NCJ Number
51200
Journal
Corrections Magazine Volume: 4 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1978) Pages: 32-41
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE DEVELOPMENT OF COED PRISONS (CO-CORRECTIONS) BEGAN IN 1971 WHEN FEMALE INMATES FROM THE ALDERSON, W. VA., PRISON WERE ADMITTED TO THE FORT WORTH, TEX., FACILITY. BENEFITS AND PROBLEMS OF CO-CORRECTIONS ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE COED ARRANGEMENT IN THE FEDERAL PRISON AT FORT WORTH REDUCED VIOLENCE, HOMOSEXUALITY, AND AGGRESSION; AND FEAR OF RAMPANT SEX PROBLEMS DID NOT MATERALIZE. IN 1973, THE MASSACHUSETTS CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION AT FRAMINGHAM BECAME COED, AND THIS EVENT WAS FOLLOWED BY INITIATION OF CO-CORRECTIONS IN A NUMBER OF STATES. ACCORDING TO A 1977 KOBA REPORT, 997 FEMALES AND 2,077 MALES WERE INCARCERATED IN THE COED FEDERAL PRISONS. THE BUREAU OF PRISONS TASK FORCE IS PLANNING FOR FUTURE EXPANSION OF CO-CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES IN FEDERAL PRISONS. THE PRISONS HOUSE INMATES THAT ARE IN PRISON FOR RELATIVELY SHORT PERIODS; THEY EMPHASIZE NORMATIVE CONDITIONS AND PREPARATION FOR RELEASE AND INVEST HEAVILY IN THERAPY AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS. RELATIONS BETWEEN THE SEXES, HOWEVER, IS A PERVASIVE PREOCCUPATION OF PRISON OFFICIALS AND INMATES. BOTH THE FACILITIES HAVE A SPECIFIC POLICY ON CONTACT BETWEEN THE SEXES, PROHIBIT SEXUAL INTERCOURSE, AND DENY THE INMATES PRIVACY IN AREAS WHERE THE TWO SEXES MINGLE. IN 1977, 95 VIOLATIONS OF THE INSTITUTION CONTACT POLICY FOR HOMOSEXUAL COUPLES WERE REPORTED AT FORT WORTH, REPRESENTING 7.4 PERCENT OF THE PRISON POPULATION. IN 1975, AN ANALYSIS OF WALK-PARTNER RELATIONSHIPS IN THE PRISON INDICATED THAT THE RELATIONSHIPS PLAY AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN THE LIVES OF 68 PERCENT OF THE FORT WORTH POPULATION AND THAT THEY FALL INTO THREE CATEGORIES: COMPANIONSHIP, COUNSELOR RELATIONSHIPS, AND DATING. ALTHOUGH NO EVALUATION OF THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS OF CO-CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE, STATE AND FEDERAL COED PRISONS REPORT DECREASED VIOLENCE, ENHANCED ABILITIES OF SOME INMATES TO CARRY ON PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, AND IMPROVED SELF-IMAGE OF SOME INMATES. REPORTED DISADVANTAGES ARE INCREASED SUPERVISORY PROBLEMS, TENSION ARISING FROM DENIAL OF SEXUAL CONTACT, CONFUSION ON THE PART OF INMATES AND GUARDS IN DEALING WITH THE SITUATION, AND SOME PROBLEMS WITH SEXUAL ACTIVITY.