Sexual deviance in prison: Queering identity and intimacy in prison research

Abstract

<jats:p> Recent years have seen increased attention in both research and policy towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender prisoners as a group with distinct needs. This has been driven by wider political recognition of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights and research suggesting that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender prisoners are particularly ‘vulnerable’ to bullying and abuse within prison settings. Much of this research, and the policy solutions associated with it, we argue, ignores or side-steps queer perspectives, relying instead on liberal conceptions of identity, vulnerability and, ultimately, assimilation. Just as contemporary campaigns around marriage rights see lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities and individuals as fundamentally the same as the majority, rather than posing a challenge to the heteronormativity of marriage as an institution, much contemporary research and policy on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender prisoners sees this group as marked only by potential discrimination. We argue here instead that experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender prisoners can be read ‘queerly’ so as to potentially challenge the rigid gender and heteronormative foundations that underlie systems of incarceration. We draw on a small-scale empirical research project around the experience of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender prisoners to revisit contemporary paradoxes of prisons and sexuality and to problematise understandings of identity, intimacy and deviance in the prison context. </jats:p>

Deprivation and Importation Measures as Predictors of Bullying Perpetration in Young Correctional Institutions

“…Sykes (1958) claimed that the core “pains of imprisonment” that is, the loss of freedom, lack of supplies (e.g., hygiene supplies, foods, medicines), deprivation of (heterosexual) romantic relationships, and the isolation from outside community can have a strong impact on how offenders behave in correctional institutions. Studies found lack of supplies increased risk of theft-related bullying (Guo et al, 2019; Hassan et al, 2020), and sexual deprivation can be linked to sexual bullying in correctional institutions (Banbury et al, 2016; Carr et al, 2020) . Researchers agreed that some features of the institution generate enormous pressure that may increase the risk of bullying or other forms of aggressive behavior (Adams & Ireland, 2017; Ireland et al, 2016; Sekol et al, 2021), but not limited to these five Sykes’s deprivations.…”

Behind closed doors: An exploration of cell-sharing and its relationship with wellbeing

“…Previous research has identified reduced feelings of safety as one of the potential negative effects of cell-sharing, and feeling unsafe in prison is associated with a lower quality of life, psychological distress and suicide ideation (for example, Favril et al, 2017; Liebling et al, 2005; Moran et al, 2013). Sexuality may be important to consider because individuals reporting a non-heterosexual identity may experience increased awkwardness with cellmates, as well as increased vulnerability to discrimination, potentially affecting their wellbeing (Carr et al, 2020; Dunn, 2013). Time served may also influence cell-sharing and wellbeing: individuals can often initially struggle to cope with the prison regime and rules in prison before then adapting as time progresses (Zamble and Porporino, 1988).…”

Lesbian convict in women’s prison: a description of rational choice

“…Besides that, other studies mention as stated in Ref. [21][22][23] these lesbians in general manner undetected so that notes about behavior of the lesbians only will can obtained when done examination by an experienced psychiatrist.…”