NCJ Number
47933
Date Published
1978
Length
5 pages
Annotation
A CONJUGAL VISITING PROGRAM IMPLEMENTED IN MISSISSIPPI'S CORRECTIONAL FACILITY AT PARCHMAN IS DISCUSSED.
Abstract
CONJUGAL VISITING STARTED IN MISSISSIPPI AS EARLY AS 1918 WHEN PARCHMAN WAS A RACIALLY SEGREGATED PENAL FARM WHERE INMATES WORKED FOR THE PROFIT OF THE STATE. THE FARM INFORMALLY ALLOWED THE BLACK INMATES CONJUGAL RIGHTS AS A REWARD FOR THEIR LABOR. IN EACH OF THE CAMPS SCATTERED OVER THE FARM, THE INMATES CONSTRUCTED VISITING FACILITIES AND NAMED THEM 'RED HOUSES.' THE FIRST CONJUGAL VISITING FACILITIES PROVIDED BY THE PENITENTIARY WERE THOSE WITHIN THE FIRST OFFENDER UNIT OPENED IN 1965; THE RED HOUSE WAS INCLUDED IN THE PLAN AND WAS MADE OF THE SAME RED BRICK USED FOR THE REST OF THE PRISON FACILITY. THIS FACILITY MARKED THE BEGINNING OF FORMAL ACCEPTANCE OF CONJUGAL VISITING AT PARCHMAN. BY 1969, BOTH THE STAFF AND THE INMATES WERE CONVINCED THAT THE VISITS WERE IMPORTANT TO INMATE MORAL AND THAT THEY HELPED REDUCE HOMOSEXUALITY. AS A RESULT OF SWEEPING CHANGES, PARCHMAN TODAY (1978) IS GREATLY DIFFERENT. THE CONJUGAL VISITING PROGRAM HAS BEEN REVAMPED AND THE MAKE-SHIFT RED HOUSES HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN EACH CAMP BY MODERN, PLEASANTLY FURNISHED UNITS. CONJUGAL VISITING FOR WOMEN WAS INITIATED IN JULY 1972, AND THE WOMEN'S PROGRAM IS UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT; BIRTH CONTROL PRACTICES ARE REQUIRED. IN 1974, THE BIWEEKLY CONJUGAL VISITING PROGRAM FOR MARRIED MEN AND WOMEN WAS EXPANDED BY THE ADDITION OF A 3-DAY FAMILY VISITATION PROGRAM. ALTHOUGH THE FAMILY VISITATION PROGRAM IS NOT LIMITED TO THE MARRIED INMATES, THE GREAT MAJORITY OF THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE IN IT ALSO HAVE CONJUGAL VISITS. THESE PROGRAMS REFLECT THE EMPHASIS WHICH THE MISSISSIPPI CORRECTIONAL AUTHORITIES PLACE ON POSITIVE FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS. ALSO, WHEN BOTH A HUSBAND AND WIFE ARE HELD AT PARCHMAN, THE HUSBAND IS ALLOWED TO VISIT THE WIFE IN THE WOMEN'S CAMP. THOSE OPPOSING CONJUGAL VISITS OFFER SEVERAL OBJECTIONS. THE CHIEF COMPLAINT IS THAT THE VISITS SEEM DEGRADING AND EMPHASIZE ONLY THE PHYSICAL SATISFACTIONS OF SEX. OTHERS BELIEVE THAT MARRIED INMATES WHO ENGAGE IN CONJUGAL VISITS ARE THOSE WHO WOULD ADJUST BEST TO PRISON LIFE EVEN WITHOUT SEXUAL RELATIONS. SOME ARGUE THAT CONJUGAL VISITS OFFER NO SOLUTION TO THE SEXUAL TENSION SINGLE PRISONERS SUFFER AND THAT THE WIVES OF INMATES MIGHT BECOME PREGNANT, CREATING FURTHER PROBLEMS FOR THE STATE AND THE INMATE, WHILE OTHERS CONTEND THAT CONJUGAL VISITS DO NOT DECREASE HOMOSEXUALITY AND ARE CONTRARY TO COMMUNITY-ORIENTED PROGRAMS. (KBL)