The Origins of Conjugal Visits: A Complex History Rooted in Exploitation

Conjugal visits, allowing incarcerated individuals private time with their spouses, have long been a contentious topic. While the practice is often associated with promoting family ties and inmate rehabilitation, its origins reveal a far more troubling history. The concept can be traced back to the early 1900s at Mississippi’s Parchman Farm, a prison that operated as a penal plantation.

In 1918, Parchman Farm unofficially introduced conjugal visits as a means of incentivizing Black prisoners, who were forced to work long hours in the cotton fields under brutal conditions. The prison administration brought in sex workers to satisfy inmates, believing it would make them more compliant and productive. These visits, facilitated in makeshift “red houses” built by the prisoners, were largely limited to Black men. White administrators perpetuated the racist notion that Black men had uncontrollable sexual urges, and satisfying these desires was seen as a method of control. Over time, this practice evolved into a formal policy, officially sanctioned by Parchman in 1965.

The primary goal of conjugal visits at Parchman was not the preservation of family bonds or rehabilitation but rather productivity and control. Officials viewed the visits as a solution to what was then called the “Sex Problem,” a euphemism for prison rape, which they wrongly attributed to “homosexuality” rather than systemic abuse. Sociologist Columbus B. Hopper noted in 1962 that prison administrators consistently praised conjugal visits for reducing sexual violence, boosting morale, and preserving marriages. However, these justifications served to mask the exploitative foundation of the practice.

By the mid-20th century, discussions around conjugal visits gained traction in other parts of the country. Inmates at Connecticut’s Somers Prison campaigned for similar privileges, arguing that private time with their spouses preserved dignity and alleviated the dehumanizing effects of incarceration. Their efforts, detailed in prison publications, highlighted the pervasive surveillance inmates endured and the emotional toll of separation from their families.

Despite its controversial roots, the focus of conjugal visits eventually shifted. By the 1990s, the number of states allowing the practice peaked at 17, but this number has since dwindled. As of today, only four states—California, New York, Connecticut, and Washington—offer some form of conjugal or extended family visits, with an emphasis on strengthening family connections rather than incentivizing labor. Mississippi, the birthplace of the practice, ended its conjugal visit program in 2014.

The history of conjugal visits reveals the intersections of race, exploitation, and evolving views on incarceration. While initially rooted in control and coercion, the practice has since been reframed to prioritize rehabilitation and family support. However, its origins serve as a stark reminder of how deeply inequality has shaped the U.S. prison system.