That, however, did not alter the fact that the Lancaster women had agreed to bind themselves to men essentially unavailable to participate in family life for a while. In each case, the bride knew the groom before he was incarcerated in three cases, she already had at least one child with him.
The seven marriages at Lancaster are probably more typical. Prison marriages that come to public attention usually involve such notorious characters as death row inmate Richard Ramirez, the “Night Stalker,” and the often unlikely women who came to know them after they were jailed. He goes back to his cell.Īs husband and wife, they can qualify for a conjugal “family visit” in a few months if the newlywed prisoner is not in close custody-under constant and direct scrutiny-and stays clear of disciplinary action.ĭespite all the restrictions, in the days just before their nuptials the seven Lancaster inmates and their fiancees expressed confidence that committing to one another will make life more orderly and human, not just in some unincarcerated future, but right away. She heads for the parking lot and the more breathable air beyond the electrified fence. At the end of their wedding day, husband and wife part. Most restricted of all is the honeymoon-there is none. The wedding banquet is likely to be cheesecake and coffee from vending machines in one of the large and very public visiting rooms. No more than 10 guests from outside the institution and two from inside may attend. At Lancaster, the ceremony proceeds speedily to the point, usually in a tiny room.
The prison wedding ritual itself is an exercise in circumscription.
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