# Sex and Rape in Prison **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 27, 2004, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-and-rape-in-prison/231490 "2004-02-27T17:17:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-and-rape-in-prison/231490/1 "2004-02-27T17:17:45Z")
A while ago, I read [New Jack](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0375726624/qid=1077902067//ref=pd_ka_1/102-2929026-7257724?v=glance&s=books&n=507846). The author claimed that, at least in Sing Sing, there is little or no sex or rape among the population. Is this true? Are the prison rape activists crying wolf? ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-and-rape-in-prison/231490/2 "2004-02-27T17:25:11Z")
Completely anecdotal, but my exhub served a year in a state prison a couple years back. I asked much the same question and he said that yes, there was sex. He himself didn’t witness any violent full-on rapes, but rather said that the smaller/weaker guys were intimidated into sex or coerced by the sex-seeker who offered protection from other inmates in exchange. This isn’t to say that prison rape doesn’t happen, of course. I’m simply responding to the question of whether or not sex takes place. The answer being Yes, at least in some prisons. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-and-rape-in-prison/231490/3 "2004-02-27T17:37:13Z")
> [@belladonna](#): > > Completely anecdotal, but my exhub served a year in a state prison a couple years back. I asked much the same question and he said that yes, there was sex. He himself didn’t witness any violent full-on rapes, but rather said that the smaller/weaker guys were intimidated into sex or coerced by the sex-seeker who offered protection from other inmates in exchange. This isn’t to say that prison rape doesn’t happen, of course. I’m simply responding to the question of whether or not sex takes place. The answer being Yes, at least in some prisons. I imagine there is more in the lower security facilities. Conover was a guard at Sing Sing, and he said that the inmates were seldom even alone together. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-and-rape-in-prison/231490/4 "2004-02-27T18:29:25Z")
I bet Qadgop could give us the inside track on this, if he is around . . . ---
**Author:** ![Madness2MyMethod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Madness2MyMethod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madness2MyMethod)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-and-rape-in-prison/231490/5 "2004-02-27T18:36:02Z")
> [@belladonna](#): > > Completely anecdotal, but my exhub served a year in a state prison a couple years back. I asked much the same question and he said that yes, there was sex. He himself didn’t witness any violent full-on rapes, but rather said that the smaller/weaker guys were intimidated into sex or coerced by the sex-seeker who offered protection from other inmates in exchange. This isn’t to say that prison rape doesn’t happen, of course. I’m simply responding to the question of whether or not sex takes place. The answer being Yes, at least in some prisons. You must be speaking of the Bitch system. ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-and-rape-in-prison/231490/6 "2004-02-27T20:43:15Z")
> [@belladonna](#): > > He himself didn’t witness any violent full-on rapes, but rather said that the smaller/weaker guys were intimidated into sex or coerced by the sex-seeker who offered protection from other inmates in exchange. This isn’t to say that prison rape doesn’t happen, of course. Coercing sex out of a person is still rape. ---
**Author:** ![ReverseCowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@ReverseCowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReverseCowgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-and-rape-in-prison/231490/7 "2004-02-27T20:46:22Z")
> [@js\_africanus](#): > > Coercing sex out of a person is still rape. A good point. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-and-rape-in-prison/231490/8 "2004-02-27T21:20:22Z")
This makes me think, vaguely, of arguments that some rather extremist feminist individuals were making that _all_ heterosexual sex is rape. The arguments advanced went something like: A. Income and power between men and women is unequal B. Sleeping with a man allows a woman to acquire more of his income and power C. Violence has been used to make income and power between men and women unequal. Therefore, heterosexual sex is rape. I don’t personally buy the argument wholesale, but I believe that it has a respectable quantity of value as a teaching tool. ---
**Author:** ![ReverseCowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@ReverseCowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReverseCowgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-and-rape-in-prison/231490/9 "2004-02-27T21:28:08Z")
> [@Jonathan Woodall](#): > > This makes me think, vaguely, of arguments that some rather extremist feminist individuals were making that _all_ heterosexual sex is rape. > The arguments advanced went something like: > A. Income and power between men and women is unequal > B. Sleeping with a man allows a woman to acquire more of his income and power > C. Violence has been used to make income and power between men and women unequal. > Therefore, heterosexual sex is rape. > > I don’t personally buy the argument wholesale, but I believe that it has a respectable quantity of value as a teaching tool. And the circumstances are starker in prison. We aren’t talking about established social roles and power here. These people are in immediate fear of physical harm, whether it is threatened or not. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-and-rape-in-prison/231490/10 "2004-02-27T23:28:18Z")
