Do you feel the wife of an incarcerated male should have the right to artificial insemination, if all costs are covered by the couple, and they can show that they could sustain a child within the needs of physical, emotional and financial support?
How do you feel about wives that have conjugal visits and fall pregnant? Do you see this as a negative or positive for the couple and their community and why?

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If you are compassionate in your approach to all tasks in life, believing that all "problems" contain valuable lessons, you will find peace of mind.
~Dr. Lee Jampolsky

I feel that would be fine in the first case scenario. If the woman would be able to support the child as a single parent which for all practical purposes, she would be.

In the second scenario I am guessing you are saying if the pregnancy just happened and may or may not have been planned or expected? Once again, that would be up to the woman to decide whether or not she should continue the pregnancy. She may not be able to or want to.

I also feel that if a woman wanted to have a baby on her own and decided that a prison inmate would be the perfect choice as a donor due to his circumstances that should be permissible as well. We know that plenty of women choose motherhood with or without a man's ongoing assistance. More power to them I say.

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"Thats it then, they will go on double, secret, probation..."

Under the circumstance's you place where the inmate and spouse or loved one pay for it, I see no reason if that is their wish for artificial Insemination. Both parties need to really think it thru though. Over time if he is in long enough on release may have feelings for another, and will have to pay CS. Or she may not have financial help someday, times change and economy and lifestlye can have ups and downs.

Conjugal has by stats, proven to help keep familys together and makes higher chances on release to be a postive to society on release. Less Chance of going thru the revolving door, has and had support and stays more human and level.

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I agree with Peanut. I think it should be allowed, but perhaps require some form of counseling on both parts to make sure that they understand all the possible consequences and outcomes and be sure that it is something that they are able and willing to do.

And I definitely support conjegal visits. It seems to me that it would keep families together so much more. Not just the sex, but but the imtimacy since they would be allowed a lot more contact and hugging/touching than what seems to be the norm for regular visitation.

Everyone deserves the chance to father/mother a child if the soon to be parents want the baby. Does not matter if they are in prison are not.

Conjugal visits a lot of people abuse it just to say " I can sleep with this inmate are that inmate" I have seen and heard a lot of members on prisoner forums go " Oh if my state allowed it I would do it" to me that is not making love to someone for love its having sex to satisfy a urge. If the couple were man and wife or visa versa BEFORE incarceration I would agree with it if they were not man or wife before it I disagree with it.

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About conjugal visits...I think that two partners who met after incarceration can appreciate the closeness and intimacy of a conjugal visit. It's not necessarily "just for the sake of having sex", just because they met after incarceration. Hey, even gay people should have the opportunity to have conjugal visits (equal rights)

As for the artificial insemination: all for it!

I too believe we should ALL have the right to be parents, but what of those men/women that kill the child of their spouses or any child? Then why is a child's life more valuable than another's, say an adult? How can you seperate those that we deem "worthy" to be parents. Even by the mighty $$$$.

I think their are many things to consider and remembering the charges you can face, the way in which plea bargins come to life. When you really think about it is a whole Pandora's box you would open.

As for the conjugal visits, we all know they serve to be beneficial for all those involved many times over. And it is not just restricted to the spouses to have sex. It is the children, the Grand mothers and other immediate family members as well as the men and women inside themselves.

But as far as ONLY allowing those "special" visits for those previously married before incarceration. I do not agree with that, as so many that go in the Prison system are under 18 and i feel that it is a biased judgment based on age.
How can you go in at the age of 13 for life and be married? So what of these men?(i say men because i am not familiar with any cases of females going in for life without at such a young age) Are they then lost to the system forever? ........

I sincerely believe it should be something that is definitely restricted, but not on the marriage before scenario. I would like to see it not only based on one's behavior, but the growth and redemption one has displayed while inside, along with proving their partner is not just passing in the wind so to speak. It is a proven fact these visits keep some relationships strong and the one's inside on their best behavior for fear of them being taken away.
I have personally had some great stories shared with me about conjugal visits, and were not talking just hot sex either....

__________________
If you are compassionate in your approach to all tasks in life, believing that all "problems" contain valuable lessons, you will find peace of mind.
~Dr. Lee Jampolsky

Im sorry but this is kind of not related but not worth making into its own thread lol.

When people go on these conjugal visits, is there like a guard standing there the entire time keeping watch? I mean that seems really intimidating but at the same time, i dont see how they would let you alone with the inmate either since contraband could be passed. How does that work?>

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"Thats it then, they will go on double, secret, probation..."

Asha, i can only tell you about the visits i know......

You are booked in for a conjugal (family) visit, say it's 48hrs. You are allowed to bring in all foods for the duration of your stay for not only yourself but the family member that is incarcerated, but the food has to be in the guidelines of the prison. EVERY THING is checked and must come in unopened or cooked. ALL the items of clothing you will be wearing, any play stations or games you bring in, shampoos, soaps etc will be fully checked through.

Then after you are checked in you are escorted and are housed in these little buildings that are self contained, bedroom/s, small kitchen, lounge/meals area, bathroom. The place i know of one, of the buildings has a bath... Say their is 4 buildings in this area for conjugal visits. These building are then surrounded by another compound fence, but not separated from each other. Have picnic tables outside, grass and fresh air.
The guards will ONLY come around for count times and check on you, you know these times. You can come and go inside or out of your cabin at any time you wish. You are not guarded as such, but their are guards present as you would find in any prison structure.
You can go out and lay on the picnic bench at 1am in the morning if you wish, and i know this was done. They also have BBQ's outside in the picnic area.
From my understanding in these times you feel as if you are "free".
It was also said to me that the beds are so foreign, meaning soft that the person had to get out and sleep on the floor.

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If you are compassionate in your approach to all tasks in life, believing that all "problems" contain valuable lessons, you will find peace of mind.
~Dr. Lee Jampolsky

Wow, they sound nice like those little extended stay hotels, I mean with the exception of the CO count times and all that. Not bad at all. Thanks Smiley. I always wondered about it. It might vary a little from place to place but thats probably the norm if its allowed.

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"Thats it then, they will go on double, secret, probation..."