Dangerous women, dangerous times: Women at the Nevada State Prison, 1890-1930

Donna Crail-Rugotzke, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Abstract

This work examines the treatment Nevada's female prisoners received from Nevada's press, courts, and the Nevada State Prison from 1890 to 1930. It argues that gender perspectives held by Nevada's criminal justice officials caused them to treat female criminals both benevolently and harshly. This thesis also compares the treatment of minority women with Anglo women and finds minority women also received mixed treatment. Factors used to judge treatment include the sentences women received, how much of these sentences they served, the living conditions they faced at the Nevada State Prison and the conditions of their paroles and pardons.