Prison life

[Kas01980]

US prisons seem shit scary! I used to watch 60 Days In and I would HATE to be in prison.

I used to watch that as well...the last one I saw I'm sure that one of the ones undercover got rumbled and it all got very dangerous very quickly. Don't know much about US prisons, ive seen a lot of documentaries on South American prisons, and WOW. Just wow

 

[moreanimalsplease1]

My husband is a PO.

On the whole, you If you complete that sentence to it’s half way point (calculated release date), the prison service/probation service will do everything they can to help and MUST provide shelter. If they refuse that help, that is outside probations jurisdiction. At this point a prisoner will likely be recalled to prison for breach of their licence conditions. The prisoner will then serve the rest of their sentence in prison.
Once the final release date arrives both the prison service and probation service has no obligation to keep that prisoner and they are released with no support. Here a tent may be issued.

Really informative, thank you! No wonder some end up committing crimes just to have a bed and 3 meals a day.

 

[Ambrosie]

Oh my word! Interesting you managed to do that though, I wouldn’t know where to begin!

can you not get a job that doesn’t require a DBS check and just don’t declare your past? Does this impact you getting tourist visas for abroad etc x
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On the subject of prison - I watched episode 3 of the parole programme on bbc and wow -

Spoiler: Episode 3 ending

I was shocked the guy who had been in prison for armed robbery etc got let out - I was really rooting for him to turn his life around on the outside but within 4 months he was back inside. It’s hard cos they’ve known nothing but inside prison for 15-20 years since they were young.

How can they be expected to try and cope with the outside world, it’s a shame and it makes me wonder how much support is really out there for prisoners who have been let out on licence / got parole (not sure of the right terms?) they’ve got to convince the parole board they are ready to cope with life outside prison and I can’t imagine how hard it must be leaving prison to go to a hostel almost and starting again. I completely get why alot of those who have been in prison for 10+ years get in trouble again and recalled back. It’s probably easier for them to have that network of support and not having to cope with the mental load of life outside prison.

I always declare it, DBS checks or not. Don’t want someone to accuse me of trying to hide it.

Alas, I can barely go anywhere abroad now. Fraud is a biggie really.

I felt bad for that chap on the Parole programme. All that work he did, I thought he’d scuppered it by admitting he’d taken himself off his meds, so was pleased he did get released. For a while, at least.

 

[queenamber]

My phobia is going to prison. I could not cope. I'm still scarred from "the marigolds/margarine scene" in Bad Girls . Not sure how true it was, but absolutely loved the TV show with Sean Bean and Stephen Graham in it - Time, I think it was called?

Time was amazing. I still think about it so often. Especially that scene with Bernard

 

[Zulkraa]

This is on BBC iPlayer for anyone interested.

There is a woman on YouTube that answers a lot of questions and talks about prison life:

https://youtube.com/@ukexfemaleprisonerfrancesc9990?si=pOHOWrASgmUochel

I found this ex governor interesting:

 

[Lucycarmella]

I’m not really sure what people would be interested in but any questions I’m happy to answer the best I can
Background; I’ve worked in the prison service for 6 years now. Worked in YOI estate (15-18) and I’m currently at a Cat C training prison in the midlands (18-25) although we do have prisoners that are over 25 and also some cat B, potential cat A prisoners too

Hey.. I applied to the prison officer relocation scheme . I passed the online tests and have the assessment centre . What I’m wondering though is that I use to visit my ex partner in jail for years .. he’s now on a recall to prison ( but on the run ) would I still be able to work in a prison .. I don’t want to waste my time doing the assessment centre if not . Thanks for any help .

 

[Aemee00]

@eggfriedrice glad to hear you're okay.

I've emailed tattle asking them to remove two of your earlier posts which you might be worried about.

If anyone else wants to report/remove - this page explains how https://tattle.life/help/takedown/

 

[stunrw]

@TikToc you are so lovely...you all are . And you're all right, I should believe in myself more. What I'm about to say is related to prisons so I'm honestly not trying to drop a sob story!

Although I'm alot better than I was, I still lack confidence due to the people that have come through my life. 2 abusive relationships...the 1st was in 2003 and he went to prison for GBH with intent. the second relationship in 2019-2020 was more mental and emotional and I didn't have the courage to press charges and I dropped them (so angry with myself) . I found out after i finally left him for good in October 2020 and the Police used Clares Law to try and help me come to terms with none of it being my fault. I blamed myself for letting him do and say the things he did, and I found out through Clares Law that he'd been in and out of prison for violence, coercive control etc. I dropped the charges because I 100% beleieved (and still believe) he will come for me. Even for the police going to his door because of me. He hasn't found me yet and hopefully never will, although the anti-molestation order has now come to an end.

