Strictly Legal

     In film and television, the concept of the conjugal visit is well known, often portrayed for humorous effect. For example, Arrested Development featured a conjugal visit between George Sr. and Lucille (and Kitty) in the Season 1 episode “Visiting Ours.”  Although you might be familiar with the term you may not know where the word “conjugal” comes from—and whether such visits really occur as a regular part of prison life.     To clear up the first question, conjugal is actually derived from Latin (surprise, surprise). The word conjugare means to join together in marriage; that word is in turn derived from com (“together”) and jugare (“yoke”). So for all you marriage haters, here’s evidence that even in ancient times, marriage was considered akin to having a yoke placed around your neck. This definition further suggests that the modern conjugal visit is extended only to an inmate’s spouse, although in practice that varies (as discussed below).      Turning