SIR,—As a prison visitor for five-and-a-half years, now resigned, I
am driven for the first time to use my position for public comment on your reviewer's article on Who Lie in Gaol, by Joan Henry. On principle 1 have always avoided doing this before, because it seemed to involve some abuse of my position and a certain disloyalty to (i) the individual prisoners encountered, (ii) the authority under which the visitor works, and (iii) the sincere efforts of both the National Association of Prison Visitors and the Prison Commissioners to secure profitable arrangements for prisoners, The average. visitor's experience of Holloway Prison rests on one evening a week spent entirely in private intercourse with individual prisoners. (She is received in the prisoner's room on some evening when her " hostess " is not engaged at a class, or spending her, hours between tea and retirement—say 4-7.30 p.m.—in association with other ccimpanions. This latter arrangement has been introduced for many prisoners.) It is the facts and comments provided by these individual prisoners that I would like to set alongside your reviewer's interpre- tation of Mrs. Henry's book. From the lips of many women I have known, including professional thieves, deliberate recidivists, genuine fifst offenders and first-time-caught first offenders, women tempted by circumstances and others driven to foolish acts by domestic worries, I have received remarks which should, 1 feel, be quoted had they not been made in private, friendly conversation.
The changes achieved in Holloway under the direction of the Prison Commissioners, aided by the present Governor, are acknowledged by even the most resentful victims of our prison system. These changes include material details, educational classes and efforts to secure the right staff—an impossible aim to achieve with one-hundred-per-cent. success: clergymen, teachers; doctors, lawyers and even policemen will always include individuals open to criticism and condemnation. As regards the staff, I think I can truthfully say that nearly every woman
I have known in Holloway has expressed, with very sound reasons for either opinion, dislike, for one officer and liking for another. There is no mass antipathy between staff and prisoners, but in many cases definite admiration, respect or affection, not excluding the Governor, the Deputy Governor and other higher officers.
An almost essential supplement to Mrs. Henry's book 'would be, I feel, a factual account of an average prisoner's day and a collection of comments on various points drawn at random from prisoners themselves. From the facts, the public might learn enough to stir their interest and help their judgement of good and bad in a system organised in their name; and from the comments enough to convince them that prison-reformers have not worked in vain.
I enclose a note of my fame and address but would sign myself—
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