what is it like serving time in big spring texas federal prison?
142737
http://prisontalk.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=56\nThere's a lot of information there about Texas prisons
328254
I'll tell you as best as I can:\nUpon entrance to jail (called booking, if it hasn't already been done, you will be fingerprinted, photographed and processed into the system.  They may do it immediately, or you might have to wait in a large room with seats or benches and sometimes a TV to watch.\nYou will then be asked about your medical/psychological history, usually prefunctory, basic stuff to assess that you are not suicidal, pregnant, addicted to drugs etc.  Also if you have a condition, you need to tell them so that you can get your meds.  If you have money, you can put it into your inmate account so you can get things at the commissary. They usually put a plastic bracelet on you as well.\nYou will then be escorted to a tiled room with a shower and asked to disrobe.  You will also have to take off all your jwewlery, includng earrings or body peircings.  You will be told to take your contacts out, if you wear them (be sure to bring your glasses, contacts are not allowed in jail) You will be searched.  Sometimes, they will just take a glance at you, make sure you are not hiding a gun, or drugs.  Sometimes it is a little more invasive: they might look into your nose, peel back your eyelids, or do a finger wave of where the sun never shines.  They might ask you to squat and cough.  You will then be made to shower, usually with delousing shampoo.  They will usually spray you down after.\nYou will dry off, then change into the jail attire.  It is usualy a blue or onange one-piece jumpsuit, sometimes it is two pieces (top and bottom).  Some jails actually use striped suits, and some use hospital type gowns.  Most likely, though a one piece jumpsuit.  You'll usually get flip flops or non laced sneakers.  Usually sentences inmates wear a different color from unsentenced.\nYou will then be given bedding (usually a pillow and case, thin mattress two blankets and two sheets), toilet paper and soap and led to the houising area.  This can be a dorm, or a single cell.  It will most likely be a cell you share with one or two inmates.\nTypically, it has a bunk bed,some shelves to store your stuff, a steel sink and toilet, usually in one unit.  Your cell might have a barred front with windows outside the cell, or a solid door with a small window and then the cell has its own window.  Natural light is not a requirement, though, so you migt have a cell/cellblock with no windows at all.\nThe cellblock (sometimes called a pod)has anywhere from 8-30 cells and usually has tables and chairs to eat at or play games etc, maybe some excercise equipment, and a TV.  There are usually a couple of showers you can use every couple of days.\nYour time in jail will be boring at best, miserable at worst.  You will grow tired of watching TV.  There will be little variety in your diet.  You will usually consume about 2300 calories per day (no seconds).  A lot of white bread, processed meat (think 70s style TV dinner).  You will get Kool Aid, but no juice (they don't want inmates making wine out of it)\nThe best advice is to not take sides, keep to yourself, but be amiable.  In other words, no harm in playing a game of cards with someone, but think twice before giving out personal info.  Avoid the race card.  Be respect ful of the guards, but not chummy. Don't do anything to appear aggressive, or anything to look like easy pray.\nYour day will involve a lot of boring TV (usually no cable), card/checkers games.  If you read, you will go through a lot of books (there is usually a limit to how many books you can have in your cell)\nGenerally speaking, your visits will be done through a window (like at the movies)where you will speak through a phone (sometimes monitored).  By appointment you can have a contact visit, however you cannot touch except for an initial embrace, and the table has a 2 foot plexiglass screen bisecting it, so it is kind of pointless.  Also, contact visits involve a strip search.\nIf you are nonviolent, you are not likely
422484
Same thing happened to me. My friend did a year in Federal prison for nothing. Get ready to learn how our justice system really works and remember it the next time someone tells you how we have the greatest government in the world.
1053150
i'm sure there is no web site that tells you because in texas you cant find iinfo on state jail prisoners.Also its not called dallas state jail.its a state jail thats in dallas called Dawson state jail.state jail prisoners are kind of in between prison and county jail.The most time they can do is 2 yrs, (just like county)where as t.d.c.j. your subject to parole reveiws.But for whatever reason t.d.c. provdes info for everyone except state jail dont ask me why
646452
so what prison are you in? and how did you get in this prison?
