The Ohio State Reformatory, better known as the Mansfield Reformatory is an historic prison originally established in Mansfield, Ohio between 1886 and 1911. It was completed in that time period and stayed in operation until 1990. The prison was designed with an intention of confining reformers to hard labor. There are around four hundred men incarcerated in the prison; women hold a small number of jobs inside the prison. Women usually work as receptionists and cooks within the prison.
Women have found it difficult to fight for equal rights in decades past. However, over the past twenty years, women have made significant advancements in career fields such as medicine and dentistry. Ohio is home to around eleven percent of all prison women in the country. This figure includes pregnant women. Within the prison, around eighty percent of all female prisoners are pregnant.
Many women choose to resign their position upon arrival at the Ohio State Reformatory. However, there are some who prefer to fight their case in court to prove their innocence. Most women are assigned a legal aid counsel to assist them throughout their case. This legal aid counsel will give the prisoner legal advice concerning their sentence, including mitigating circumstances. These legal counselers are officers of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections.
Women prisoners are housed in individual cells. This helps to maintain a more stable environment for these inmates. When the cells are cramped, it is easy for violent and dangerous inmates to feel safe and secure. Ohio State Reformatory does not use chain gangs or prison-style cells. Inmates are housed separately and are allowed to spend quiet time alone.
The Ohio State Reformatory has successfully used technology to make the prison life of its inmates more pleasant. They have developed communication programs that allow all former prisoners to keep in touch with each other. In addition to regular phone calls, those who are permitted to leave the prison may use the internet. Video visits and letters are also allowed through these secure programs. To prevent the occurrence of further crimes, Ohio State Reformatory staff take safety and security measures such as installing guard booths outside the perimeter.
Ohio State Reformatory is proud that every convicted woman is given a chance to be a better woman while inside the walls. Each day, the good work of these reformatories is reviewed and discussed in a committee meeting. Each meeting includes recommendations for improvement and expansion of the facility. The goal of these meetings is to improve conditions in the prison, so that women who are released from prison can live productive lives.
Women who are released from Ohio State Reformatory are required to participate in the Women’s Self-Sufficiency Program. This program targets those women who have been incarcerated within the past. Through this program, they will be taught to find ways to get jobs, obtain an education and find a way to support themselves. Once they have completed the program, they will be eligible to apply for Ohio’s Certificate of Rehabilitation.
Ohio State Reformatory provides its inmates with a variety of opportunities for education, employment and recreation. If you want to work in the community after you’re released, you can contact the Ohio State Reformatory’s career office to set up an interview. Those who want to study or pursue further studies may visit the institution’s library to check out its resources. Those who are interested in recreation may visit the Ohio State Reformatory’s gym to sign up for classes. Those who wish to pursue a religious lifestyle may consult the Ohio State Reformatory’s ministry to find out what religious services are offered.