NCJ Number
58413
Date Published
1978
Length
17 pages
Annotation
HISTORICAL BEGINNINGS OF THE WOMEN'S REFORMITY AT ALDERSON, W. VA., AND LIFE AT THE INSTITUTION DURING THE EARLY YEARS ARE HIGHLIGHTED.
Abstract
IN 1927, WOMEN CONVICTED OF FEDERAL CRIMES WERE HOUSED TOGETHER AT THE NEWLY CONSTRUCTED FEDERAL INSTITUTION FOR WOMEN IN ALDERSON, W. VA. PREVIOUSLY, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAD CONTRACTED TO BOARD FEDERAL WOMEN CONVICTS AT STATE FACILITIES, SUCH AS THE HOUSE OF CORRECTIONS IN RUTLAND, VT., OR THE KENTUCKY STATE REFORMITY IN FRANKFORT. ALDERSON CONSISTED OF 500 ACRES OF GEORGIAN-STYLE BUILDINGS AND COST $2 1/2 MILLION TO COMPLETE. IT WAS APPLAUDED FOR THE ABSENCE OF A MASSIVE SURROUNDING WALL OR HEAVILY ARMED GUARDS, FOR EXTENSIVE FARMING AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES, AND FOR THE INMATE SELF-GOVERNING SYSTEM. THESE CHARACTERISTICS WERE LARGELY THE WORK OF THE FIRST SUPERINTENDENT. THE OBJECTIVE WAS TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH WOMEN WOULD BE EDUCATED, ACTIVE, AND TRAINED TO BE GOOD CITIZENS DURING INCARCERATION. THE ADMINISTRATORS BELIEVED THAT MOST WOMEN WERE NOT INTENTIONALLY CRIMINAL BUT WERE LURED INTO SUCH ACTIVITY, USUALLY BY A MAN. CONTRARY TO THE REFORMERS' THEORY, HOWEVER, IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT WOMEN WERE NOT ALWAYS PASSIVE PARTNERS IN CRIME. IN ITS EARLY YEARS, ALDERSON FOCUSED UPON WORK WITH DRUG ADDICTS, THE MAJOR CAUSE OF WOMEN'S CRIMINALITY AT THAT TIME. THE INMATES' PROGRESS UNDER DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT WAS REVIEWED FREQUENTLY; REGARDLESS OF THEIR BEHAVIOR, NO DRUG VIOLATOR WAS PAROLED UNTIL SHE HAD SERVED TWO YEARS. FINALLY, THE BASIC PREMISE OF THE ALDERSON STRUCTURE FOCUSED UPON PERSONAL CHANGE AS A MEANS TOWARD REHABILITATION. REFERENCES, FOOTNOTES, AND APPENDIXES ARE INCLUDED. (LWM)