Just a quick thought Matt:
What about setting up the jailhouse with just READ ONLY access for the rest of us. Only you and the inmates would be allowed to actually POST in the jailhouse.
That way, visitors can just READ the conversations that you have with the inmates, but can't participate. The only two-way contact the inmates would have would be with you (or other admins if there are any).
That way, the inmates can still vent and spew filth and kick the bars for the first couple of days, allowing them a valuable release of pressure. However, they wouldn't be constantly spurred on in this by spectators, and would be more likely to enter into a rational conversation with you sooner.
That's my $0.02.