I don't know about that aspect, but unfortunately in the US, Prison rape is real and ongoing, according to multiple, believeable sources.
Regardless of the crime, we as a society should not allow or condone prison rape. It is reportedly often used by prison guards as a form of "disipline" to keep inmates docile (they get out of line, and they are found alone with large, scary sick inmates when no guards are around). Many contract HIV, or hepatitis, from prison rape.
My first cousin served a few weeks in central prison in NC (the one referred to by JMC above) as at the time, in the 70s, all prisoners convicted of a felony had to start out there (he went to a min secirity prison later). He was about twenty, and now has a PhD in synthetic organic chemistry, and heads a LARGE research effort at a fortune 500 firm. He is married with three children, the eldest of whom is at one of the best colleges in the country. He deserved to be incarcerated, but he is a real, concrete example of someone who is not just rehabilitated, but contributes to society at the highest level. I have no idea what his time was like, but NO ONE should be subjected to threat of prison rape.

 

hmm... thats messed up... first thing that comes to mind.. the "scene" in American History X with Edward Norton...

 

funny Bean, I was thinking the exact same thing!! That was soooo graphic, Im not gonna describe the scene any further

 

some things are better left unsaid

 

Unfortunately, guards often will tolerate an environment of prison rape and abuse because it helps to maintain "order" and "peace." Go figure.
I've heard that in some of the harder joints, they'll crack your teeth (which forces the newbie inmate to get dentures) so the jockers won't get bit during forced oral. My bro told me that (he's a state trooper).
And JMC1971 was right, death row IS the better of the two options with regards to living...of course, there's that dying thing you have to eventually deal with.

 

Dying wouldn't be so much of a punishment though, I'd rather die than have to endure that sorta stuff.

 

"you better watch out fish, cuz squirrel master aint gonna be there for you next time.."