How To Survive In Prison or Jail
91How To Survive in Prison or Jail
First and foremost - I am sorry you are reading this hub. I think if you are reading this you are in some trouble and want to know what is in store for you. No one can predict your future or how well your lawyer will perform (free ones usually don't). Most are looking for this type of post because they fear being raped in prison, stabbed or beat up. Knowing how to survive in prison doesn't have to be a mystery, read on.
So you stirred something up and your chickens have come home to roost, or for those of us who believe - karma is making a comeback. Regardless, you did a search on the topic of going to prison or jail and have found yourself reading this post. OK, lets deal with the situation at hand, and I'll answer your second question; "How do you know what its like in prison?". Well I too was young and dumb and while the crime I committed at the time was funny, to others (law enforcement) it was not. To this day I chuckle about what went on, it was like a scene from Animal House. But, nevertheless - I did some time. 4 years and 2 months to be precise.
My sentence was not supposed to be that long but, I didn't know what I do now. How often you find yourself saying things like that, "If only I knew then what I do now?". If that were the case, everyone would be rich and never have a problem, sort of. But I digress...
You came here looking for answers on surviving in prison, jail or county corrections. Most of you are male and are worried about the age old question about prison rape. So, to help you along on how you can survive in prison or jail, lets get started.Here are 6 tips on surviving your incarceration, mentally and physically.
Prison Survival Rules - a short list:
First and foremost: The number one rule of all: SHUT UP! Speak to no one of your crime accept for your HIRED attorney. You of course should not tell other prisoners about your crime - do your own time not someones elses. Besides, someone will eventually get in your jacket to see your PSI report. Regardless - take it to the grave. Absolve your sins at church or some other catalyst other than a fellow prisoner.
Second: No matter what, you can never back down from an altercation. Whether its someone selling wolf tickets or you actually get chin checked, take some action. If you happen to get hit back - so be it. This "fight" will last roughly 25 to 30 seconds and may be the longest time in the world - but rest assured the guards will come running - when you see them just do as they say. Trust me - if you are the one getting beaten its like the cavalry.
You have just done two important things:
- shown others you will not back down and be a punk.
- allowed yourself some quiet time as you may get to the clinic for a few days and get better meals (this is dependent on the institution you go to).
Third: Never Gamble - you will often lose - if you don't have cash to pay, you may be slinging ass or taking a beating. Nothing is a sure thing, same as on the outside but without the repercussions.
Four: Do not talk smack (expletive) about anyone. You never know who has their ears to the ground and rats to others what you say.
Five: In the beginning keep to yourself, the last thing you want is to be associated with a mole (chester, shorteye, rapo or whatever you call a pedophile). If you are a sexual predator, keep this info really close and tell no one. As well, please seek treatment. Keep to yourself in the beginning to size things up and you will know soon who to hang with.
Six: Use this as a learning experience. Take this "vacation" time to better yourself with education or some form of self healing. But, recognize that you are still a person even though your dignity and humanity will forever be changed. Use it for something good this time. Get out, stay out and be true to yourself. Good luck.
There is more information that you will need to know and a lot of it cannot be addressed here. So I wrote a book about it. My recent book is now available, How To Survive in Prison or Jail - lessons from the inside - (139 pages) and is available on my website, surviveprisonjail.com
The book includes hundreds of more tips and scenarios about prison life and how to avoid being a victim (rape or otherwise). It also includes one of the largest prison slang glossaries, legal terms, prison locators, prison listings (FBOP and State Prisons). I have also included a snippet of info on how to beat a DWI / DUI charge and am including a chapter of my work in progress titled: How To Get Out of A Speeding Ticket.
