Can someone please tell me what Prison is really like??
928299
It actually depends on the prison, and the type of prison. Is it low, medium or maximum security?\n\nAt a prison here in AZ, Wake up time for inmates is 4:30am, which is when count time is. (count is when they count the inmates to make sure no one escaped). Breakfast is at 5:30am. from the time breakfast ends until lunch, the inmates have rec time on the yard, or if you are a trustee or have some other job, then work starts.   Lunch is at 11:00am. After lunch ends, more rec time, and classes will occur. If you work, you return to the prison at around 4:00pm. Dinner is at 4:30. Lights out is anywhere from 9-10:30. \n\nYes, your family can send you money, which is used to purchase items through the inmate store (such as a tv, radio, food, toiletries) It depends on how much money they send you. If your family cannot afford to send you money, every so often, you will be given a care package from the state containing very low quality toiletries.\n\nIn terms of fighting, there are some fights that do occur, but its not a sucker punch and a riot like some people think. Usually they pick fights with someone and it starts with meaningless threats before someone decides to take it further. Some inmates are usually targetted the moment they get onto the yard because of the offense which they are in their for (child molestation, child murder). Inmates take those kinds of offences very seriously. Which is why when the person first enters prison, they are given the chance to PC (Protective Custody) up. Not to mentions that there are usually gangs that go after each other, or racially motivated attacks. \n\nHope this helps.
26231
There is a wonderful group at http://prisontalk.com\nYou'll find a great deal of information and support, including special poems and writings from mothers to their children...there's even a forum dedicated to the parents of inmates\nI've got a "someone special" locked up, too, and this group has helped me a great deal.\nGood luck.
19915
There is a wonderful support and information group at http://prisontalk.com\nAmong the members are many people in the same situation you're facing.\nI've got a "someone special" locked up, too, and this group has helped me a great deal.
961498
Good god.   I have never seen so many "probably," "maybe," or "most likely" answers in one place in awhile.\n\nMy husband has been in federal prison for 26 years so please allow me to shed some authenticity on the subject.    The convictions on specific crimes do determine where they start out, such as a U.S. Penitentiary, like Leavenworth.  \n\nBut over time, some can wind up at a Medium or a Minimum.   IF they live long enough, they can be released to a camp before going home.    Camp is still a controlled environment.\n\nYou were not give accurate descriptions at all of the various levels, including the Wikipedia response.   \n\nMy husband was convicted on less than four ounces of cocaine, and got 41 years, thanks to RICO back in the 80's.  Due to his age and health, he  is currently at a Minimum.   He has been in prisons in Kansas, Georgia, Mississippi, Kentucky and Florida.   Go figure.   He is currently 700 miles away from any family, one way.   He is 65 years old, with health problems, and has been thoroughly screwed over by the parole board (long story).    We have been trying to get THAT straightened out for four years now.   \n\nMinimums are not Cupcake Facilities.   Minimums are enclosed by razor wire, they are patrolled internally and externally, and the guys are told when to get up, when to eat, when they can go outside, when they have to come inside, when they have to go to bed.    Visitors have to be on a list, and go through metal detectors, and at least three interior doors to get to the visiting room. \n\nThere is one doctor for the 2000 men at his facility.   I knew a young man that got gangraped and died from his injuries there, and an elderly diabetic who died in his wheelchair outside the med unit waiting for help.    Miniums are no picnic.   \n\nUnlike TV shows (I Hate Prison Break!), the guys do not discuss their crimes.    Child molesters keep their mouths shut, and gangsta wannabees brag to enhance their reputation.   You can't believe anything the inmates tell you, period, so no one really knows what anyone is in there for, unless it makes the news.   \n\n If you check out my husband's web site, you will see that he was not a white-collar criminal, as someone else stated.  There are white-collar criminals there, like income tax evasion or embezzling, but I would guestimate that 90% of the inmates in federal prison are there on drug-related charges (thanks to our politicians and their "get tough on crime" mandatory minimums  - 5 years for one joint).  \n\nThere are a lot of men and women who have no business in prison, but the power to decide cases on individual points has been taken away from judges, by the politicians and their laws.    Those laws always impress voters, until someone in their family gets in trouble.   Then they find out that once those doors slam, that's it.   The kid who died after being gang-raped was only in there for a three-year drug sentence, not a death sentence.   I met his parents and they will never get over it.\n\nThere are Cupcake prisons, for Martha and the politicians, but regular folks will never see one of those.  \n\nFor the most part, the documentaries you see on PBS are more accurate about current prison life, in any of the prisons.   Prison is hell on earth, with camp being Purgatory.   They are not intended to rehab, but are warehouses, to keep the "bad" people away from the "good" people.    \n\nHope this gives you more accurate info.
