El love in penitentiary centers is a topic that is rarely discussed, yet it is part of the everyday reality of many people deprived of their liberty.
As Ignacio Estradé explains in one of our latest TikTok videos, feelings, emotions, and affection do not disappear behind prison walls; on the contrary, intensify.
Love as part of the human condition
Love, desire, and affection are emotions inherent to human beings. In a situation of deprivation of liberty, those emotions can be exacerbated due to isolation, routine, and the lack of contact with the outside world.
In this context, maintaining a romantic relationship can be a source of emotional and psychological stability for inmates, helping them cope with their sentence and strengthen their process of social reintegration.
A right with limitations
Love, desire, and affection are is a recognized right, but like any right, it is subject to certain limitations..
These restrictions are usually motivated by:
- Security reasons.
- Penitentiary treatment criteria.
- Maintenance of internal order within the facility.
The aim is to ensure that relationships develop in a controlled, respectful, and safe environment, both for inmates and for penitentiary staff.
Intimate visits: the “vis a vis”
The so-called vis a vis —or intimate visits— are meetings that allow inmates to maintain physical and emotional contact with their partners.
These visits take place in specially designated areas within the penitentiary center, with a Monthly frequency and a duration that usually ranges between one and three hours.
It is a regulated and supervised right, intended to balance respect for personal privacy with the security rules of the facility.
Love as a tool for reintegration
Beyond the emotional aspect, romantic relationships inside prison can have a positive impact on the reintegration process.
Love provides motivation, a sense of belonging, and a connection to life outside prison. In many cases, it acts as a driver for change, helping the inmate rebuild their identity and life project.
An invisible reality
Talking about love in prison means talking about humanity in its purest form.
Because even in the harshest places, love remains a form of resistance, hope, and connection to what makes us human.
At Estradé Law Firm, we believe that the legal profession must also look toward these realities, understanding that the law is not limited to procedures, but encompasses everything that gives meaning to human dignity.
