Reflection Paper 1 Most of us assume that one of the penalties of being incarcerated is that prisoners are prohibited from any private contact with their spouse. However, this is not the case with the policy of conjugal visits. These special visits, allow an inmate and his/her spouse a private visit. They are permitted to engage in sexual intercourse. Often times the visits include family members, such as grandparents or children. The intention for these visits are “designed to help keep families together in an environment that approximates home… and serve as incentives for good behavior, reduce sexual activity among prisoners and strengthen families” (Seversonjan). Nonetheless, recent debates have ensued in state penitentiaries about conjugal visits. For starters, these visits are only allowed to a minority of prisoners who are legally married. Those that aren’t would get jealous about not being able to participate. There are also the dangers of sexually transmitted infections (such as HIV) or unplanned pregnancies. The program is also very expensive, costing the prison and tax payers lots of money. Originally, these visits were used as a bribe in the early 1900’s. Sex was used to push African Americans inmates to work harder in the fields. Still holding true today, conjugal visits are used “more as a way to control inmates than nurture relationships” (Seversonjan). Fifty years ago, during the pre-civil war era, a similar, but harsher system was in effect. Slaves and other minorities were not permitted to marry under US law. Marriage’s regulatory role in the past was denying slave’s matrimony because of marriages symbol of freedom; today the denial of conjugal visits indicates that convict’s marriages are less important than others due to their lower status as a prisoner with fewer rights which positions minorities in a racial hierarchy. Marriage creates