It's not the place for me to drop anchor any further on all of that, but they're my experiences with the law and prisons (and why I am the way I am).

It was the ex from 2003 I visited in prison (Sutton in Surrey, and then Winchester). However he was just a friend at that point and as far as anyone knew he went down for ABH on a night out when it was actually ABH on his ex. It's a very long story how he kept it covered up and the timeline it all happened so I'll spare you, but I went into the relationship with him after he was released....after I had visited him in Sutton and Winchester. He then went back to Winchester on the GBH with intent charge against me. I remember the prison in Sutton seemed much better and well run and cleaner where as Winchester was an absolute shit hole

Just wondering why two prisons, both in the South of England and not a million miles apart, can be so different ?

Wow Thank you for sharing that as I can imagine it was hard

Depends on a number of things:

The management structure for a start. There is ultimately whats called a Governing Governor (you’ll have maybe seen me say No1). They are in in overall charge of the jail. Then there are a number of governors below who manage different departments - so security, operations, equailty…all sorts of shite.ad made up job titles Below them there are what are (I think still) called Custodial Managers who are the most senior uniform grade who run the day to day stuff. SO’s (Senior Officers) then report to them and they are responsible for the teams of officers.

If the person at the top of the tree is crap then it filters down to everyone else. AND the Uk prison estate was built in the 19th century. So its falling to bits. Then the government forget to spend money, morale of the staff goes, outcomes for prisoners get worse. Vicious circle

The two jails you mentioned are very different. Full Sutton is a Cat A and Winchester is a Cat B. So even the oversight is different. Winchester will be in a group of Prisons in that area: Full Sutton will be under the director of high security and with Belmarsh, Monster Mansion, Long Lartin etc

 

[AFlyOnYourWall]

Ah, have to take advantage when I can. Only thing is, I think Guiness is the work of satan, so not sure I could be

How dare you that’s blasphemous you know!

 

[TikToc]

@TikToc you are so lovely...you all are ...and thank you @eggfriedrice for such an informative reply . And you're all right, I should believe in myself more. What I'm about to say is related to prisons so I'm honestly not trying to drop a sob story!

Although I'm alot better than I was, I still lack confidence due to the people that have come through my life. 2 abusive relationships...the 1st was in 2003 and he went to prison for GBH with intent. the second relationship in 2019-2020 was more mental and emotional and I didn't have the courage to press charges and I dropped them (so angry with myself) . I found out after i finally left him for good in October 2020 and the Police used Clares Law to try and help me come to terms with none of it being my fault. I blamed myself for letting him do and say the things he did, and I found out through Clares Law that he'd been in and out of prison for violence, coercive control etc. I dropped the charges because I 100% beleieved (and still believe) he will come for me. Even for the police going to his door because of me. He hasn't found me yet and hopefully never will, although the anti-molestation order has now come to an end.

It's not the place for me to drop anchor any further on all of that, but they're my experiences with the law and prisons (and why I am the way I am).

It was the ex from 2003 I visited in prison (Sutton in Surrey, and then Winchester). However he was just a friend at that point and as far as anyone knew he went down for ABH on a night out when it was actually ABH on his ex. It's a very long story how he kept it covered up and the timeline it all happened so I'll spare you, but I went into the relationship with him after he was released....after I had visited him in Sutton and Winchester. He then went back to Winchester on the GBH with intent charge against me. I remember the prison in Sutton seemed much better and well run and cleaner where as Winchester was an absolute shit hole

Just wondering why two prisons, both in the South of England and not a million miles apart, can be so different ?

Lovey, always reach out here. We got you babe

 

[stunrw]

So so SO many people in prison have serious mental illnesses and personality disorders. It not an excuse, but it’s sad to see. No programmes or help of any kind that I saw in there. (It was during Covid for me, so perhaps that had an influence on what was available). I have borderline personality disorder and am autistic (also depression, anxiety, PTSD)

110% agree with you. As would every prisoner governor I know. Covid bolloxed things to a point. But in my experience of UK, jails there are long wait lists for everything. The management of the jail try to do their best but it is nothing short of firefighting. The PSAM's (what used to be DDC's) are in the same boat. Until there is serious investment in the system (and its the same in a lot countries) which results in the rehabilitation part as opposed to just a big lock box, nothing will change im afraid.
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You get freaks who hurt kids and all sorts who haven't served a quarter of what he has and he's never hurt a child/woman or done anything sexual/deviant. Obviously he's no saint but I do get sad for him sometimes. He said its not even being in jail that ever bothered him but it was the not knowing when he would get out.

