# Why is porn banned in American prisons? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 29, 2012, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-porn-banned-in-american-prisons/639185 "2012-10-29T04:26:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-porn-banned-in-american-prisons/639185/41 "2012-10-29T23:32:08Z")
Well, **Qadgop** knows better about what goes on in a prison, so I’ll defer to his expertise. That being said, I’m still uneasy with the idea of it. And yes, there’s the punishment aspect of it. I’m not saying we shouldn’t try to reform prisoners, but it’s not supposed to be a vacation either. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-porn-banned-in-american-prisons/639185/42 "2012-10-29T23:47:23Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > And if it were up to me I’d have each and everyone of them executed. > > And I would personally do the job myself if asked. > > \ > > Fucking Fascists! One would think you’d be a fan. ---
**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:** [October 30, 2012, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-porn-banned-in-american-prisons/639185/43 "2012-10-30T00:07:26Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > I’m not saying we shouldn’t try to reform prisoners, but it’s not supposed to be a vacation either. Oh, believe me. It’s no vacation. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-porn-banned-in-american-prisons/639185/44 "2012-10-30T00:13:04Z")
Gods no…it’s definitely no vacation. We support the various detention centers in the county and state, and I hate going there even just to do basic network maintenance or troubleshoot network or systems issues. To paraphrase from The Matrix, it’s the smell. But it’s not just the physical smell…it’s almost an emotional level thing. Giving prisoners access to porn isn’t going to make life there a vacation, or enjoyable. More like a small safety valve on a huge boiling pot. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-porn-banned-in-american-prisons/639185/45 "2012-10-30T00:19:01Z")
> [@XT](#): > > Giving prisoners access to porn isn’t going to make life there a vacation, or enjoyable. More like a small safety valve on a huge boiling pot. ☹ Precisely. It’ll make a bad situation slightly better. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-porn-banned-in-american-prisons/639185/46 "2012-10-30T00:33:31Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **Lust4Life** : > > So we give them all these new ideas about sex. > > And then eventually we release them. > > Yeah good idea. We give them the ideas? You seem to be under the impression that someone is calling for the prison to _provide_ the porn, which seems a ridiculous idea on the face of it. But the actual topic under discussion here is porn that the inmates gain through other ways, such as bringing it in with them, or having it brought in by friends on the outside. In which case, these are ideas about sex that they’d be getting anyway, in or out of prison. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-porn-banned-in-american-prisons/639185/47 "2012-10-30T01:04:42Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > … > > As I said, the most common problem is gang material. Somebody gets a magazine and there’s a picture inside of some rapper flashing a gang sign. Not allowed. Usually we just cut out the page and allow the rest of the magazine in. The main problem is some gang signs are subtle and you don’t notice them unless you know what you’re looking for. Most people would know [this](http://globalgangwiki.wikispaces.com/file/view/crip_gang_hand_signs_4.jpg/143345847/crip_gang_hand_signs_4.jpg) is gang related. But would you notice something like the way a person’s shoes are laced up or if he’s got a pocket turned inside out? > … Just pictures? I would have thought that gang _propaganda_ would be seen as more dangerous than just illustrations. ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-porn-banned-in-american-prisons/639185/48 "2012-10-30T01:34:51Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > A female CO has noted to me that if a typical inmate has access to porn (and sufficient privacy to use it discreetly), he’ll be far less likely to act out sexually in front of her. (i.e those “Shirley, this one’s for you!” \<\\> moments happen far less often.) Isn’t one of the remedial purposes of incarceration to teach prisoners that the explanation “Well, I had to jack off in front of you, you wouldn’t let me have pornography!” is unavailing? People are in prison, by and large, because they cannot control their impulses (for drugs, for cash, for sexual outlets, for vengeance of slights) and conform to standards of legal behavior. Seen in this light, I’m not sure we should be particularly impressed by the argument that this will make their prison lives more delightful. They should be learning how to master frustration. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-porn-banned-in-american-prisons/639185/49 "2012-10-30T01:40:14Z")
