55 replies to this topic

[Sharpe]

Found this nugget on the BBC website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18603360

A charity is launching the first study of sex in British prisons.
The Howard League for Penal Reform says it will spend two years looking at all elements of the issue, from consensual to coercive sex in jails.
The investigation in England and Wales will also look at what can be done to improve the sex education of adolescent and teenage inmates.
The UK has a ban on conjugal visits for prisoners - although more than half of European countries allow them.
There is virtually no reliable information about the extent of consensual and coercive sex in jails, although ministers recently told Parliament there were almost 140 sexual assaults in 2010, up on the two previous years.
The Howard League said it wanted its independent commission to shed light on the issue, which had never been properly discussed.
The study has partly come about after the charity got involved in the cases of three teenagers who said they had been raped by other inmates.
The research team will try to assess the scale of sexual offending in prisons - but will also look at whether the ban on consensual sex should go.
Sex is unlawful in prisons because cells are deemed to be public places - but other countries take a completely different view.
'Behind the times'
Frances Crook, chief executive of the Howard League, said: "These are three very big issues that have huge implications for the justice system. Nobody has looked at these at all in this country."
She said that attitudes differed from country to country.
More than half of European countries allow some form of private visits involving partners, although the rules differ widely.
Canada has one of the most liberal systems and it allows private relationship visits for up to three days at a time for qualifying inmates.
Canada's prisons service says the scheme was established to "develop and maintain family and community ties in preparation for their return to the community". Other countries take a similar view that private family time while in jail improves the chances of an offender resettling after release.
The Ministry of Justice, which runs prisons in England and Wales, has no plans to change the law.
"The issues have never been thought through [in the UK]," said Ms Crook. "We are behind the times by not talking about them."
A key part of the investigation will look at the experiences of teenagers jailed for a year or more and how their sexual development and education compares to those on the outside.
"If you have a 15-year-old who is jailed for two years, they are missing out on what their friends are getting which is the development of their relationships, girlfriends and so on," Ms Crook said.
"They come out of prison with none of these experiences and we expect them, as a miracle, to catch up."


Now I would have to say, in relation to the comments of Ms Crook, that I feel no sympathy for someone who can't get their end away when they are locked up.

So how would people on the forum feel about prisoners being allowed conjugal visits?

[Radman]

No...

Next!

[The Constable]

No. I believe if they wish to spend time with people , they should keep out of prison.

[oohraa]

Want sex? Stay out of prison. Simple.

[Prolixia]

Want sex? Stay out of prison. Simple.

Indeed! Prisoners are also missing on a whole host of other things you can do when you're not in prison, which is kind of the point...

[sandbag]

I don't get any, so why should they??!!??!?

[Burnsy2023]

Want sex? Stay out of prison. Simple.

You're making the assumption you can stop it.

[TroyTempest]

I just want to be held......

[David]

Why bother jailing anyone?

[SBG]

I get all the lines about if you want sex dont get banged up etc (oh sorry bad pun!) but I just cannot help thinking that there is a need to stop prisoners being bullied, assulted and raped so ..... if conjugal visits stop rape and other sexual assualts in Prison then I vote yes.

[David]

Part of prison, surely, is to be incarcerated, away from family, losing freedom/liberty etc etc?

If we're giving them the vote, colour tellies, games machines, radios, gyms that rival and better some schools, this that and the other - and now sex - why bother with jail in the first place?

As we know there are those who think life in jail pretty cushy as it is!

If we want to stop the bullying etc (which we all do since it is of a concern), would employing more warders and/or design prisons where there is lack of opportunity to carry out such acts, along with a more regimented and disciplined way of prison life, help stop such events?

[i-plod]

I voted Yes. Bring on the Sex.

[candles]

A key part of the investigation will look at the experiences of teenagers jailed for a year or more and how their sexual development and education compares to those on the outside.
"If you have a 15-year-old who is jailed for two years, they are missing out on what their friends are getting which is the development of their relationships, girlfriends and so on," Ms Crook said.
"They come out of prison with none of these experiences and we expect them, as a miracle, to catch up."

and how, exactly, are they supposed to develop relationships from within jail?? You can't meet "new" people - so what are they proposing to bring people in from "outside" and organise social gatherings/parties so these sex starved inmates can meet someone to develop a potential relationship???

