Where is the best place to get a room, three nutritious meals a day, dental and medical care, wonderful companionship with the other guests and all FREE of charge?
Why, an American jail of course.
It wasn't always the case.
In the 1700's the jails of England were filthy,over-crowded, rat infested and breeding grounds for vice and violence.
The Fleet prison, Newgate and the Bedlam lunatic asylum are names that live in infamy to this day.
When the holding cells were at capacity on land, the overflow of inmates were rowed out to verminous rotting ships moored in the Thames.
Stirred to her soul by the plight of these unfortunate prisoners Elizabeth Fry began her life mission of prison Reform. Coming from a wealthy banking family there were other ways that "Betsy" could have spent her time. However, she was greatly moved by the preaching of an American Quaker, and from that moment gave herself and her resources to improve the lot of prisoners incarcerated in the London jails.
By the time she died in the 1845 she had enlisted the help of Queen Victoria, Prime-minister Robert Peel and a host of her husband's rich friends and seen prison improvement acts passed in parliament.
All this she did whilst raising eleven kids.
If you ever have the misfortune to finish behind bars, thank Betsy Fry that you won't be sharing gruel with rats and cockroaches.
Jubilate.
Ian
Want to get involved with prisoner help? Talk to my sister Anne, she has spent years walking in the footsteps of Betsy.
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