SOME PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN DEALING WITH THE HOMOSEXUAL IN THE PRISON SITUATION (FROM CORRECTIONAL CLASSIFICATION AND TREATMENT - A READER, 1975, BY LEONARD J HIPPCHEN SEE NCJ-32007)

• NCJ Number: 49143
• Author(s): C E SMITH
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: Anderson Publishing Co
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

RESULTS FROM A STUDY TESTING THE VALIDITY OF THE CRITERIA COMMONLY USED IN THE DIAGNOSIS AND CLASSIFICATION OF HOMOSEXUALITY ARE REPORTED, ALONG WITH THE ATTITUDES OF THE IMPRISONED HOMOSEXUAL TOWARD HIS CONDITION.

Abstract

THE ORIGINAL SAMPLE FOR THE STUDY WAS COMPOSED OF 61 MALE PRISONERS MEDICALLY DIAGNOSED AS HOMOSEXUAL AND ADMINISTRATIVELY CLASSIFIED AND SEGREGATED AS SUCH AT THE MEDICAL CENTER FOR FEDERAL PRISONERS AT SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI. THE SUBJECTS RANGED IN AGE FROM 17 TO 59, WITH APPROXIMATELY TWO-THIRDS OF THE GROUP BEING UNDER 30 YEARS OF AGE. THEY HAD BEEN COMMITTED FOR ALL TYPES OF OFFENSES, WITH FEW COMMITTED FOR HOMOSEXUAL OFFENSES. OF THE 61 CASES CONTACTED, 14 DECLINED TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONNAIRE, LEAVING 47 INDIVIDUALS WHO STATED THEY WERE HOMOSEXUAL AND VOLUNTARILY REPLIED TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE. RESULTS OF THE STUDY ARE BELIEVED TO INDICATE THAT IF MORE ABSOLUTE AND IRREFUTABLE DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA WERE USED, IT MIGHT LESSEN THE INCIDENCE OF COMPLAINTS FROM OFFENDERS THAT THEY HAD BEEN IMPROPERLY DIAGNOSED AND CLASSIFIED. EFFEMINACY, AS MANIFESTED BY PROFESSED DISINTEREST OR ANTIPATHY TOWARD PORNOGRAPHY, IS SUGGESTED AS A POSSIBLE NEW LEAD IN ESTABLISHING THE DIAGNOSIS OF HOMOSEXUALITY, WHILE THE VALIDITY OF CLASSIFYING HOMOSEXUALS AS EITHER ACTIVE OR PASSIVE IS QUESTIONED BY THE STUDY FINDINGS. IN ASSESSING THE ATTITUDES OF THE SUBJECTS TOWARD THEIR DEVIATION, THERE IS NOT MUCH INDICATION THAT THEY ARE INFLUENCED BY SOCIAL DISAPPROVAL. ALTHOUGH THERE IS CONSIDERED TO BE LITTLE DOUBT THAT THE PRESENT METHOD OF SEGREGATING HOMOSEXUALS OFFERS THE BEST ANSWER TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEM OF HANDLING THEM IN PRISON, THE STUDY INDICATES THAT SEGREGATION CREATES A SITUATION IN WHICH HOMOSEXUALS ARE PLACED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO POTENTIAL SEXUAL PARTNERS, AND, THEREFORE, MAY RESULT IN INCREASED SEXUAL TENSIONS LEADING TO PROBLEM BEHAVIOR. SOME STUDY RESULTS ALSO INDICATE THAT CONSTRUCTIVE EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE TO OVERCOME THE FEELING OF MANY HOMOSEXUALS THAT THEY ARE TREATED PREJUDICIALLY BY COURTS AND PAROLE BOARDS. (RCB)