Conjugal visits resume in Victoria’s prison system

Conjugal visits for Victorian inmates are back on, after the sex bans were blamed for pent-up prisoners taking their frustrations out on guards.

Conjugal visits were suspended in early 2020 to stop the spread of Covid through the prison system.

A three-year prison bonk ban has finally been lifted.

The Herald Sun can reveal conjugal visits have resumed across Victoria’s prison system.

The sex visits were suspended in early 2020 to stop the spread of Covid-19 in the prison population.

However prisoners on their best behaviour have been eligible for behind bars dalliances since February.

A prison source told the Herald Sun the lengthy visitor ban caused widespread frustration across the prison population.

There was a spike in female prisoners turning to each other for intimacy.

“There was more partnering up and relationships formed in the women’s prison,” the source said.

Inappropriate sexual relationships between prisoners and staff also flourished during the bonk ban period.

“We always have the odd problem where an officer gets too close and forms an inappropriate relationship. It’s the nature of the workplace unfortunately,” the source said.

Pent up frustrations also contributed to higher rates of assaults on prison staff.

Corrections Victoria figures show staff assaults rose to a six-year high, with an average rate of 6.5 assaults per 100 prisoners in 2021-2022.

The blanket prison bonk ban was lifted in February based on updated Covid-19 health advice.

Sanctioned sex sessions are only available to prisoners in medium and low security prisons.

They include Ravenhall Correctional Centre, Fulham Correctional Centre, Hopkins Correctional Centre, Dhurringile Prison, Beechworth Correctional Centre, Marngoneet Correctional Centre, Loddon Prison Precinct, Langi Kal Kal Prison and Tarrengower Prison, the state’s only minimum security prison for women.

Prisoners must ask for permission for sex visits and prove they were in relationship with the person before they were imprisoned.

Other eligibility criteria includes the length of their sentence, conduct and good order of the prison.

A Department of Justice and Community Safety spokeswoman said conjugal visits form part of the “residential visits program” which is important for maintaining prisoner welfare.

“The residential visits program provides prisoners the ability to maintain longstanding relationships with their partner and family in the lead up to their release,” the spokeswoman said.

“We recognise that keeping up a prisoner’s support network is critical in helping them successfully return to the community. We will facilitate residential visits for eligible prisoners in appropriate and safe settings.”