Mississippi Conjugal Visitation Rights Vanishing

The picture immediately reminded me of the John Grisham novel and movie "The Chamber", starring the hacker.

This subject is all over the internet today. It seems that six states in the United States allow conjugal visits to the inmates.  One of those states, Connecticut, the program is inactive and another, Mississippi is halting the program due to excessive costs.

This particular is interesting in its portrayal of the issue, the International Business Times suggests that American states are regressing in comparison to the shining example of Islamic countries.

Midnight Special: Conjugal Visitation Rights For US Prisoners Vanishing, While ‘Repressed’ States Like Iran And Saudi Arabia Permit Them

Within the above article the author, Palash Ghosh, notes that an imprisoned has fathered a child while held.

The Economist reported that Turkey, Costa Rica, Israel and Mexico allow conjugal visits – in some cases, even for unmarried and/or homosexual inmates. (In fact, Yigal Amir, the man who assassinated former Israel Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, fathered a child while in prison, during a conjugal respite).

Well isn't that special, a terrorist has rights that need to asserted.  Leading to the birth of another disciple, who will grow up fatherless and angry.  Can you imagine the uproar caused if an married homosexual couple petitioned for conjugal visits?  There can be little doubt the marriage would not be recognized in the state of Mississippi.

At the FoxNews website there is some recognition that the conjugal visits could be a positive influence on inmate behavior.

“Allowing conjugal visitation may also decrease sexual violence within prisons. Family members and children who visit and thus able to build and sustain more meaningful relationships with their incarcerated parent or family member may benefit tremendously,” 

It is hard to disagree with that statement.

The Detroit Free Press offers a direct slap to the intent on the creation of the program in Mississippi.

The practice began in the early 1900's at the Mississippi State Penitentiary, whose warden thought they would prod black inmates to toil harder in the fields; prostitutes were often brought in.

Racist and profiteering without a doubt.  This comment brings to focus the issue of cost of imprisonment and the societal changes that curtailed the domain of prison officials to force prisoners to work.

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