Frequently pointed out as a place where any kind of intimacy would be denied, jail hardly seems to lend itself to an investigation about inmates including questions on privacy. Based on two research projects led in the women’s areas of seven penitentiary centres, the papers shows that if methodological remarks are rather common to any empirical surveys (vagueness of the sociologist’s status, relationships of trust with the interviewed people...), their statement nevertheless enables us to underline important aspects of women inmate’s intimacy.