In 1780, Elizabeth Fry (Gurney) was born in England to a wealthy, influential Quaker family. This was a time in English history that afforded women few rights and privileges; however, the Quakers have always believed in equality for all, so Elizabeth Fry was educated, respected and allowed to use her voice.

A custom of the time was to take young upper-class women on a tour of Newgate Prison in London in order to scare them into a life of docility. When Elizabeth Fry was taken on her tour of Newgate in 1813, she was appalled by the way that the women and children were kept there. This observation inspired Elizabeth Fry to dedicate her life to making change to the prison system and bringing hope to the women while they were there.

She learned that in some of the smaller prisons, the women were not separated from the men. In others, men who were labelled “lunatics” or who were in danger from other men could be placed in the women's section, for the jailer's convenience. Consequently, many babies were born to the inmate mothers, who then lived in the prison. Female prisoners were also kept for the domestic or sexual convenience of the jailer.

Prison fees were hard on women because they were often friendless and penniless. In some prisons, the doors between the men and women's sections were unlocked at night. Prostitution was often the only way a woman could supplement the meagre prison diet.

Women prisoners were whipped in public until 1817 and in private until 1820.

Elizabeth Fry’s insight, persistence, organizational ability and her willingness to see a 'divine light' in every person resulted in striking reforms in the manner in which women and children were treated in London's Newgate Prison.

Elizabeth Fry:

• Introduced reforms by encouraging women to care for themselves and their children.

• Convinced authorities to set up schools inside the prison so the women and their children could be provided with basic education.

• Provided material so the women could knit and do needlework, and found a market for their goods.

• Insisted that women prisoners be kept in separate quarters from male prisoners, and that they be supervised by other females.

The essence of Elizabeth Fry's religiously inspired thinking about prisoners (male and female) was that they were fellow human beings. Their treatment, therefore, should be based on ‘the principles of justice and humanity.’