[Smiley Culture]

[From the BBC report] Other countries take a similar view that private family time while in jail improves the chances of an offender resettling after release.

I was wondering what the evidence was for this, but the link to Canada Correctional Service didn't bring up any studies. Anyone else know of any?

[MacGregor]

I was wondering what the evidence was for this, but the link to Canada Correctional Service didn't bring up any studies. Anyone else know of any?

Inmates and their Families: Conjugal Visits, Family Contact and Family Functioning.

I also found this which, although fairly dated, was quite an interesting read.

[JH99]

I get all the lines about if you want sex dont get banged up etc (oh sorry bad pun!) but I just cannot help thinking that there is a need to stop prisoners being bullied, assulted and raped so ..... if conjugal visits stop rape and other sexual assualts in Prison then I vote yes.

You know I don't think this is necessarily a bad idea. I'm with SBG.

I think the whole prison concept is outdated. If prison worked people wouldn't go back

[David]

I think the whole prison concept is outdated. If prison worked people wouldn't go back

Laying on crumpet is hardly going to discourage it now, is it?

[BlueLight85]

Offenders get sex in prison already. Granted it's unwillingly with massive skinheads, but beggars can't be choosers.

[Übèrnamè]

I honestly don't believe there is a "prison rape" or "prison bitch" culture as much as America or Canada. In fact talking to a lot of prisoners, screws and friends it's a rarity.

[JH99]

Laying on crumpet is hardly going to discourage it now, is it?

Absolutely. But that it isn't what I said and you know it

I just think about the Shawshank Redemption with this thread lol. I'm really busy at the moment, two jobs, college work, football... But I will read these Canadian Reports and give a proper answer

[David]

Absolutely. But that it isn't what I said and you know it

You sure?

You know I don't think this is necessarily a bad idea. I'm with SBG.

I get all the lines about if you want sex dont get banged up etc (oh sorry bad pun!) but I just cannot help thinking that there is a need to stop prisoners being bullied, assulted and raped so ..... if conjugal visits stop rape and other sexual assualts in Prison then I vote yes.

[Chewie]

You're making the assumption you can stop it.

Of course you can stop it... I've not had sex for ages!

"If you have a 15-year-old who is jailed for two years, they are missing out on what their friends are getting which is the development of their relationships, girlfriends and so on," Ms Crook said.

A 15 year old jailed for two years will be out in one - aged 16, the minimum legal age for someone to have sex in this country. If only Ms Crook (good name, incidentally) had thought things through a little more...

Edited by Chewie, 28 June 2012 - 09:00 PM.

[SBG]

Offenders get sex in prison already. Granted it's unwillingly with massive skinheads, but beggars can't be choosers.

So rape is ok??

Oh wait its male rape - you know you bend over to get the soap........................................ thats funny surely?

NOT!

[JH99]

Ok, but Its not offering sex to people if they go to jail. I don't think people are going to go: you know what, I haven't had sex in a while. I'm going to commit a crime in the hope I get sent to prison to use my sex tokens.

And also, I don't think people are going. You know what, I'm not going to carry on with this burglary malarky, it could affect my sex life.

The thing is, some people go to prison and hate it and never want to go back. Some people have the same opinion, but alas if their "mate" needs help they'll "sert thems outa n risk gar to clink". Then of course there are those who just don't care. In this simple argument that makes 3 people and you can add a fourth, the majority of people; they don't like the idea of prison, but prison isn't a deterrent to group number 4. They are generally good people, and its their morals that kick in before a potential bumming in jail or the unavailability for nookie.

So take group 4 out, that leaves 1, 2 and 3 with 1 and 2 likely to be back in prison regardless of whether they will have sex or not

[BlueLight85]

So rape is ok??

Oh wait its male rape - you know you bend over to get the soap........................................ thats funny surely?

NOT!

Another incentive not to go to prison if you ask me. 3 squares meals a day, and a tv aren't really that off putting.