With gay-marriage being legalized in California, at least for now, prison policy makers have had to figure out how to deal with the possibility that two inmates may want to join in matrimony.

Now, they have come up with a plan.

Policy drafters say gay inmates must follow the same rules as straight prisoners, which means they can only marry someone who is not also an inmate. So, homosexual inmates can marry, but they can't marry each other while they are still behind bars.

Policy makers are drafting the new rules that they say will work to protect some inmates.

Prison officials were reportedly worried that allowing inmates to marry might open the possibility of one prisoner marrying another only to have access to his or her assets, in exchange for the protection of a more assertive inmate, for instance.

Department lawyers are also drafting the policy for prison chaplains to be exonerated from performing the marriage ceremonies if they feel they have a moral obligation to do so. Rather, an outside notary or other official would be brought in to marry gay couples.