or mentally ill, and that becomes the way of dealing with women’s criminality.”

“The lesson of the 19th century and Fry is that our ideas of what a woman should be shape the regime in the women’s prison – and sometimes that is not a regime that allows women to thrive.”