> [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > Isn’t one of the remedial purposes of incarceration to teach prisoners that the explanation “Well, I had to jack off in front of you, you wouldn’t let me have pornography!” is unavailing? > > People are in prison, by and large, because they cannot control their impulses (for drugs, for cash, for sexual outlets, for vengeance of slights) and conform to standards of legal behavior. > > Seen in this light, I’m not sure we should be particularly impressed by the argument that this will make their prison lives more delightful. They should be learning how to master frustration. That’s rubbish. If access to porn means fewer assaults and rapes, it is a good thing to do. That it marginally makes their lives slightly better isn’t a bug. This kind of thinking is what leads to abstinence only education. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-porn-banned-in-american-prisons/639185/50 "2012-10-30T01:40:34Z")
For creative reasons. So you can make your own. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-porn-banned-in-american-prisons/639185/51 "2012-10-30T01:46:08Z")
> [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > People are in prison, by and large, because they cannot control their impulses (for drugs, for cash, for sexual outlets, for vengeance of slights) and conform to standards of legal behavior. > > Seen in this light, I’m not sure we should be particularly impressed by the argument that this will make their prison lives more delightful. They should be learning how to master frustration. Which most people do by masturbating to porn. Relieving themselves with porn is “conforming to the standards of legal behavior”. ---
**Author:** ![Carmady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@Carmady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carmady)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-porn-banned-in-american-prisons/639185/52 "2012-10-30T01:47:34Z")
> [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > Seen in this light, I’m not sure we should be particularly impressed by the argument that this will make their prison lives more delightful. Will it? Maybe they would actually get more enjoyment out of raping and assaulting other prisoners and acting out sexually in front of female guards, but would use the porn because it was easier and more immediate. Like how you might get more enjoyment from spending hours cooking a nice meal, but would resort to a fast food cheeseburger if you had one in front of you. ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-porn-banned-in-american-prisons/639185/53 "2012-10-30T01:48:54Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > That’s rubbish. > > If access to porn means fewer assaults and rapes, it is a good thing to do. No, in fact, it is a very bad thing to teach them that denying them access to pornography in any way legitimates assaults or rapes. The world doesn’t always meet our expectations, and there are limits on what kinds of self-help we can avail ourselves of when that happens. Going to prison means saying adios to porn. If this is not a trade-off one wants to make, then one needs to learn how to tolerate frustration and avoid activities that will send one to the pokey. I am not sure how you think this pertains to abstinence-only education. I surmise it is a red herring you’ve concocted to cover up the fact that you haven’t got an argument. In any event, even sex-positive education doesn’t teach, “Have sex whenever you and however you want. Worry about consequences later,” instead it teaches people “Sex can be enjoyable, and it’s not bad to do. But there are emotional and physical health considerations that should guide you in choosing what, when, how, and with whom you have sex. Let’s talk about those.” So, in short, it’s all about being forward-thinking and making good, considered choices. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-porn-banned-in-american-prisons/639185/54 "2012-10-30T01:50:28Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > As opposed to grouping a large number of violent people together and trying to ensure they have no way to relive their sexual frustrations? All the evidence seems to be that the availability of porn reduces the likelihood of rape. Cite? Based on your claim then you should be able to produce evidence that rape was far more common in Warsaw Pact countries, where porn was illegal than Western European countries where it was legal. Please do so. Thanks. ---
**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:** [October 30, 2012, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-porn-banned-in-american-prisons/639185/55 "2012-10-30T02:00:54Z")
> [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > They should be learning how to master frustration. As a behavior modification program, prisons fail catastrophically. Yes, we should be teaching them all the cardinal virtues, educating them in the basics of reading and ciphering, teaching them skills to make them employable, filling them with moral imperatives to get them to feel real remorse and make amends to their victims, educate them about firearm safety, seatbelt and helmet laws, weight loss, smoking cessation, and responsible alcohol consumption. (All the aforementioned points have been, or are presently mandated by law or policy as things the inmates need to be taught while incarcerated.) But let’s get real. The system all too often is overwhelmed, overcrowded, understaffed, underfunded, held up to public ridicule by elected officials for actually providing any sort of rehab, and the basic imperative is harm reduction, and trying to return them to society less likely to re-offend than when they came in. So it’s not real cost-effective to try to police the porn and confiscate it. We save that effort for catching the drugs and syringes and cell phones and weapons smuggled in. You know, the stuff that can actually harm staff and other inmates. Also, keep in mind that inmates are not sent to prison to be punished, they are sent to prison as punishment. ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-porn-banned-in-american-prisons/639185/56 "2012-10-30T02:13:22Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > As a behavior modification program, prisons fail catastrophically. Yes, we should be teaching them all the cardinal virtues, educating them in the basics of reading and ciphering, teaching them skills to make them employable, filling them with moral imperatives to get them to feel real remorse and make amends to their victims, educate them about firearm safety, seatbelt and helmet laws, weight loss, smoking cessation, and responsible alcohol consumption. (All the aforementioned points have been, or are presently mandated by law or policy as things the inmates need to be taught while incarcerated.) All admirable goals to be sure, but I have here advocated for teaching them “How to handle your frustration in ways that don’t lead you to violate whatever disciplinary regulations apply to you.” For some reason, I feel that if you find yourself jailed, this is an especially pertinent life lesson to have imparted. More so than reading, writing, and arithmetic, or even vocational training. These latter would make post-manumission life easier; but learning how to follow the law even when you might not want to is especially vital. (And since most inmates will like to avoid returning to jail, these are techniques that they—or the better angels of their nature, at least—want to learn too.) My kudos to you for trying to make my position appear ridiculous by larding it with worthwhile, but still secondary, embellishments. ---
**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:** [October 30, 2012, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-porn-banned-in-american-prisons/639185/57 "2012-10-30T08:14:45Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > Just pictures? I would have thought that gang _propaganda_ would be seen as more dangerous than just illustrations. Written gang material either isn’t allowed but it’s pictures that are the main issue (which, when you think about it, is also true of porn). Not only are gang related pictures more prevalent, they’re also a problem because prisoners display these pictures as a mean of displaying their gang allegiance. And like I said, they get creative. If you walked by and saw a prisoner had [this ad](http://www.designyourway.net/diverse/fastfood/burger-king-bk-super-seven-incher-advertisement-picture.jpg) taped to his wall, would you recognize that he might be telling people he was a gang member? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-porn-banned-in-american-prisons/639185/58 "2012-10-30T08:24:21Z")
> [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > All admirable goals to be sure, but I have here advocated for teaching them “How to handle your frustration in ways that don’t lead you to violate whatever disciplinary regulations apply to you.” No, you haven’t. What you’ve done is advocate for frustrating them _further_, and _preventing_ them from dealing with it. Porn is one of the most common means of handling sexual frustration. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-porn-banned-in-american-prisons/639185/59 "2012-10-30T17:25:04Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Written gang material either isn’t allowed but it’s pictures that are the main issue (which, when you think about it, is also true of porn). Not only are gang related pictures more prevalent, they’re also a problem because prisoners display these pictures as a mean of displaying their gang allegiance. > > And like I said, they get creative. If you walked by and saw a prisoner had [this ad](http://www.designyourway.net/diverse/fastfood/burger-king-bk-super-seven-incher-advertisement-picture.jpg) taped to his wall, would you recognize that he might be telling people he was a gang member? Aren’t gang affiliations pretty well known amongst prisoners? ---
**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:** [October 30, 2012, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-porn-banned-in-american-prisons/639185/60 "2012-10-30T18:21:02Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > Aren’t gang affiliations pretty well known amongst prisoners? We work on suppressing it (which admittedly can sometimes be compared to pushing back the tide). If you tolerate public gang signs, they get used as intimidation. Gang members will publicly display their affiliation as a group to show how many of them there are. Other gangs will then display their numbers. Unaffiliated people will feel pressured into supporting some gang. Next you’ve got challenges and fights. So we follow the Barney Fife principle and try to nip it in the bud. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-porn-banned-in-american-prisons/639185.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-porn-banned-in-american-prisons/639185.md?page=4)