Calif. Ponders Gay Marriage For Inmates

State's Corrections Department Drafting Guidelines To Conform To New Marriage Laws

(AP)  Now that same-sex couples can get married in California, state prison officials are trying to figure out what that means for gay inmates.

No prisoners so far have sought to arrange weddings with same-sex partners since the state Supreme Court granted same-sex couples the right to wed as of mid-June, according to Michele Kane, spokeswoman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Nonetheless, department lawyers are drafting guidelines to bring the state's 33 adult prisons into compliance with the court's ruling that same-sex couples must be treated the same as opposite-sex couples under the California Constitution, Kane said.

What they have determined so far is that would mean allowing gay inmates to marry someone on the outside, but not a fellow prisoner - the same rules that apply to straight inmates, according to Kane.

"They will have the same marriage rights as other inmates - they will be able to marry non-inmates, but barred from marrying other inmates in prison," she said.

Prison officials were concerned that allowing two men or two women in the same prison to get married would pose novel safety and security concerns, according to Kane.

"For instance, suppose a prisoner finds out another prisoner has money or other assets. They might find themselves coerced into a marriage with a more powerful inmate who might try to lay claim to half their assets," she said.

Department lawyers also are recommending that prison chaplains relinquish the job of performing weddings for inmates once the proposed policies take effect, Kane said. Turning over the rituals to outside officiants would not put chaplains who may oppose same-sex marriage on religious grounds in the position of presiding over some ceremonies and not others, she said.

If approved by the division that oversees adult prisons, the rule prohibiting two inmates from marrying would mirror the prison policy in Massachusetts, the only other U.S. state where same-sex marriage is legal.

Last year, California became the first state to allow conjugal visits and overnight stays for inmates with same-sex partners in the civilian population, Kane said. The department does not keep a tally of how many prisoners have taken advantage of the spousal bonus since then.

The department also does not have a recent count of how many of the 125,000 adults in its custody get married each year. Anecdotally, an average of two weddings each month take place at the medium security prison in Solano that houses just over 6,047 inmates, according to Kane.

Donald Specter, director of the nonprofit Prison Law Office, which monitors the rights of California inmates, said he did not agree that allowing two prisoners of the same sex to marry created special security concerns.

But as long as the guidelines that corrections officials develop apply to all inmates regardless of their sexual orientation, they will be hard to argue with, Specter said.

"The law requires they treat people the same, so that's a good principle to have in mind when they are drafting regulations," he said.

[wl7bzh]

In the 60''s it was tucked in the closet.
In the 70'' & 80''s it started coming out of the closet.
In the 90''s and the new century it demanded legal rights.


I just hope I die before they make the whole dang thing mandatory. ; )

[harp1963]

Dear Jesus in Heaven,

Please have mercy on our poor pathetic souls.

[wl7bzh]

Yea, go ahead call me a hate monger and a homofobe-at least I got a sense of humor bout the whole debate.

[whiskyrokkr]

Prisoners should have no rights what so ever. They lost them when they commited there crimes.

[newz4i]

Posted by wl7bzh at 12:35 PM, what is "It"?

And what will be mandatory?

[tibu987]

I agree. Prisoners have given up their rights by becoming felons.
The U.S. should stop coddling felons and let them pay the price for their crimes.
Period.

[cbsfan73]

The reason why they are in prison is to be taken out of society. Marriage is a document created for societies, else no one needs this document.

If you and another woman were the last two people on earth, would it really matter if you were married?

[wl7bzh]

And what will be mandatory?

Posted by newz4i at 01:36 PM : Aug 29, 2008

--------------------------------

Ya know, you kinda give the term ana*l retentive a whole nother meaning. Ya gotta love double entendre!

; )

[observer2020]

Prisoners should have no rights what so ever. They lost them when they commited there crimes.
Posted by whiskyrokkr

I agree. Prisoners have given up their rights by becoming felons. The U.S. should stop coddling felons and let them pay the price for their crimes. Period.
Posted by tibu987

I wholeheartedly agree with these two posters. The US SHOULD stop coddling these low-lifes. No internet (and certainly no "home pages"), no TV, no college degrees, no nothing! They committed a crime and deserve to be totally bored so they can think about what they did.

