Inmate-to-Inmate Prison Sexuality

Abstract

For the past 90 years, sociologists, psychologists, and penologists have been studying inmate-to-inmate prison sexuality. These researchers have made great strides in advancing the study of prison sexuality. Although many may consider the issue to be deviant, prison sex researchers have made positive contributions to the study of one of the most controversial issues in corrections. In this review, the authors seek to provide readers with an understanding of not only what researchers have uncovered about inmate sexual behavior and the dynamics of institutional sex but also how this field of inquiry has developed and evolved. The discussion that follows is divided into four primary sections, male and female inmate consensual homosexual behavior and male and female inmate coerced sexual activity.

Policies on Consensual Sexual Activity in State Prisons

“…Here the justice is likely referring to issues outside of the prison system. However, when coupled with the high cost of some punishments, such as segregation, and research indicating that consensual sexual activity may not contribute to a violent prison culture as much as other activities that are punished less (see Borchert, 2016;Hensley & Tewksbury, 2002), DOCs should reconsider whether consensual sexual behaviors should be covered under the same policy and punishments as coerced behaviors.…”

“…The study concluded that the "preponderance of the activity is consensual sex rather than rape" (p. 427). Similarly, Hensley and Tewksbury (2002) found that fear of rape is much higher than the actual occurrences of sexual assault.…”

“…A vast amount of research has been conducted examining sexual assaults in prisons; however, sparse research had examined consensual sex in prison (Hensley, 2020;Hensley & Tewksbury, 2002). Perhaps, one reason researchers neglected conducting studies on consensual sex and focused more on sexual coercion is that nonconsensual sexual behavior is viewed as serious corrections' issue (Hensley et al, 2001(Hensley et al, , 2003.…”

“…While there is a documented connection between sexual behavior (consensual and nonconsensual) and prison violence, some research contradicts the belief or calls into question the validity of the previous research. Hensley and Tewksbury (2002) conducted a review of the scholarly literature on inmate-to-inmate prison sexuality and found little empirical evidence supporting increased violence and security issues and some research, which indicates lower rates of violence.…”

Prison Guards' Attitudes Towards the Prevention of Sexual Contacts Between Inmates

“…These results seem to reflect the difficulty in studying consensual sexuality in prison rather than the reality. In fact, methodological and conceptual variables (Hensley and Tewksbury 2002), along with individual differences in the inmate population might explain such disparities (Hensley, Koscheski and Tewksbury 2005). Furthermore, it is not always easy to distinguish consensual and forced sexual contacts, specifically when covert strategies of coercion are used (Eigenberg 2000a).…”