Reasons why feminine jail officers have illicit encounters with inmates behind bars
Another female warder has been arrested in recent days after camera footage emerged of her allegedly bonking an inmate – and below we hear from prison experts about the epidemic of staff-lag flirtations
The year may have ended with a bang behind bars after a second female prison officer was allegedly filmed cosying up to an inmate.
Footage shared inside Five Wells jail in Wellingborough, Northants, led to the arrest and suspension of the warder, according to The Sun. Meanwhile, the lag was transferred from the Category C prison.
A source told the publication: “It’s shocking, especially after scandals at other jails. The female warder is being incredibly stupid. She has risked everything and it has been reported to bosses so her career is effectively over.
“I know they’re called screws but you can’t be sleeping with prisoners in your prison and definitely shouldn’t do it on camera.”
The other scandal earlier this year involved married Linda de Sousa Abreu, 30, who was filmed with convict Linton Weirich at HMP Wandsworth. She later admitted misconduct in a public office and will be sentenced in January.
The two incidents beg the question, why do female prison officers and inmates have illicit encounters? Below we talk to those in the know.
Simple Reason
A former prisoner who transformed her life after meeting Kate Middleton spoke to the Daily Star about the matter.
She offered her thoughts after mum-of-two Amber Clavell escaped a prison sentence after sleeping with an inmate and smuggling him drugs.
Francesca, who is now a content creator, served alongside one of Britain’s most evil women after being arrested for drug offences.
And opening up about why female officers can be attracted to criminals and how it gets leaked, she said: “Yeah that happened quite a few times when I was inside. Prisoners would confide in their best friend but then they would tell their best friend and it would spread around the prison.”
She continued: “I actually think that the men just don’t care and have no morals but they hire such young females that they haven’t lived and they can’t help but fall for prisoners.
“They get to know us inside and out comes the good, the bad, the tantrums so it is like working with someone. If you fall for them, you fall for them but they are so young they have no self control or again morals to know it’s bloody wrong to pursue it.”
‘All the time’
According to former drugs runner Jessica Kent, it is not just a British problem, because she said sexual relations between guards and inmates happens “all the time” in the US.
Speaking on her podcast, she said: “It is a very common thing that inmates will flirt with the corrections officers, I’ve seen it first hand.
“This is essentially for many reasons; the first one being boredom. We’re bored, we have nothing else to do. Yes you have a prison job and all that stuff but boredom is probably the number one reason.
“Number two; we all have needs. We all have needs and when those needs are not being met you try to find how you can meet those needs so that’s another reason.
“Another very obvious reason is because inmates want commissary [prison shop for luxury goods]. They want to try find a relationship, whether that’s in the street, whether that’s another female in prison, or a guard, they want to facilitate some kind of relationship so that they can get commissary.”
The expert view
As well as former prisoners, we have also spoken to ex-jail clinical social worker turned relationship therapist Kendra Capalbo about staff-lag flirtations.
Giving her key reason, the former jail worker told us: ”The lack of training poses a significant problem. It is crucial to provide trainings that shed light on how easily boundaries can blur if one is not vigilant.
“The recent increase in such incidents may also be partly attributed to staff shortages, which can result in more frequent one-on-one interactions between staff and inmates.”
She said such relationships could be started by either inmate or staff member – but that the respective motives were different.
Kendra explained: “In instances of staff-initiated relationships, the issue often arises from a power dynamic.”
She added: “They may also be enticed by promises of privileges or prohibited items.
“When an inmate initiates the relationship, it often becomes a manipulative game, capitalising on their knowledge of staff members gained over time.
“In my experience, inmates would test the waters by offering subtle compliments to multiple staff members, gauging their reactions without risking trouble.”
She believes true love was rarely a reason, adding: “While some inmates may genuinely seek a genuine connection, many are motivated by gaining access to privileges or resources they wouldn’t normally have. Additionally, for some inmates, it becomes a sort of game to see who can successfully manipulate staff members into crossing certain lines.”