[wl7bzh]

Inmates will be treated as inmates the moment the law punishes inmates for frivolous lawsuits. It''s easier to give em what they want than to deal with cost in time and money to deal with their legal paper.

Sue because they got creamy instead of chunky p-nut butter in their lunch? you bet they did.

Let''s hear it for the prison "team players" hanging in there until retirement.

[lazareth-2009]

They need to line all these prisoners up and start blasting until there out of bullets then reload.

[whiskyrokkr]

knowhr
------
Let one of these pieces of human excrement get out and kill one of your loved one''s then maybe you won''t be so sympathetic. I agree with Lazereth.

[no2zeebas]

What? They are convicts...Convicts have no rights...

[whiskyrokkr]

They are nothing more than scum and should be treated as such. Anybody else who thinks different doesn''t have a clue of what these vermin would do to you given the chance.They should set a flame thrower to the whole place. The state of Cal. never ceases to amaze me anymore.I wish it would break off and float out into the Pacific Ocean.

[lazareth-2009]

Take them all up in a plane to about 30,000ft. Let them out over the Pacific and if they survive they can be free. Sounds like a fair deal.

[swwils]

They shouldn''t be allowed too marry,what has this country come to?They will want a conjucal visit afterward which can''t be allowed.This is crazy,it had too be passed in California no other state would touch this issue first.It is prison not love boat.

[lazareth-2009]

zgomer
------

Right on man! To he*l with these pettterpuffers and carpettt muncherrs.

[barbaram99]

what! Isn''t prisoms places where ye do yer time..I sorry there is nothing to ponder. They are inmates..They have to be housed,given the very basics . They got a cell, a meal,a uniform to wear,and now this..give a break...Prisons are for time not mrriage. I don''t know about today. Years ago if married and sent up the river the state endeed that marriage..i don''t know how true that was. I heard of stories growing up. I am 53.

[lazareth-2009]

knowhr
-----
Your saying that a fine upstanding law abiding citizen and his family should be thrown out a plane with the scum bag prisoners? You are either an ex-con or have someone you now in a prison. Or you could just be from the fu*ked up state of cal. and be sympathtic to felons and hhommmos.

[whiskyrokkr]

knowhr

KNow this if you was on a plane and one of these pieces of $hit had the chance they would throw your a$$ of the door in a heart beat. FFUDDGEPACCKERS

[no2zeebas]

To dehumainize them in prison is to condemn the rest of us to what we have made them when they get out.

Posted by knowhr at 04:39 PM : Aug 29, 2008


Not allowing male convicts to marry other males would dehumanize them?

[no2zeebas]

or female convicts to marry females...Don''t want anyone to feel left out...lol...

[rational_1]

"Hey warden, when I drop the soap in the shower now you won''t have to worry - it''s all legal". Only in California...

[radman5000]

knowhr

You sound like you are one of the gay convict lovers Why dont you let the scum convicts live with you and you family, or are you afraid that they will rape you and your wife ,beat your children ,rob you blind and burn your house down. You are such an Idiot scumbags like the dopedealing childbeating ,rapist do not deserve the same rights as law abiding citizen,

[whiskyrokkr]

knowdr
-------
Keep sticking up for the prisoners. I hope someday you come face to face with one of these scum and they show you just of evil they can be. Maybe you''ll be one of the lucky ones and survive. Until then Fu*koff

[no2zeebas]

knowhr...I understand your post now...And I almost totally agree...There are some convicts that deserve horrible treatment...Most don''t...

[libsluv2spit]

cruel and unusual punishment is what most bleeding heart liberal would argue..

its nice to be a criminal in liberal california..

[no2zeebas]

knowhr...I understand your post now...And I almost totally agree...There are some convicts that deserve horrible treatment...Most don''t though...

