The emergence of two types of women's prisons is traced: (1) custodial institutions which closely resembled penitentiaries for men; and (2) reformatory institutions, based on the notion that women needed special care. The development of the prison system for women is examined in terms of women's reformatories between 1870 and 1900, the women's reformatory movement between 1900 and 1935, and custodial prisons for women between 1870 and 1935. The discussion of female inmates encompasses demographic characteristics, offense and sentencing patterns, and issues of race, gender, and social class. The author considers conviction offenses, sentences, and prisoners at five institutions in New York, Ohio, and Tennessee and the extent of racism in State prisons holding women between 1865 and 1935. He also presents a case study of the social control of women. Appendixes contain additional information on the development of the women's prison system between 1935 and 1980, offense categories, and data collection procedures followed in the study of female inmates. References, notes, tables, and figures