58580
The answer varies from jail to jail but speaking in very broad terms, jail food is very similar to school cafeteria food in both quality and quantity.\nCounty jail kitchens are monitored more closely than most state or federal prison kitchens since county facilities are subject to inspection by local health departments.
971139
I know a lot of folks who've been in the joint (I live in a poor neighborhood & I used to work in construction). \n\nFrom what I know, prison sucks for both genders - it's boring, there are a lot of a**holes in there, the clothes are ugly, the medical care is inadequate and the guards will kick your ass in a heartbeat.\n\nAnd there are a LOT of fights in jail - and a lot more tension. Male prisoners are CONSTANTLY trying to avoid fighting - since fights = lockdown and on lockdown you're stuck in your cell and that really sucks (no commissary, no phone calls, no lifting weights or playing basketball in the yard ect).\n\nThat's why ex jailbirds tend to be overly polite - in prison, if you even THINK you insulted another prisoner, you say you're sorry immediately - otherwise there WILL be a fight - and I just told you what happens when they fight - it screws it up for everybody\n\nBut, the food is good, and they have really big portions \n\nThis is true for both men and women\n\nFor guys, there is a LOT of the gay stuff- but it's mostly CONSENSUAL \n\nMost guys admit they had sex with men in the joint, but they swear that they were "the man" and the other guy was "the bitch" (of course, at least 50% of them are lying)\n\nOf course, there are jailhouse rapes (and, legally speaking ALL prison sex is rape since prisoners are considered legally dead in terms of civil law when they are inside and therefore they cannot consent to sex) but most jailhouse sex is consensual (men with no other outlet doing what they have to do to fulful their urges)\n\nIn women's jails, their is a LOT of lesbianism (and here, it's almost 100% consensual, it's almost unhead of for a woman to rape another woman in the joint)\n\nAnd there is a lot of sex with the guards - male Corrections Officers give special "favors" to their little prison girlfriends - more food, special items that the commissary doesn't stock, better work assignments ect\n\nlegally, that's all rape (and from time to time DoC cracks down on the guards who have sex with prisoners)\n\nThere's also a lot more fighting in women's prisons.\n\nThe guys tend to avoid fights since the consequences are so serious and they get super polite to make sure that they don't have a fight unless there's no other choice\n\nWomen in prison aren't like that \n\nYou know how women are on the outside ? They love to argue and pick fights, and they won't drop it until they win?\n\nWomen are WORSE in the joint!\n\nArguments will start at the drop of the hat (women prisoners even ARGUE WITH THE CO'S! Since male CO's are less likely to kick a woman prisoner's ass than a male, the girls know they can get away with it)\n\nAnd, since  the DoC isn't as quick to use teargas, mace and nightsticks against fighting women inmates, the women know the consequences aren't as serious as they are in the male institutions\n\nso the girls fight all the time, over dumb stuff (just like women do in the real world)\n\nIn other words, prison sucks for women just as much as it does for men, but in a slightly different way!
649174
PARDONED IN TEXAS ARE YOU KIDDING !!!!! in Texas you do the crime you will do the time .have nice stay
33796
Go to http://www.prisontalk.com and look in the PTO lounge, there are many prayers there for a wide variety of specific situations and for the general well being of incarcerated loved ones.\nGood luck
505593
This should get you the info if they are AT a federal prison.\nhttp://www.bop.gov/inmate_locator/index.jsp
105270
well i work in the prison in texas, and they get what they deserve they are very much hated in the system they beat them up daily rape them take their food et. I am not saying i agree but everything you do comes back to you no matter!!
64526
it all depend on there behavior. if they have good behavior, and a job dutie they will get out early than what they suppose to do. trust me I know I been there to many time I know the jails and what they expect of you while you are there.
