Years ago I worked as a guard on an isolation tier at a maximum security women's prison. The tier was for women who were considered at risk to harm themselves or others. Like most prisons masturbation was not allowed, but it was almost impossible for women on the isolation tier to do it because we would check their cells every couple minutes, 24 hours a day, and were escorted and monitored by at least 2 guards when let out to shower.

I got to know an inmate in her mid-30s named Janet, who was in isolation on suicide precautions. This was before things like suicide vests were used, so since inmates on suicide precautions were not allowed clothing in their cells (risk of choking or hanging themselves), they went around their cells completely nude. Janet was actually quite attractive, round figure but not overweight. One day I walked past her cell and noticed her pacing around sort of playing with her pubic hair, running her fingers through it and twirling it between her fingers. I stopped for a chat to ask what she was doing, and when she came to the cell door window I noticed her nipples were also extremely hard. She told me was feeling aroused and really felt like masturbating but didn't want to get caught. Since I was alone on the tier for a little longer, I told her that if she wanted she could have 5 minutes to "take care of business". Her face immediately lit up, and I guess she must have been desperate because she ran straight to the back corner of her cell, squatted and started rubbing her labia before I even left. When I came back 5 minutes later, she was standing pressed against the window, and gave me a huge smile.

After that, when she wanted to masturbate she would wait till she saw me, bang on the window to get my attention and ask me permission to do it. Often I had to tell her no, but if I was alone on the tier, then I'd give her a few minutes to herself. It was against the rules but I figured if this woman was desperate enough to actually ask another woman for permission to masturbate, I'd take pity on her.