HOMOSEXUALS AND THE LAW
SIR,—The correspondence in your columns on the above subject has been of value in so far as it ventilates the present public perplexity concerning the outcome of the apparently increasing number of prosecutions. But one is struck, in reading Press reports of such cases, by the remarks made by the learned judge, usually in response to a plea by defendant's counsel for his client not to be imprisoned but to agree to receive treatment elsewhere in recognised and competent medical hands, to the effect that adequate facilities for treatment will be given to the defendant during his prison sentence. And there, legally, the matter ends. So does, unhappily, the treatment.
It is not possible for any homosexual to receive adequate treatment whilst in gaol, for a number of reasons. There are few gaols that carry a full-time psychiatrist; two of these gaols, Brixton and 'Wormwood Smiths, do not cater for the prisoner usually con- victed for this type of social offence. The gaols usually reserved for homosexuals of the non-vicious, non-corruptive kind, are the less stringent class and, usually, they do not possess a psychiatrist at all. All medical work falls upon the Medical Officer who obviously cannot have time to spare for intensive psychiatric treatment towards a number of homosexuals. Nor can he have time to give in order to gain the active co-operation of such prisoners.
Again, the homosexual is thrown amongst others of his type- and, as a result, any wish he may have of co-operation with the Medical Officer, is at once in jeopardy. No attempt is made to keep homosexuals apart largely through lack of proper accommodation and, to a lesser extent, lack of staff. It is not an exaggeration to say that most imprisoned homosexuals leave gaol, if not in the same state as they entered it, then very little better. Possibly worse.
The answer to this would seem to be con- tained in Mr. Leigh Fermor's third wish-- wiser and more courageous legislation. This could mean special centres for the reception of those convicted homosexuals of the non- vicious kind, at which ' really adequate psychiatric treatment could be provided; the essential co-operation from the inmate sought in surroundings better able to produce such co-operation and finally, by these means, to give some meaning and value to learned judges' remarks.—Yours faithfully, 23 Lancaster Grove, N.W.3
J. E. NI ANSEL
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