425410
For honest, useful answers to your very valid question, minus all the smartass and mean remarks, go to http://www.prisontalk.com\nGood luck.
142737
http://prisontalk.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=56\nThere's a lot of information there about Texas prisons
269653
YES,,IT STILL EXIST.. BUT IS NOT THE TYPE OF VIOLENCE WE ENCOUUNTER IN THE STREET OR ANY PUBLIC PLACE.\n\nTHE TYPE OF VIOLENCE THAT EXIST IN THE PRISON HAS TO DO ALOT WITH RACIAL PROBLEMS.. STATE PRISONS INCLUDING LOCAL AND FEDERAL JAILS ENCOURGE RACIAL PROFILING IT CONSTISTS OF\n\nWHITES\nBLACKS\nHISPANICS\nAND \nOTHER.\n\nMANYLY FIGHTS OCCUR BECAUSE SOMEONE FEELS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DISRESPECTED OR BECAUSE A BAD DRUG DEAL WENT SOUR.\nMOST VIOLENCE IN PRISON ALSO AFECTS THE GUARDS..
176260
Huh? What are you trying to find out? \nAre you looking for a person? Are you trying to learn about prisons? I happen to know a great deal about prisons but I can't answer if I don't know what the question is.
18961
Try looking here http://prisontalk.com/forums/index.php\nThey have tons of resources fot the friends and families of inmates, including information on locating an inmate.
51128
Yes, it does, darn it! I've got my fingers crossed for just such a phone call right now!\nCome to http://www.prisontalk.com to find support and information about these things with no judgemental comments.
419205
this might help......www.prisontalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62139
586778
http://prisontalk.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=294\nYou can post his information for free, lots of people have had really good results...read through some of the other posts to see what kind of information to provide.\nGood luck~! \n\nAnd to those who would consider becoming a penpal... What a lovely thing to do..you'll make someone's day by writing! Be careful though, get a Post Office Box so you don't have to give out your home address to total strangers and don't give out personal information too soon...basically the same rules you follow on the internet to keep safe. And remember that just like on-line, people might not be up-front about who they really are... if it feels like someone is lying or being pushy about a "relationship" drop them.\nWhen you first start writing, don't use any glitter or stickers because many facilities do not allow them.If you're under 18, you might not be allowed to write, some places only let minors write if they are family members(if that's the case writing to an inmate could get HIM in trouble, so don't do it)\nI hope you make a few good friends!
229166
This is nothing I'm proud of,out of my life i've spent 11 years in prison.A prison cell is usually 8ft.x 8ft. That cell becomes your home.A bed,desk,sink,toilet,maybe a chair.Every decision you used to make in the world is gone.Now their made for you by the state.A person who is naturally a surviver,will adapt,one who isn't will have a rough way to go.It's not a life,it's excistence, one day at a time.You can make it easy, or you can make it hard on yourself.It no where, or way to live.
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
89833
Look here http://prisontalk.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=-1&f=102\nand may the time pass swiftly
646452
so what prison are you in? and how did you get in this prison?
761037
just like prison.\n\n\n\ndon't drop the soap.