Sex in the Calabozo

Mexico's custom of letting male prisoners have occasional visitas conjugates with their wives (or other women) was recommended for U.S. prisons last week by tall, thin, shy Sociologist Normal Sylvester Hayner of the University of Washington.

Visitas conyugales are Mexico's solution to the formidable problem of sex in prison. They not only prevent homosexuality, whose dank infestation in U.S. prisons alarms intelligent penologists, but also often change the entire behavior of a convict and leave him less vengeful and obsessed upon his release. U.S. prisons, at least officially, do not have the custom.

At Cuernavaca Prison 50 to 60% of the prisoners use the privilege, which is granted on Thursday or Sunday. Two small rooms, furnished only with a petate, or straw mat, are available: if a man's serape is hung in the doorway, the room is busy. The women need not be married to the prisoners but must not be syphilitic. Sometimes unmarried convicts take a fancy to girls among the prison visitors, says Sociologist Hayner, "and are able to make the proper arrangements." At Morelia about 13%, and at Guadalajara about 20% of the men enjoy visitas conyugales, which can extend all night if they wish. To women prisoners the privilege is denied. Concludes Hayner:

"[In Mexico], more than in the U.S., the family is regarded as a fundamental institution. ... It is believed that the conjugal visit keeps couples together. Whether or not we Americans have sufficiently outgrown our Puritan heritage to support such a humanitarian policy is a debatable question."

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