Anyhow I hope this info helps you and possibly puts you at ease a bit -
Good luckand I hope you:
Inside Prison Pics
PrintShare it! — Rate it: up down flag this hub
Comments
Your welcome - it is sad but true that 1 out of every 150 Americans are in prison. I feel a large part of this is due to allowing corporations to run the prison system. What is the incentive to letting a person out on parole when they collect anywhere from $30 to $50 per day per inmate. Makes you wonder who really signed into law, "mandatory minimum"? As well, drug charges are rising - do we really need addicts in prison? Whatever happened to rehabilitation? More about this and legal strategies in my book - http://www.surviveprisonjail.com
This is very interesting and the advices seem practical. Though I don't have plans of getting myself behind bars, now or in the near future, I'd remember the tips for good measure! LOL Thanks for sharing :D
This was so interesting. Even to those of us who are not planning on going to prison.
Thanks Joe, most don't plan on it - they just get caught up in either their own stupidity, greed or fascination - then again, planning the perfect crime is a rush, I think planning the perfect way to escape is an afterthought - ya know, after they get caught.
Wow - great post! I too got caught by the long arm a few years back and spent most of my adult life in jail for moving a little bit of mother earths greatest tobacco, from one place to another. There was a lot of it. So I know where you are coming from - I also agree there is more to it than what you have written and thankfully I won't be needing your book - I might contribute though I remember when I got busted - awful, pit of your stomach feeling - like the whole world was caving in. I was really lucky I could afford an attorney (not bragging - but it was a lot of weed) so my sentence was not as lengthy. I met plenty of guys who didn't have money for an attorney and they got the shaft. I know people will read this and think scumbag but I did my bit and it did change me for the better - I had the support I needed inside and out. Glad one of us finally wrote it all down. good luck to you brother.
Hi!
I noticed your post here and thought I should tell you I bought your book a few weeks ago and am thankful I did. There was so much info I bombarded my attorney that he eventually read it and took notes. I will get probation and will also follow your advice to sya clean. Thank you very much.
Thanks PE - glad it helped. Pay close attention to your lawyer and PO - if ever you need help you can contact me here or simply get with your PO - they are there to help you, not so much babysit you.
Fascinating article survive prison. Never been to prison myself and don't intend to go there, but have a couple of old friends who did a bit of time some years ago.
Thanks Misty - why does everyone say they don't intend to go there? Does that mean you don't plan on ever getting caught? LOL - just kidding - thanks for the feedback
LOL, I stopped smoking the illegal stuff years ago, and apart from occasionally speeding I am as honest as the day is long thesedays :)
I spent about three years in prison, but I was on the other side of the bars. I was a guard. I got out of it, primarily bacause I sympathized too much with the inmates. I would consider the prison i worked at to be cruel and unusual punishment. Most of those guys were in there for doing some really messed up things, but there were plenty of guys doing 20+ years whose original sentences were less than five. They just didn't know the ins and outs of prison life, and ended up getting themselves into even more trouble from the inside. I think what you're doing with your book is a great thing. There are too many people spending their lives behind bars simply because what goes on on the inside is kept largely secret from the outside world. Good hub!
Hi maestrowhit - it seems you were one of the good guys - shame you didn't stay in - maybe could have made a difference. But I know where you are coming from. I could not imagine being a guard, not for a minute. Always wondering when it was going to happen and if. Would make me paranoid. But I never gave the suits grief and they left me alone.
Still wondering if corporate run facilities have anything to do with mandatory minimums which are being signed into law. A lot of people don't know that large corporations run most facilities (for profit of course). Most people I think are fortunate to go to state. At least there they wanted people gone. In corporate prisons they like to keep you as long as possible. At least this is how I perceive them to be. I had a friend who was down and picked up extra time for small tickets. The way he explained it to me is how I explain it in my book. That corporate run prisons are like school systems. They get paid more into their budget if there aren't many snow days. The longer you can keep students in session your budget grows or remains the same.
With corporate prison charging the state (and fed) $35 to $65 per day per inmate - that's a lot of easy money if you can squeeze every day out of them . No short to the door facilities. I think a lot of them wish prisoners to max out.
I also placed in my book some legal matter about cruel and unusual punishment - it works for guards as well as prisoners. Maybe I'll post that hub one day. If I did the lawsuits would be flying.
thanks for the feedback.
