Explain in detail Elizabeth Fry's contribution to prison reform.

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Explain in detail Elizabeth Fry's contribution to prison reform.

Elizabeth Fry was born in 1780; she was the daughter of well off Quakers living in Norwich. As a young girl, Fry was allowed a reasonable amount of freedom, as her parents were not strict. When she turned 18, she began to take her religion more seriously. This up bringing made Elizabeth a strong mind, religious person.

Elizabeth was a much more liberated women in her time. She realized that she could make a difference in peoples' lives. Her strong religious beliefs led her to visit the women's section of Newgate prison in 1813. Fry was disgusted at what she saw. Apparently a riotous mass of 300 women were huddled in three rooms. In these rooms there were women who were ill, but could not afford the necessary medicines, also some were starving and freezing. There were many children among them, Fry even witnessed two women tearing clothes off a dead baby to clothe a living one. This event was a turning point in Elizabeth's life, she now knew her purpose, which was to help and protect neglected and abused prisoners.
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In 1816 Fry returned to Newgate, she appealed to the prison and prisoners to not neglect their children. Because of this, Newgate started a school for prison children. Shortly afterwards Fry formed a female committee which visited the prison daily, the committee greatly influenced how the prison was run, a matron was appointed to run the women section and women were supplied with sewing and knitting materials.

Fry's contribution to Newgate was noted by the Parliament Committee. In 1818 she was asked to give evidence to the committee. It was stated that her many efforts had transformed ...

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