Indianapolis Juvenile Correctional Facility
Encyclopedia
The Indianapolis Juvenile Correctional Facility was a minimum, medium, and maximum state juvenile facility of the Indiana Department of Correction
. It was located on Girls School Road, 8 miles (12.9 km) west of Downtown Indianapolis
. The facility currently houses 185 female inmates ranging in age from twelve years to twenty-one years. The facility was originally established in 1907 as an all-girls school and was known for most of its history as the Indiana Girls School. In 2006, juvenile male offenders were assigned to the facility as well. In late 2007 all male offenders were transferred to other state facilities. Indianapolis Juvenile Correctional Facility reverted to being an all female facility. In 2009 the girls were moved to the Madison Juvenile Correctional Facility, and the former IJCF became the current location of the Indiana Women's Prison
.
established the Indiana Reformatory Institution for Women and Girls stating that “There shall be established as soon as possible after the taking effect of this act, at or near the city of Indianapolis , an institution to be known as the Indiana Reformatory Institution for Women and Girls." This was the first prison exclusively for females in the nation. Prior to the act, female juvenile offenders were taken care of by their county jails. In 1899, the girls were given separate quarters from the women (but were still on the same grounds), and the institution was renamed the Indiana Industrial School for Girls. However, the girls and the women were still housed under the same roof. Prior to the separation, the girls and the women would do activities together such as prayer services and household work. The women were thought to have a negative effect on the young girls’ morals, so in 1907 the girls moved to an entirely different facility. This facility was named The Indiana Girls’ School, and the woman’s facility was renamed The Indiana Women’s Prison. According to correspondents of the time, the Indiana Girls’ School was built on the belief that firmness, fairness, and kindness were the keys to changing the girls’ attitudes. Girls who were “epileptic, insane, feeble-minded, paralytic, pregnant, or had a contagious disease” were not admitted to the facility. Instead, these girls were sent back to their homes. The school’s first superintendent was Charlotte Dye. A state law brought any girl who was convicted of activities which included but were not limited to: visiting gambling places, trespassing on railroad property, patronizing liquor saloons, using bad language, or smoking cigarettes to the school.
epidemic which sickened forty-six other girls. The school first started a parole
system in 1926. On September 10, 1964, the Indiana State Police
were dispatched to the school in order to stop a riot
that involved 200 girls. A Grand Jury
started an investigation of the riot, and discovered that there were many factors that led to the incident, including homosexuality, drug usage, and a lack of respect for the school’s superintendent. The school also had 65 girls escape during this time. In 1985, some girls filed a lawsuit against the school alleging that the school had made them stay in their cells wearing nothing but socks and underwear, but this charge was later dropped.
In 1996, the facility was renamed The Indianapolis Juvenile Correctional Facility. Despite the name change, the facility functioned as an all girls’ school until January 2006, when juvenile males were moved onto the same grounds from the former Indiana Boys’ School
in Plainfield, Indiana
(though they were later removed from the facility, making it all-female once again).
On July 7, 2009, it was announced by Department of Corrections Commissioner Buss that Indianapolis Juvenile Correctional Facility's population will move to a site near a state hospital in Madison, Indiana ending the 102 years as the Indiana Girls School. The Indiana Womans Prison, located Downtown Indianapolis, will move to the old Girls School to accommodate overcrowding. Some male inmates located near Plainfield Correctional Facility will move into the old Woman's Prison downtown. All the changes will be made by year's end.
, 35% African-American, and 5% other.
unit. The facility has an administration building, thirteen single-story housing units, infirmary, dining hall, and school. There is also a gymnasium and a sanatorium
in the recreation building. During the years of 2002-2003, the facility added a perimeter fence along with renovations to the cooking, dining, housing, visitation, and health care facilities.
Indiana Department of Correction
The Indiana Department of Correction operates state prisons in Indiana. It has its headquarters in Indianapolis.-Adult facilities:Current facilities:* Branchville Correctional Facility - Branchville...
. It was located on Girls School Road, 8 miles (12.9 km) west of Downtown Indianapolis
Downtown Indianapolis
The term Downtown Indianapolis refers to the central business district of Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. The boundaries of downtown Indianapolis have varied over time as the city has grown. The city's original platted area, the Mile Square, is sometimes used to denote the downtown area...
. The facility currently houses 185 female inmates ranging in age from twelve years to twenty-one years. The facility was originally established in 1907 as an all-girls school and was known for most of its history as the Indiana Girls School. In 2006, juvenile male offenders were assigned to the facility as well. In late 2007 all male offenders were transferred to other state facilities. Indianapolis Juvenile Correctional Facility reverted to being an all female facility. In 2009 the girls were moved to the Madison Juvenile Correctional Facility, and the former IJCF became the current location of the Indiana Women's Prison
Indiana Women's Prison
The Indiana Women’s Prison was established in 1873 as the first adult female correctional facility in the country. The prison remains at its original location, one mile east of downtown Indianapolis. It has since moved to 2596 Girls School Road, former location of the Indianapolis Juvenile...
.