I'd be interested in reading your book even though I'm certainly not about to go on "vacation"....!
No one ever does - sort of - J.Eds
Definiately an awakening for someone in the unfortunate position to go to jail. Luckily I haven't experienced anything like that, but I know I'd want some type of real, inside info of how to survive. You never know what to expect until you experience it yourself, but prison is not the time to go into something unprepared.
Thanks b0 - it reminded me of the first day in a new school - you don't know who to sit with or talk to - very awkward
An interesting read. Great story. Thanks!
Thanks mjm - glad you liked it
it's cool to talk to you, almost like I was back at work in the prison. I talked too much to inmates about stuff like this. I was smart about it, and didn't get myself into trouble, but as a general rule, we were encouraged to be entirely inhumane to inmates.
I know a little about what you're talking about - about the tendency of corporate prisons to inadvertently stack the cards against inmates' getting released in reasonable time. The State prisons are very similar. It was almost impossible for inmates in the prison where I worked to slide by in their time without picking up more charges. Sometimes they got longer sentences for committing crimes that were clearly an accident, or self defense. Once they were inside, the whole system of trial and conviction changed drastically in favor of the State.
It's funny about this stuff. I can't get too deep into it without looking over my shoulder to see who's listening. Too bad about that. There's a lot of stuff I would talk about if I knew it wouldn't cause me any trouble. You know how it is. What can you do? I think you're in a much better position to warn people about real prison life than I am. Again, I commend you for doing so.
Hey maestro - maybe you should write an ebook about how to act as a new guard? What to watch for and such - I think of all else watching a guard get gassed was just about the most foulest thing I have ever witnessed. I don't think anyone deserved that - I didn't know the guard or the beef, but I know the whole row got maced that day. Funny, though I went to reach for a towel to wet it down and my eyes were so burned up I grabbed the first piece of cloth I could get my hands on - my cellies t-shirt - and it funky - so double whammy.
Anyhow I found a paper you may be interested in reading about
The Prison-Industrial Complex and the Global Economy
and of course then there is the old 1-2-monkey steals the peach punch:
Yeah, I'll check that out. I've read a little about the proson industrial complex. It seems pretty frekin' unethical. But I think ethics went out the window a long time ago in the penal system.
Whew, yeah. I remember the gas alright. I got gased as part of my training. Directly in the face. It really sucked.
Very good hub! Advice that should be given to scare kids straight!
Interesting info. I hope I never have to use it!
thanks Rio and JP - hope you dont either!
fascinating perspective from the inside, thank you.
Thanks
Hi Surviveprison, I just posted up this week's HubNugget nominations and your hub was chosen as one of them. If your Hub gets enough votes to be in the top 5, then it will be featured in the newsletter that goes out to thousands of Hubbers each week. http://hubpages.com/hub/hubnuggets-jan19-2009
Congrats!
Ricardo "funride" Nunes
Thanks Funride - lets see what happens!
Congrats on your nomination and good luck! Surely an interesting article. I hope to never, ever go to jail or prison and Im guessing things are a little different for women - but I dont want to find out! :D
Thanks Ardie - reading more of your hubs - they are great!
I was scared to read your article, but took a deep breath and did. LOL! About 10 years ago, I had a loved one end up in jail for two weeks, after her husband who had some money, pressed false kindnapping charges of their son; the charges were withdrawn, thankfully - it was traumatizing to find a law abiding citizen, who is a great mom, in jail with women who had murdered their children.
I also don't plan on taking that err... vacation. :)
wow great hub. You have a clear, no-nonsense style. And like you um know your material well. :-) Seriously a great read.
The best thing, in my opinion, is for you to get out of those surroundings, seek a better place and move on. Get to anger-management counselling and improve yourself. You're a smart individual, think about it.