violent sexual assault is uncommon but not unknown. In my institution we have 1600 inmates at any one time, but since it’s a processing center, we have about 8000 go thru each year. In two years there, I’ve dealt with 3 violent sexual assaults. Did more occur and not get reported? Certainly. Does sex happen thru coercion and threat? Certainly. But we do take steps to minimize it, from separating and protecting those most vulnerable to these sorts of attacks to enforcing stiff penalties along with new criminal charges for assault and/or intimidation. Overall, I have been surprised by the seeming low level of sex going on among the inmates. It appears to be less than I expected. No cites or studies, only my observations. QtM, MD to some people you would _not_ want to have at your house. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2004, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-and-rape-in-prison/231490/11 "2004-02-28T01:37:02Z")
QtM, not to get too far off topic, but what happens when a guard walks in on 2 guys going at it? Consensual, of course. Is there a punishment, or does the guard just tell them to knock it off, or what? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2004, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-and-rape-in-prison/231490/12 "2004-02-28T01:44:52Z")
If it’s consensual, they’ll still get a conduct report. They’re not supposed to be having intimate physical relations with others. Now masturbation is a different matter. As long as the inmate is reasonably trying to be private about it, it’s not considered anyone’s business. Now if he’s trying to whack to get some security officer’s attention (screaming, waving, yelling “this one’s for you, ma’am”) that’ll buy a conduct report too. Conduct reports will buy someone time on the segregation unit. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2004, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-and-rape-in-prison/231490/13 "2004-02-28T02:18:37Z")
Quick follow-up for Dr. **Quadgop** : If an inmate is concerned that he might be raped, is it likely he will be granted Solitary Confinement? VTY, B (Always considering new ways to catch up on my reading.) . ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2004, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-and-rape-in-prison/231490/14 "2004-02-28T02:19:58Z")
Pardon. _ **Qadgop** _. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2004, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-and-rape-in-prison/231490/15 "2004-02-28T02:27:53Z")
> [@El Cid Viscoso](#): > > Quick follow-up for Dr. **Quadgop** : > > If an inmate is concerned that he might be raped, is it likely he will be granted Solitary Confinement? He can be put into a special management unit. Not nearly so restrictive as the segregation unit. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2004, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-and-rape-in-prison/231490/16 "2004-02-28T03:31:25Z")
If you hadn’t shown up, **QtM,** I was going to try to find your old “Ask the Prison Doctor” thread, where IIRC this question was one of the first ones asked. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2004, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-and-rape-in-prison/231490/17 "2004-02-28T04:11:32Z")
Ask the prison guard: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=161530&highlight=prison+doctor](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=161530&highlight=prison+doctor) Ask the prison doc: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=150626&highlight=prison+doctor](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=150626&highlight=prison+doctor) Enjoy ye. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2004, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-and-rape-in-prison/231490/18 "2004-02-28T08:45:08Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > But we do take steps to minimize it, from separating and protecting those most vulnerable to these sorts of attacks to enforcing **stiff penalties** along with new criminal charges for assault and/or intimidation. How appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2004, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-and-rape-in-prison/231490/19 "2004-02-28T16:46:57Z")
One reason forcible rape is relatively rare in prison is because the rapist lacks the opportunity to leave the scene that a rapist on the street has. Even a large prison is effectively a small community. The most reckless rapists will usually consider the consequences when they realize their victim “knows where they live”. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2004, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-and-rape-in-prison/231490/20 "2004-02-28T16:50:08Z")
> [@](#): > > This makes me think, vaguely, of arguments that some rather extremist feminist individuals were making that _all_ heterosexual sex is rape. > The arguments advanced went something like: > A. Income and power between men and women is unequal > B. Sleeping with a man allows a woman to acquire more of his income and power > C. Violence has been used to make income and power between men and women unequal. > Therefore, heterosexual sex is rape. Does this mean Ryan Phillipe is being raped by Reese Witherspoon? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-and-rape-in-prison/231490.md?page=2)