I'm not UK adjacent but for my job I have to understand it because occasionally we have to deal with it (still). We looked at it when it came in (yes Im that old) and questioned our life choices even from outside the UK.

He's doing well that (a) he got P and (b) he's sticking to his licence. Fair play to him and long may it continue. And FWIW, he's got my positive feelings headed his way. Because we aren't all c*nts
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@Lucyxxxx Do you mind if I have a rant about IPP? Because we occasionally come across those who believe what the Daily Heil tell them. So to be able to reference your posts if it educates 1 person would be awesome. Feel free to say no.

 

[Durhamlass]

Slightly different to a mortgage but if you rent and receive the housing element via universal credit they will keep paying this for 6 months if you will be released in that time.
All benefits stop but are instantly reinstated when you are released and visited the job centre
I deal with a lot of this with work

 

[marsaud]

What kind of percentage of people in prison are innocent? Have you ever come across a prisoner who said they were innocent and you thought yeah I think they are.

 

[bamboo98]

my friend didn’t think about her actions and went to stroke a sniffer dog.. the dog sat (alerted) and she ended up getting strip searched

She didn’t have anything to hide so it was fine but quite embarrassing for her - lesson learnt! IGNORE THE DOG

That’s hilarious
I was in a train station a few months ago and a police dog handler and his dog walked past and I had to restrain myself because I’m one of them people that will ask everyone if I can pet their dogs

 

[stunrw]

A really interesting thread! I love any real-life documentary coverage of UK prisons, particularly women's prisons.

Around ten years ago a close family member of mine went to prison for 3+ years and it was honestly the toughest experience of my life. I had to do a lot of growing up very quickly!

I've visited numerous prisons for visits and can answer any questions from a prisoner family member's perspective.

You came out the other side. That is the main thing. There will never be any judgement here

 

[Ari-55]

@Ari-55
Forgot to s You can get negatives entries, IEP's for all different reasons, it all depends on what it is & what screw (officer) it is .
if you decide you don't want to go to work & after being called for work a couple times , get mad & tell them to "f**k off ,_I'm not going" youll go behind your door & get a negative ,
if you're on standard & have to many you end up on basic, ,& lose privileges.
I've gone & got my meds & unlock then gone back to bed when I've not had work. If your cell is dark & quiet & shut door you're left alone by most women , as it's a respect thing.
you don't just walk into someone's cell uninvited as that's disrespectful, but it does happen. .

Thank you for this, that’s interesting!
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In my husbands prison (US so different to over here) they call people for jobs, education, dr appointments etc. if they don’t wait at the doors to go to their jobs/education they’ll get in house seg which means locked in their room until discipline sees them and they’ll potentially lose their job or classes) if they fail to go to the dr appointments they’ll also get in house seg for the rest of the day. They’ll also call their cell numbers over a tannoy and if after 3/4 calls the person hasn’t went to speak to someone they’ll lock the unit down until they’ve located them. I think it would be hard to have a sort of mental health day and stay in bed all day because of the repercussions which is pretty bad considering their environment they’re in and depression is pretty rife.
They don’t have to go to the dining hall for the meals though, that’s the choice of the men.

Thanks for this! I can’t imagine what it must be like in prison if you are dealing with a MH issue!
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If there's a fire in a prison how do they evacuate it without everyone running loose?

This is off topic but you may still find it interesting in a morbid kinda way. There’s articles online about how the guards from a New Orleans prison abandoned the prison when Hurricane Katrina hit and left 650 prisons locked in with no access to anything. I’ve heard people say how some were locked in whilst it was flooding, water levels rising and no where to go. Not sure what’s true and what’s rumours but it makes for an interesting read if you Google it.

 

[Heyyall123]

We're my partner is it's tickets . First in tickets will get threw too visist first . Goes in the order you arrive at the visiting center . I turn up an hour before if your not early you will miss a chunk of your visist were all the people before you will get the checks done

 

[Account3774]

Do the prisoners separate into different groups of “friends”?
Is it obvious when someone’s never been inside before or when someone doesn’t really live a life of crime compared to those who do?
What do prisoners typically make of your more “middle class” prisoner who might be inside for a non-violent crime like tax evasion or fraud for example, rather than a violent crime?

 

[Im not ok]

Umm...can you get money from your own bank account? Thanks for answering

I don’t know, someone close to me is in prison and if it wasn’t for there family they would have nothing in there and their family can’t get into their bank etc as they need to speak to them, it seems like when they get out will have a lot to deal with as in debt, unpaid bills etc

 

[DwightSchrute123]

Mother of God, I went to one of them years ago. Literally never been so terrified

I would not last 2 minutes in prison