Kink and Clink

By Sakura Nishikawa

Kink has varied interests. For starters, bondage or impact play are common kinks in BDSM, but what if I told you about a kinky community that many haven’t heard of or thought to explore? This fetish includes bondage, discipline, punishment, and even humiliation. One can feel powerless and even explore sadistic and masochistic themes. All of that can be found in the prison kink community.

I know it sounds weird at first, but please allow me to explain and break down the aspects of this kink. I have had this fetish since high school and have spent a lot of time exploring it. I fetishize everything about the prison industrial complex: the prison uniforms, restraints, being in a cell, and even all the searches for contraband. I own many prison uniforms, and I wear them nightly for pajamas. They are a lot more comfortable than you might think. My favorite is a pink jumpsuit made by Bob Barker. (Bob Barker is one of the companies that make prison uniforms for inmates.) The handcuffs and restraints are the most identifiable features of this kink, and they are straight-up bondage. Hands are cuffed behind the back, and the wearers are sometimes put into a restraint chair. The difference is that detainees are forced to wear these manacles in public, which incorporates aspects of public humiliation.

Detainees are put in a holding cell after being arrested or finishing a court hearing. At best, the holding cell will have an uncomfortable bed, sink, toilet, metal mirror, desk, chair, and maybe a window of the empty field with walls and fences. Detainees must also share these small and meager surroundings with fellow inmates. I often dream about being held in a small, confined space. Being held in a small space can bring up feelings of claustrophobia, which can add to the level of kinky torture. The pat downs and strip searches make inmates feel degraded. Inmates can’t be trusted without a thorough strip search; otherwise, contraband items might sneak in. Don’t forget about the forced labor. The chain gang program claims it helps inmates to change for the better, but it’s another form of modern slavery that incorporates discipline into this kink. Prison kink has every aspect of BDSM in it. Truth be told, I daydream about being incarcerated, but as a transgender person, there are still far too many dangers for someone like me, so I just stick to role-playing.

Many transgender people are mistreated and harassed by both guards and inmates. Most times, inmates can’t even get HRT inside, and most inmates are sent to prison for the gender they were assigned at birth. I’ve heard many news stories about the mistreatment of trans inmates. There was an incident that happened in 2020 in San Diego Central Jail. Kristina Frost was arrested for a DUI and was about to be put in a holding cell. She requested to have a cell with no one else in it but instead was thrown into a holding cell with three men. The men harassed her and beat her. After the guards saw the aftermath, they dragged her body out and continued her ordeal by berating her with transphobic slurs. After I heard that story, I wanted to combine my two passions into a movement, my fetish for prison and the fight for trans rights. I have testified on behalf of bills such as SB 302. This bill protects doctors from getting criminal charges by giving patients gender-affirming care. I have marched on Transgender Day of Visibility. I was there doing the counter-protest about the pride products in Target stores. Channel 8 News covered the last two events. I continue volunteering for events to help organizations like The Center, HRC, and even Silver State Equally. One day, I plan to volunteer work with an organization called “Hope of Prisoners.” They help inmates with their mental health and give them a fresh new start. This is still the beginning, and I will continue fighting for equality for trans rights.

There are a few things we can do as a community. Voting is key. We need more allies in Congress who can make bills to help and support trans inmates. Every time there are bills that help trans rights, it’s important to show support. Emailing or mailing out letters to our Senators, State Representatives, and elected officials stating that the dignity of transgender inmates matters is a meaningful way to let our voices be heard. Our elected officials need to hear that the medical needs of incarcerated individuals are not being met, and inmates deserve the right to proper medication and treatments, not just for trans inmates but for all inmates in the penal system.

In a recent victory for our state, Governor Lombardo, in June 2023, signed a Senate Bill guaranteeing more equitable treatment for transgender and gender non-conforming people incarcerated within the Nevada Department of Corrections. This includes gender-affirming care, such as hormone therapy. Prison staff will also go through training on cultural competency for interacting with offenders who are transgender, gender non-conforming, gender non-binary, and intersex under the terms of this new law. The deadline for policies to be set is Jan. 1, 2024. It will be up to the Nevada Board of Prisons to review the policies before they go into effect. The law doesn’t spell out details, it just requires the Nevada Department of Corrections to set policies. It’s nice to see that Nevada is a state that is actively trying to protect trans people, especially those incarcerated.

All in all, I love the prison fetish so much. I don’t recommend going to prison just for kinky reasons. Just try role-playing a prison scene with your partner, and you might enjoy the experience.

Follow Sakura Nishikawa (Trans woman) on Instagram:@Transpyra