Review condom policy for prisoners .........

A discussion that has been looked at on this blog and a few others has finally made it to mainstream media again on the question of condoms in prisons, sadly it is only the legal aspects that are pushed by the pundits involved on the back drop of buggery often times and grouping or giving the impression that men who fuck or have sexual contact in prisons are somehow gay or bisexual which is not necessarily so. Often times the discourse though important lacks the psycho social reasons for such sexual activities to take place and often times leave out the non penetrative or outer course aspects of the contact in maximum security prisons and jails across this island, such as oral sex for a bar of soap or other items which are considered precious in a confined space so bartering comes in. Sexual contact in prisons or confined areas often times are not consensual and rings more on control and power differentials than anything else.

I have tried to present some of the other issues in layman's terms of course on here to explore at best how or why sex happens in prisons hence the other tab/labels such as substitutional sex, Metrosexualism, down low issues, Heaviots (local jargon for hyper masculine gay/bi thugs), situational homosexuality. The discussion must include the other factors I feel if we are to not only have a basic grasp as to why sex happens in prisons, boys homes and other "confined spaces" which may not be just physical but mental as well but could also help to explain the reasons for internalized homophobia and the farce or hypocrisy that surrounds our intermittent "public homophobic outbursts" attached to down low living.

Here is a letter from attorney-at-law and activist from Montego Bay Maurice Tomlinson who is also a consultant to AIDSFREEWORLD. He takes a more HIV response and legal look on the matter but this may be precisely the problem as the prison authorities have contended some who are calling for condoms in prison are trying to sneak Male homosexuality through the back door under the guise of HIV?AIDS interventions.

The Letter reads:

Review condom policy for prisoners

Dear Editor,

The HIV prevalence rate among Jamaican prisoners is twice the national average. As far back as the 1990s, Dr Raymoth Notice, former prison doctor in Spanish Town, and later mayor of that town, responded to the growing HIV epidemic by recommending the distribution of condoms to inmates. He was supported by then Commissioner of Corrections Colonel John Prescod who in 1997 quietly ordered the issuing of condoms to prisoners.

Colonel John Prescod and Dr Raymoth Notice

Whether out of desperation or desire, the fact is men have sex with each other in prison, usually without protection. Upon their release, many of these men take HIV back to their (often multiple) female partners. Colonel Prescod's enlightened approach was met with a prison riot in which 17 persons were killed, including warders. As a result, there was a quick policy reversal on the guise that by distributing condoms to inmates, prison officials were aiding and abetting a criminal offence, namely buggery.

In a recent discussion with a prison warder I was advised that condoms remain contraband in prisons, but some warders make a tidy profit trading in them. For inmates who can't afford to pay they resort to the use of plastic "scandal" bags. Jamaican supermarkets are now going green and will soon cease the distribution of this major prophylaxis used by prisoners - plastic bags. It is therefore time to review the policy and the law which prevents the distribution of condoms to prisoners. Otherwise we can expect an increased HIV prevalence among inmates and their partners.

Maurice Tomlinson
Montego Bay, St James
maurice_tomlinson@yahoo.com

LETTER ENDS

Often times these letters do not categorically state that the issue of HIV in prisons is directly related to the threat of the virus reaching the general populations, given how often some Jamaican brothers make the trip to the slammer and back out again.

In a previous post on the subject it was mentioned how some in the prison system reacted such as Lambert Brown the UAWU's the then first vice-president, had said that although he was still opposed to condom distribution in prisons, he had nothing against the other recommendations made.

"The fight against AIDS is not based solely on condom distribution," Mr. Brown said. "Those who are promoting condoms in prison are using the back door to promote homosexuality which is illegal." here suggesting fear.

The gentlemen in the photo above were in the system .... In 1997, Lieutenant Colonel John Prescod, then Commissioner of Corrections, suggested that condoms be distributed in the prisons as a means of stopping the spread of HIV. The suggestion sparked a riot that claimed the lives of 16 prisoners, some of whom were accused of being homosexuals and as it turns out many who died weren't actually gay but prior rivalry and a golden opportunity for a disturbance led the way to the attacks. The National AIDS Committee had recommended again in 2000 to the then Peoples National Party administration launch Mandatory medical examinations for all inmates, segregation of HIV positive inmates, legal conjugal visits, a health education programme for the prison, and permission for terminally ill patients to be allowed to die at home, were also among the recommendations made to the Government which were ignored.

Dr. Raymoth Notice medical expert in the penal system had said at the time, "...We recognise that the incidence of HIV is increasing in the general population and not only that, studies have shown that the incidence of AIDS in prison is six to 10 times greater in prisons than in the general population," also he continued "the level of homophobia and ignorance as well as the lack of resources have hampered the education process a whole lot. Before we even get to the condom issue it is important first and foremost to educate the population about AIDS. But everyone has been too afraid to do anything since the riots. There is no analysis being done, no reliable data, inmates are leaving with the disease and taking it back to their communities."

We all remembered what happened the last time they tried to introduce condoms and the riots which left persons dead as hinted in Mr. Tomlinson's letter but many of who died as it turns out were not gay but were just murdered due to internal rivalry and a perfect opportunity in the form of a riot for enemies to exact revenge.

What you think?

Peace and tolerance

H

Extras:

here is a take on it from up north in a seven part documentary on Sexual Assault Behind Bars, maybe this can give us some insight on the local front.