Booty Behind Bars: Inmate Sweet Talked Female Prison Workers into Sex Romps, Say Officials

By: Edecio Martinez
Topics: Daily Blotter

HELENA, Mont. (CBS/AP) Inmate Michael Murphy usually started by seeking a small favor, which would often lead to a kiss... then love letters.

And in at least five cases, he convinced female prison employees to have sex with him or do other illegal favors.

In each of those cases, the female corrections employees were caught, shamed and forced out of a job, according to documents detailing an investigation by Montana prison officials and obtained by The Associated Press after an open-records lawsuit.

The female officers described Murphy as the aggressor, even as the predator.

But that makes no difference in either state or federal penitentiaries, where prison employees - male or female - are the violators if they have sex with inmates.

A Justice Department study shows that cases like Murphy's are common: Female staff are more often implicated than their male counterparts in prison sexual misconduct. While many cases could be considered consensual, incarceration experts and female prison guards say the problem is much more complicated.

In some cases, the women reported that they couldn't say no to the inmate out of fear, or were afraid to go to a co-worker out of shame at what had happened. One small mistake often led to something else.

Experts say there is a culture of silence in the prisons that makes it difficult for female guards to come forward with problems before they spin out of control.

Documents detailing the state investigation into Murphy's liaisons show he even convinced his therapist to have sex with him, and was able to arrange one-on-one meetings with her even though prison officials knew of his past history with female workers.

Cover-up charges were filed against one of the female prison workers. Murphy, 36, faced no charges. He is serving time for theft, forgery and other charges.

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by forshorn June 30, 2010 6:22 PM EDT: What makes journalists covering this story so sure that the inmate seduced these women? He claims it was the other way around. He was guilty of theft etc., not violent crimes, so there is no reason to think he is exceptionally threatening or dangerous. And there is proof that several of the women wrote him explicit, dirty notes and love letters. Could these libidinous ladies have preyed on someone with no legal rights or physical freedom? They carry weapons, and he is behind bars - who has the power. They do - and I bet they abused it for their own sexual satisfaction.; Reply to this comment


by Brokennews March 17, 2010 10:12 AM EDT: If you're an fugly woman & can't get a date, this may be your only hope!; Reply to this comment


by MilitaryRetiree March 17, 2010 10:07 AM EDT: Probably not in ALL cases, but there has certainly been quite a bit of it, where a female officer would bed down a few times with a higher ranking officer for promotions and/or incentives, i.e., better shift, better days off, better job assignments, resulting with incompetent nincompoops trying to lead, in situations where in fact, they shouldn't even be.; Reply to this comment


by book_of_wally March 17, 2010 9:00 AM EDT: Where I work at the women would all get promotions for doing such things.; Reply to this comment


by craigh9 March 17, 2010 8:59 AM EDT: Look at the root issue here. Equal rights are great, but people aren't equal. If this is a problem how about solving the problem the correct way - no women in men's prisions.
We won't do that though - we'll spend millions trying to educate and train and manage all the toucht feely stuff versus do what's nessecary.
While we are on the subject, how about making the prisions just that again - versus the country clubs they have become.
Prisioners should be housed in cells by themselves and remain there as close to full time as possible. Put a shower in there, deliver food to them versus mess halls, etc. If you eliminate the "social functions" - what they were suppose to forfeit because they are crimminals - none of this would be an issue.; Reply to this comment


by MELV1N March 17, 2010 5:15 AM EDT: Like many members in our society, correctional officers are in a position of power and authority. When officers allow themselves to indulge in sexual acts with the individuals for which they are responsible, the door to exploitation is open. We are seeing a similiar issue over and over again between school teachers and students.

The subjects in this case are prison inmates. In a high security setting "One small mistake" can get you killed, and so it should not be so surprising to realize that celibate felons could be potentially manipulative and/or dangerous. It seems that the unaddressed issue of this article is the lack of professional discipline-Shame on the officers.; Reply to this comment


by CBSTV March 17, 2010 3:18 AM EDT: The human drive for sex will usually prevail in prison and elsewhere.; Reply to this comment


by rightbehind March 16, 2010 11:39 PM EDT: Listen up! Any man that gets out of line will spend the night in the hole. LOL!; Reply to this comment


by barcar55 March 16, 2010 11:11 PM EDT: they couldn't say no to the inmate out of fear
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Women shouldn't be supervising men no more than men should be supervising female prisoners. If you are afraid and can't do the job then get another one you are qualified for.; Reply to this comment


by voxpopulus March 16, 2010 9:26 PM EDT: Ridiculous. If it was male guards having sex with female inmates they'd be accused of abusing the power, and it would be harassment or rape. When it's women who have the power, and the sex, then they are STILL somehow the victim. Equality means equal responsibility. Not just equal opportunity.; Reply to this comment