Suchergebnisse

AbstractThis article examines the working lives of female prison officers between 1877 and 1939. It documents a relatively under‐researched, but important, period in the history of women's imprisonment in England. In doing so it aims to uncover the working lives of female officers, the role and daily duties of officers, the development of training schools for female staff and to understand the ambiguous role of officers in the 'reform' of prisoners during these decades. The research contextualises the work of the female officer within the changing female prison estate and declining female prison population in this period and examines the ways in which gender and class combined in prison work.

Examines attempts by prison inmates to organize unions for workers in US correctional institutions, contending that these labor leaders are strongly disciplined, sometimes threatened with death, & have little outside support. The case of Jerome White-Bey, founder of the Missouri Prisoners Labor Union (MPLU) is related, noting that silent strikes have been frequent in MO's system where inmates are required to work for pittances making various consumer goods. In spite of the filing of over 1,000 grievances in a single week, the MO Dept of Corrections not only refuses to recognize the MPLU, but is keeping White-Bey in a solitary confinement cell known as "the Hole." The history of prison labor in the US is traced, & prison unions that have been formed in other states are examined. It is noted that the AFL-CIO does not absolutely oppose prison labor but has spoken out against expanding federal prison industries on the basis that it takes jobs away from nonconvicts. Reasons for opposition to the unionization of prisoners & prospects for the future are discussed. J. Lindroth