York-Niantic Correctional: Connecticut’s Only Incarceration Center for Women
Connecticut is home to a unique women’s prison facility in Niantic, CT. The York-Niantic correctional prison is highly recognized boasting the state’s only all-women prison. Today, housing about 739 inmates, 325 of which are on pre-trial, (see 2023 data) the correctional institute holds inmates with varying levels of degree, from minimum to maximum security.
The Niantic correctional prison efforts focus on rehab inmates to decrease their chances of returning to prison, earning the institution international recognition for its many aspects that consistently work towards this goal. Read below for more information about the prison, its history, and the different programs offered for women inmates.
The Niantic Correctional Prison History
Ever since the 1900s, Niantic has been the home for women inmates in Connecticut. In 1918, the Connecticut State Farm and Reformatory opened, and in 1930, an addition to the Reformatory was added called the Niantic Correctional Institute. For years, women inmates from prisons around the state were sent here to be incarcerated, the facility housing only women inmates. The York Correctional Institution officially opened in October 1994 and was named in honor of a Niantic Correctional Deputy Warden named Janet S. York.
A few years later in 1996, the Niantic Correctional and York Correctional were merged into one organization, keeping ‘York Correctional Institution’ as its name.
Much like its current functions, the initial opening in 1918 was specifically created to house women with delinquent tendencies, and it was the only all-women prison of its time. The Reformatory’s goal was to reform women, and the facility was built with that in mind. At the Reformatory, women worked on farms with vast spaces of land, natural ponds, and lakes. These women were given many natural resources and opportunities to pick up new habits and skills. Workers at the State Farm aimed to help women who were sent there by training them to become good citizens.
The same idea carries over into the current York Correctional Institution almost 100 years later, which offers many programs and facilities to help its inmates become successful members of society.
Programs Offered for Female Inmates at the York-Niantic Prison
This Connecticut female-only correctional has dozens of programs, groups, and establishments for inmates to join and participate in. From violence prevention meetings to groups to help treat addiction, these programs help rehabilitate and support inmates at the facility. The vast array of opportunities offered at York Correctional includes art therapy, an intensive drug treatment program, tutoring, and a chance to talk to at-risk youth at various schools and community centers.
There are also numerous programs for mothers. One such program is Girl Scouts Beyond Bars, a national organization that gives young children an opportunity to talk, connect, and create a close relationship with their mothers who are incarcerated. Children who have incarcerated parents can also find a community with other children in similar situations. Another program offered at York Correctional is Mommy-and-Me. Similar to Girl Scouts Beyond Bars; Mommy-and-Me allows mothers to spend up to 2-hours with their children every other month at the correctional facility. Volunteers provide books, toys, and games for the families to spend their time together, and can take portraits of the family to give to its members.
Other important programs at the Niantic Correctional Prison that have garnered attention for their achievements are Advanced TREM and Survivors of Sexual Abuse/Trauma and Empowerment. These two gender-specific programs focus on helping women inmates heal from trauma and/or abuse they have previously faced. They offer counseling and therapy to focus on inmates’ mental health and self-confidence providing a healthy network of support for victims of abuse and/or trauma.
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