When was the proposal for separate facilities for women from men initiated?

The proposal for separate facilities for women from men began in the early 1800s as a response to the growing awareness of the different needs of female and male inmates. Advocates for women in the correctional system recognized that women faced unique challenges, including issues related to gender, motherhood, and the social stigma of incarceration. This era marked a shift in thinking about corrections, as social reform movements gained momentum, emphasizing the need for humane treatment and rehabilitation of offenders.

The establishment of separate facilities was viewed as a way to address these specific needs and to provide a more appropriate environment for women who were incarcerated. This period laid the groundwork for the development of distinct policies and practices concerning female prisons that would continue to evolve throughout the following decades.