Early history
In 1869, the Indiana State LegislatureIndiana General Assembly
The Indiana General Assembly is the state legislature, or legislative branch, of the state of Indiana. It is a bicameral legislature that consists of a lower house, the Indiana House of Representatives, and an upper house, the Indiana Senate...
established the Indiana Reformatory Institution for Women and Girls stating that “There shall be established as soon as possible after the taking effect of this act, at or near the city of Indianapolis , an institution to be known as the Indiana Reformatory Institution for Women and Girls." This was the first prison exclusively for females in the nation. Prior to the act, female juvenile offenders were taken care of by their county jails. In 1899, the girls were given separate quarters from the women (but were still on the same grounds), and the institution was renamed the Indiana Industrial School for Girls. However, the girls and the women were still housed under the same roof. Prior to the separation, the girls and the women would do activities together such as prayer services and household work. The women were thought to have a negative effect on the young girls’ morals, so in 1907 the girls moved to an entirely different facility. This facility was named The Indiana Girls’ School, and the woman’s facility was renamed The Indiana Women’s Prison. According to correspondents of the time, the Indiana Girls’ School was built on the belief that firmness, fairness, and kindness were the keys to changing the girls’ attitudes. Girls who were “epileptic, insane, feeble-minded, paralytic, pregnant, or had a contagious disease” were not admitted to the facility. Instead, these girls were sent back to their homes. The school’s first superintendent was Charlotte Dye. A state law brought any girl who was convicted of activities which included but were not limited to: visiting gambling places, trespassing on railroad property, patronizing liquor saloons, using bad language, or smoking cigarettes to the school.
Notable Incidents: 1914-2009
In 1914, one girl in the school lost her life to a DiphtheriaDiphtheria
Diphtheria is an upper respiratory tract illness caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a facultative anaerobic, Gram-positive bacterium. It is characterized by sore throat, low fever, and an adherent membrane on the tonsils, pharynx, and/or nasal cavity...
epidemic which sickened forty-six other girls. The school first started a parole
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
system in 1926. On September 10, 1964, the Indiana State Police
Indiana State Police
The Indiana State Police is the statewide law enforcement agency for the state of Indiana. Indiana was the 12th state to offer protection to its citizens with a state police force.-History:...
were dispatched to the school in order to stop a riot
Riot
A riot is a form of civil disorder characterized often by what is thought of as disorganized groups lashing out in a sudden and intense rash of violence against authority, property or people. While individuals may attempt to lead or control a riot, riots are thought to be typically chaotic and...
that involved 200 girls. A Grand Jury
Grand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
started an investigation of the riot, and discovered that there were many factors that led to the incident, including homosexuality, drug usage, and a lack of respect for the school’s superintendent. The school also had 65 girls escape during this time. In 1985, some girls filed a lawsuit against the school alleging that the school had made them stay in their cells wearing nothing but socks and underwear, but this charge was later dropped.
In 1996, the facility was renamed The Indianapolis Juvenile Correctional Facility. Despite the name change, the facility functioned as an all girls’ school until January 2006, when juvenile males were moved onto the same grounds from the former Indiana Boys’ School
Plainfield Juvenile Correctional Facility
The Plainfield Re-Entry Facility has been moved to the old Indiana Women's Prison in Indianapolis. The Indiana Boys School has been slated to open as a short term offender facility....
in Plainfield, Indiana
Plainfield, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,396 people, 7,051 households, and 4,914 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,023.1 people per square mile . There were 7,449 housing units at an average density of 414.3 per square mile...
(though they were later removed from the facility, making it all-female once again).
On July 7, 2009, it was announced by Department of Corrections Commissioner Buss that Indianapolis Juvenile Correctional Facility's population will move to a site near a state hospital in Madison, Indiana ending the 102 years as the Indiana Girls School. The Indiana Womans Prison, located Downtown Indianapolis, will move to the old Girls School to accommodate overcrowding. Some male inmates located near Plainfield Correctional Facility will move into the old Woman's Prison downtown. All the changes will be made by year's end.
Inmate Population
Currently, the Indianapolis Juvenile Correctional Facility housed only females, the majority of which are between the ages of 14–16 years, approximately 60% CaucasianCaucasian race
The term Caucasian race has been used to denote the general physical type of some or all of the populations of Europe, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Western Asia , Central Asia and South Asia...
, 35% African-American, and 5% other.
Buildings and Grounds
There is a maximum security unit, an intake orientation unit, and a special needsSpecial needs
In the USA, special needs is a term used in clinical diagnostic and functional development to describe individuals who require assistance for disabilities that may be medical, mental, or psychological. For instance, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and the International...
unit. The facility has an administration building, thirteen single-story housing units, infirmary, dining hall, and school. There is also a gymnasium and a sanatorium
Sanatorium
A sanatorium is a medical facility for long-term illness, most typically associated with treatment of tuberculosis before antibiotics...
in the recreation building. During the years of 2002-2003, the facility added a perimeter fence along with renovations to the cooking, dining, housing, visitation, and health care facilities.
Education
In 1951, the Eliza Hendricks Junior-Senior High School was established. The school is fully accredited by the North Central Association. The class sizes are relatively small. All of the staff members of the school have a special education certificate, as nearly 40% of the students are classified as special needs students. In recent years, the school has 30 GED graduates and has issued 551 credits.Programs
The facility offers many programs to its inmate population, including substance abuse programs designed to teach the girls about the dangers and effects that substance abuse entails. Also offered is the Healthy Relationships program, which focuses on dealing with relationships with family members, friends, and significant others. The facility also offered various re-entry programs.http://www.in.gov/indcorrection/facility/igs/general.htmExternal links
- "Indianapolis Juvenile Correctional Facility" - Indiana Department of CorrectionIndiana Department of CorrectionThe Indiana Department of Correction operates state prisons in Indiana. It has its headquarters in Indianapolis.-Adult facilities:Current facilities:* Branchville Correctional Facility - Branchville...
(Archive)