Hi Violetsun, Lifebydesign and Trsmd - thanks for the comments - and Trsmd - thanks for the thoughts - I am at a better place (Hubpages). As for anger - never had any - my crime was stoopid - nothing to be angry about, but I'll certainly think about your advice. Thanks for the posts guys and Gals - I am thinking of posting the stoopidity of youth in a future hub - hard to laugh and type...
I could tell you a story...but I won't..not brave enough...Get hub and more the interesting...just reading the comments was a great thing...Thanks G-Ma :o) Hugs & Peace
Thanks G-Ma -
This hub is an eye opener. I'm actually at a loss for words. But I do know this would provide great tips to those who are in this situation right now. This may be a crazy question but are you allowed to do internet stuff in prison?
Hi Ripplemaker - thanks for the comments. I have been free for some years now but I talk with people all the time and in doing research for my book have found that Internet service is not available to prisoners. I do believe soem may have the service in the library -usually the pesonr will send a message (hub) to someone on the outside and that person will transcribe it.
Thanks for answering that one. :-)
This is good advice for kids that might be on the wrong path right now. Maybe this article will also help to scare some people commiting juvenile crimes into realizing they do not want to be in prison. Very interesting hub!
Thanks SweetiePie - if you like this one you should read my hub on "Diesel Therapy". Scared straight while being mobile!
great hub! you've learned how to stay alive and you're brave enough to tell your story; the whole system is scary and either inside or outside there are no guarantees.
Thanks for the feedback!
Very interesting stuff! I have never been inside, but find it fascinating to read about, especially the slang stuff (had to look up "selling wolf tickets," which I had never heard before. Thanks for a great read!
Your welcome - have you checked out the other? Know what a Fifi is?
I'm not gonna lie, one of my wildest fears is that I would be innocently put in jail since I think I could never make it. Seems like practical advice though!
hey great book, I don't ever plan on going to prison, but several of these tips have helped me in other situations where I could potentially get mixed into the wrong group. Thanks again
Things happen - you just have to either let themselves work out and hope for the best or get in and get your hands dirty. So many people I come across try to stick their heads in the sand hoping people forget... doesn't happen... get your hands dirty - this is your life - don't be the notch in someones legal belt.
I'm a corrections officer and you are dead on!
Hi Soxy32 - I don't envy your job - I used to watch the officers carefully every once in a while - some jittery, others not - has to suck not knowing what idiot will turn on you. Be careful and good luck. Maybe a short story on what to look for on the officer perspective... that sounds like a good chapter for my book - ..hmmmmm
Sorry, can't reveal any company secrets. But you are definitely going to save somebody's life by writing that book. I see too many people come in and do all the opposite of what you've said so far. Not the brightest bulbs! I'm only writing on what its like for me to work in a prison. Good luck on the book.
Thanks Soxy32 - the book is complete but I always change it around every once in a while with some new leads or info - it is at www.surviveprisonjail.com
Does anyone regulate the Corporate run prisons? How exactly do they try and keep the inmates in corporate run prisons as long as possible? I do not know what the outcome of my fiance will be yet. I am already afraid for his safety if he has to go to prison even for a short period of time and now I have to worry about this on top of that. Thank you for the information.
You have some good advice. As a veteran of the prison system in the late 70's and early 80's I was fortunate enough to have survived and achieve financial independence. One thing I would add: If you are threatened with rape of have been raped the hard cold fact is that you will have to become willing to kill. Because of the prevalence of HIV and Hep c among prison populations a rape can mean a death sentence. Personally I would rather do a few more years than be subjected to sexual slavery or die a miserable death. Self defense against rape is a valid defense and chances are if you kill your rapist or would be rapist you will get minimal time. Also stick with your own race and forget what you have learned in the outside world. Prison is segrated along racial lines like it or not.
Cold hard facts Jaydee - and good advice.
How To Survive in Prison eBook
- How To Survive In Prison or Jail - How not to be a victim
How to survive in prison and how to survive in jail!
golfshoe11 says:
12 months ago
Thanks for the info - I hope I never have to use some of it. Prison slang is especially helpful...thanks.