[questionnews]

Do they sell Astro-Glide at the prison store??

[radman5000]

Knohr

I think your missing the point These people are already de humanized scum that why they are in prison, follow some of my patrol buddies on a few raids and arrests and you will see these pieces of *** have no respect for people of any kind even out of touch do gooders like yourself

[wl7bzh]

Like I said it seems as if some of you, including you, are only trying to mask your latent homosexual tendencies. It is the only explanation for your fear and hate.

Posted by knowhr at 05:19 PM : Aug 29, 2008

You''ve questioned his sexuality, now call him a homofobe and a hate monger.

Sounds like someone is frozen in a stage of adolescent development-name calling and conflicted about the proper function of their "pea-pea".

No,regardless of what your classmates told you in the 8th grade you won''t go blind-however in your case your buttt will rot off.

Suggest you save the deviant, wishful thinking, psychologist role play for the experts as you suckkk at it.

Darnn, I love double entendre.

[airboatboy]

Splendid idea! And how about a week out for a nice honeymoon paid for by the state? And how about adoption? Come on! Just because they''re in prison doesn''t mean they don''t deserve all the rights law abiding citizens have!

[barbaram99]

Dears, I wish i knew the answer to that. I have asked myself that many times. Why do inmates have more rights than ye and I. They do and I was told by cops we can''t touch them or we go jail. Us. It is appolling. I can see them learning to become better citizens so when they do get out they would do their best to have done their time,rejoin us. As it is in the jails/prosoms they are justed werehoused. To us it looks like a party pad or the inmates controls the prisoms. America has more people locked up than any free nation and that is a fact.Why. Is it due to fact that kids from a young age ran wild and no parent cared to teach rules..Years ago If an adult told a youngster to park their butt in a seat.ye did so. I am one that couldn''t sit still. I PLACE THE BLAME IN THE HOME.Why. Mum/Dad didn''t do their part as the kid was growing up. I go to places and the kids are runnig about like they own the place. Mum/Dad says nothing and allows that behaviour. They do as they do at home, no wonder we have the problems we do.

[wl7bzh]

Mum/Dad says nothing and allows that behaviour. They do as they do at home, no wonder we have the problems we do.

Posted by BarbaraM99 at 05:50 PM : Aug 29, 2008

Shouldn''t you be writing this in your diary or somewhere personal? Mum...Dad? You are aware that Americans are reading this?

[nojoy01]

I PLACE THE BLAME IN THE HOME.Why. Mum/Dad didn''''t do their part as the kid was growing up.
Posted by BarbaraM99 at 05:50 PM : Aug 29, 2008

Unfortunately, when parents today try to correct their children''s behaviour, the DFS Nazis get called & the next thing you know the parents are on probation and the kids are "saved" from them. Children are just like puppies. Wild little critters that need to be trained so they can be good human beings when they grow up. If they are not trained then they grow up to be wild, and dangerous, large critters. Before everybody gets all excited, abuses do occur and children do need to be protected from abuse. But abuse does NOT include busting them on their little fundamentals and requiring them to do as they are told, when they are told, because they are NOT "little adults" but children who need structure, protection, correction, and love. NOT to get the idea that somehow they are "in charge".

[gaye5]

knowhr, it is NOT just Americans reading this, I am from Australia.
America is on the way down.. and it is the fault of the normal people and the churches who have said nothing and voted for the politicians who agree with gay marriages.. There is only about 3% of people who claim to be gay (they say 10%) so where is the rest of America standing up against it. Don''t you realise the disease that is on the increase because of this act, for goodness sake read up on it for yourselves, read homosexuality and diseases or something and see how we now have NEW viruses/diseases amongst homosexuals because of this act, and don''t say that what they do behind closed doors is their business because the bisexuals pass it on to heterosexuals''
It is about time that people started reading medical things for themselves instead of listening to the media etc.. wake up America.. and boy I will get slammed for this, but I don''t care as I am not one of those having *** everywhere... And besides with a name like mine I have a right to complain hehheeh, read how even some leading homosexual advocates say homosexuality is not a gene, and they are not born like that, see how thousands of homosexuals are coming out of homosexuality and leading normal lives..

