NCJ Number
45581
Journal
Corrective and Social Psychiatry and Journal of Behavior Technology Methods and Therapy Volume: 24 Issue: 1 Dated: (1978) Pages: 16-19
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
IT IS ARGUED THAT SEXUAL PERVERSIONS FOUND IN PRISONS ARE RELATED TO NONSEXUAL SOCIAL DEPRIVATIONS AND ALSO HINDER THE RETURN OF THE INMATE TO NORMAL RELATIONSHIPS.
Abstract
IN THE UNNATURAL PRISON ENVIRONMENT THE INMATE IS DEPRIVED, FIRST, OF NORMAL ACCESS TO GOODS AND SERVICES, REINFORCING LOSS OF STATUS AND PERSONAL WEALTH. PERSONAL AUTONOMY AND PERSONAL SECURITY ARE ALSO LOST AS ARE HETEROSEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS. THE 'SEXPLOITATION' COMMON IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS IS CALLED A FUNCTION OF THE LOSS OF IDENTITY. THE ABNORMAL ACTING OUT OF SEXUAL FANTASIES, THE GANG RAPES, OR, AS IS MORE COMMON IN THE CASE OF FEMALE OFFENDERS, THE EXPLOITATION SEXUALLY BY PRISON STAFF ALL MAKE RETURN TO NORMAL RELATIONSHIPS DIFFICULT. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR ADOLESCENTS WHO ARE INSTITUTIONALIZED BEFORE THE SELF-IMAGES ARE FIRMLY FORMED. THREE MASS MURDERERS -- CHARLES MANSON, PAUL KNOWLES, AND GARRY GILMORE -- WERE ALL INSTITUTIONALIZED WHILE MINORS, SPENDING THEIR FORMATIVE YEARS WITHIN PENAL ENVIROMENTS. ALL THREE WERE PSYCHOLOGICALLY HETEROSEXUAL BUT LEARNED TO USE HOMOSEXUAL RELATIONS AS A FORM OF IMPERSONAL RELEASE. UPON RETURN TO THE NONPRISON WORLD, ALL HAD PROBLEMS WITH HETEROSEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT SO SEVERE AMONG FEMALE INMATES. MOST RETURN TO NORMAL SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS UPON RELEASE. THEIR PROBLEM IS EXPLOITATION BY STAFF, LEADING TO A DISTRUST OF THE ENTIRE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AN ATTITUDE OFTEN TRANSMITTED TO THEIR CHILDREN. IF PRISON IS PROTECTION FOR SOCIETY, THEN IT SHOULD NOT CREATE PROBLEMS FOR SOCIETY. SOLUTIONS INCLUDE CONJUGAL VISITATION, COED CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, COMMUNITY BASED FACILITIES, WORK AND STUDY RELEASE, AND MORE FEMALE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL TO HANDLE FEMALE FACILITIES.