Prison Reform Movement Dorothea Dix Analysis

Summary: The prison reform movement was a generally successful movement led by Dorothea Dix in the mid-1800’s. This movement sought to reform the poor conditions of prisons and establish separate hospitals for the mentally insane. In this article written by Dorothea Dix, directly addresses the general assembly of North Carolina, she explains the lack of care for the mentally insane and the necessary care for them. In the section regarding the jails, she talks about how the insane are locked up because they pose of a threat to the public’s safety not confined somewhere. Also, they are stationed in small cells chained up which is torturing them, and only the rich can afford to be sent to hospitals where they take much better care of. Next, Dorothea Dix addresses the responsibility many families take on my keeping insane family members at home to help them from being mistreated in jails. This causes families to spend all of their time watching after a family member when they don’t even know how to properly treat them. Lastly, she explains the treatment necessary for the insane and the

Dorothea believed in the greater good of the people which is expressed in this article by her views both benefiting the public and the mentally ill by keeping them out of public and in facilities where they can be cared for. Dorothea Dix wrote this document in order to have North Carolina to adopt a state mental hospital, although her views expressed in this document relate to her goals of establishing state mental hospitals everywhere. By including excerpts of the harsh conditions of the gruesome prisons and the stressful lives of average people contributes to the effectiveness of this document and helps better express the purpose for needing mental hospitals