[gaye5]

Hey, I can just see it...
For prisons, do you want a double bed or a king size one. yep sure sounds nice and cosy to me..

[wl7bzh]

***. . I think it''''s time you followed your own advice.

Fact is I hope mom and dad ''''america'''' IS listening!

Posted by knowhr at 06:34 PM : Aug 29, 2008
-----------------------------

Egads, man you''re actually taking it seriously?

It''s a blog. As you''ve said yourself-debate. Verbal sparring and nothing more.

[gaye5]

knowhr you just put whiskyrokkr down for his opinion and even if you think he is a drunk he still has the right to express an opinion, you are obviously not a police person so, perhaps a bit of education on these crims might help..My son is and so was my dad.. perhaps with your understanding you could go and help at the prisons..
BarbaraM99, you are dead right, many even say that they dont want to come out as they get three square meals a day, they dont have to pay bills or worry about anything and they have so much security in there heheh..

As hetrosexuals dont have their wives living in prison with them why should homosexuals be allowed to marry an inmate and have all the *** that they want???

[gaye5]

nojoy01, you are so right. I would probably be had up for child abuse today, and so would most teachers, and parents of yesterday.. The policeman would kick the kid up the backside and tell him to go home and behave himself and he would do as he was told out of fear that the policeman would tell his dad, now days the parents would sue the policeman...
My children are not hurt psycologically, in fact they tell people that their best friends include their parents, one earns over $300.000 a year, another is a police man another works in the police force, another owns her own business.. and by the way all their kids are fantastic also,, yep a good belting sure did them harm...

[wl7bzh]

Right! Spare the rod and spoil the child. That is unless they were referring to artificial insemination.

Easy Knowhr, it''s called humor.

[nojoy01]

OK, marriage to an inmate. I can''t see it. To me personally that has to be one of the dumbest things to do with your life. Marry a proven loser. But, until he/she is paroled, you will know where he/she is at night, so that''s a plus, I guess. Same *** marriages? Hey, terrific. Why should the ''***'' have all of the fun? Let them too find out what a good (or even a bad) divorce lawyer costs these days. Yup, I think everybody, regardless of their race, creed, color, or sexual orientation should be equally entitled to their chance at misery and potential abject poverty. And don''t forget to include adoption. Same *** couples need to experience the joy and terror of having another human being dependent upon them for providing everything needed in this life & being required by law to pay for whatever is needed. But why would anyone want to go to the states'' collection of instutionalized losers and pick one out to marry?? Then again, if somebody does marry an inmate they have possibly prevented some poor unfortunate from thinking that they had found their ''lifes partner'' when they married a non inmate.

[hypnotoad72]

No longer afraid to drop the soap?

[tothestars2]

BEST PICK EVER!!!!!!!!!MCCAIN HAS REFIRED THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, THE PARTY OF REAL CHANGE!!!!!!

[tothestars2]

Well it''s final, the legislators of california and I have something in common. We have both lost every brain cell we came into this world with!

[scottyusa]

California is chuck full of nuts. Pretty soon you will be able to marry your pet there.

[wl7bzh]

Sorry. . .my most humble apology.

Posted by knowhr at 08:09 PM : Aug 29, 2008
----------------------------
Humility and character-not bad knowhr, you are a suprise.

[mensarino]

Either all should be allowed the privilege or none.I really don''t care which way it goes as long as it is consistent.

[downtowner97]

Hilarious.

[garbagestopr]

Calif. Ponders Gay Marriage For Inmates

-Guess the state prisons in Cali and the local jails will be the next locations for lightning bolts to strike.

Hello more wild fires in the latest state of legalized Sodomy, California

Our founding fathers would be BESIDE themselves if they were around today. They would absolutely be disgusted.