929692
The show is total crap, per real inmates and real cops.   But like Miami Vice in my era, it was entertainment.\n\nMy husband has been in federal prison for 26 years, so I know what real prison is like.   My problem with the show is that it glamourizes prison to young people, making prison trendy, whereas prison is really hell on earth. \n\nThe show gets a lot of press, and I'm dismayed to see youthful commentary like "Oh wow, Brittany, he is like so cool, ya know?"  "Ohmigod, Tiff, he is hot.   Should I get a tatto like that, I mean, really, it would be so cool to have barb wire around my arm!"  During a recent shopping expedition, I saw that Old Navy now carries a line of women's shirts that have prisoner's numbers on them.   By all means, let's wear numbers and pretend we are prisoners, because prison is so cool...\n\nI saw a young man on a 4-year drug charge die after being gang-raped at a prison that had one doctor for 2000 inmates.    I knew an elderly diabetic man who died in his wheelchair outside the medical unit waiting for assistance.   If you have a heart attack in a federal prison, you are dead.   You get up when they tell you, you eat when they tell you, you go outside if they let you, you go to bed when they tell you, you travel between units only when or if they let you.\n\nThey might hold your mail for two weeks before releasing it, making you miss an important court deadline.  They held a man's parole hearing in a storage room in their medical unit.  During visitation, sometimes your wife has to drag your screaming daughter or son out of your arms when it's time to say goodbye.   In my husband's case, I was not able to go tell him in person that our oldest son had died.   I had to tell him via a phone call.   Despite raising the money for a federal marshall's escort, he was still not allowed to attend the funeral.\n\nTHAT is reality in prison.   And along with millions of families of prisoners who live like this, THAT is why I can't stand the show.
483836
After so much time served, an inmate may have a bond reconsideration hearing.  They'll usually do it after a month or two, depending on the offense, I think.  Get your phone book and look up government offices.  If you don't live in the Chattanooga area, try http://www.switchboard.com \nYou may be able to call county courts or sheriff's office & get a number and/or extension for jail information if they're not connected (they are here).\nYou could always write your inmate and instruct him/her to write you back with visiting times.  If you live in the area, it should take no more than 4 days to get in, get processed, and get out & back to you.   If your inmate has the sense, s/he has probably already written you, or will soon.\nBest bet, get county offices information today, and call first thing in the morning for info.
930967
http://www.bop.gov/inmate_programs/index.jsp\n\nHere is a FAQ on the Federal Prisons
1087649
I only have experience with TDCJ but I found that the Bureau of Federal Prisons has a pretty good website.  Check out this link:\n\nhttp://www.bop.gov/inmate_locator/visiting.jsp\n\nI know when you go inot a TDC unit you have to have your drivers license, your clothing must be moderate, nothing short or see through, no paper money is allowed inside, just coins and you and your vehicle are searched upon arrival at the unit.  \n\nAgain, I know federal is different but my best advice is to call the unit and ask them any and all questions you can think of.  That's what the staff is there for, to serve the public.\n\nGood luck and safe travels!
1099678
There are not many women's prison close to San Antonio.  The closest one is in Lockhart, TX.  It's a private prison and is actually co-gender.  The next closest prison is in Burnet, TX, Halbert Unit.  It's a SAFP but a prison nonetheless.  It's small with a lot of short timers.  I'm sure there are plenty of mothers there but to get involved with any you're going to have to ask the warden's permission.  Have you ever been in a Texas prison before?  There are a lot of rules and regulations involved.  \nIndependent Lens on PBS did a program at Hilltop Unit in Gatesville that sounds very similar to your study.  You might want to go to the PBS website and find out who did it and ask her some questions.  \nI hope this helps you start out.  I think you have a great idea here.  Feel free to email me with any questions.  I don't know everything but being involved with prison ministry for several years know I do know some.  Good luck!