that day, Elizabeth opened her Bible and began to read to the prisoners. She prayed with them, and gave attention to the children. A few days later, Elizabeth returned with her friends carrying warm clothes, food, and fresh straw for the women and children to sleep on. They also brought needles, thread, and cloth so the prisoners could sew and knit. Eventually Elizabeth convinced the authorities that the children needed a school and classes were begun, taught by literate prisoners.

The evening before an execution was an especially difficult time for the Newgate prisoners. Riots broke out. As the women ranted and screamed, officials had a difficult time keeping order. Elizabeth met the crisis by sharing scripture verses with the accused and praying for them.

To reduce England’s overcrowded prisonsof that time, scores of women convicts were shipped to Australia. For 20 years, Elizabeth and her friends visited ships before they left England’s shores. They gave the prisoners bags of supplies so the women could sew during the voyage. Elizabeth hoped by making and selling items, the women would not have to resort to prostitution to survive once they reached their destination. Later, England outlawed the practice of transporting criminals to Australia.

Elizabeth’s work for prison reform came to the attention of Queen Victoria. In 1818, Parliament invited Elizabeth to testify before the House of Commons on prison conditions, the first woman to address the body. This led to the Prison Reform Act of 1823, which greatly improved England’s prison system.

For 45 years Elizabeth was a voice for