Prison life

[stunrw]

Yep this is why they banned mail for a while in my husbands prison, they photocopied EVERYTHING and binned the original copies. Thankfully it’s back to real mail now, the copies were so bad especially for photos

We did the same here. Except the originals were kept and given on release.

Now the dogs can detect it and the Rapiscan works its no issue. It was a real security challenge for a while as it was zombifying the population, not to mention killing a few off.

I remember a Justiz colleague of mine had a death in his prison. Becasue the persons body had got so used to the drug, he had taken to electrocuting himself while smashed to increase the high. Obviously the combination of the two were incompatible with sustained life

 

[Ravenstown]

We were allowed pyjamas/nightshirts in my prison. They could be sent in, or brought in if you had them in court before you were sentenced. They had to be appropriate though, shouldn’t be skimpy or see through. You weren’t meant to wear them on the wing but people would chance it, then get sent to get changed,

In theory, could you rock up to court with two massive suitcases as if you were going into Big Brother?

 

[Snowjoke]

My friend is like this. Her partner is currently in prison, not yet sentenced but already served almost 18 months. He phones her anything upwards of 4 times a day and she feels like she's always got to be on hand to take his call. She got invited to a hen do recently, it was only at center parcs but she didn't go because it "didn't feel right to be going away whilst he's stuck in there". She's self employed so schedules her clients around the times she knows he typically calls so that she won't miss his call. It's like she's serving a bit of a sentence as well because she's always got to consider talking to him before agreeing to any plans, it's sad really. If he can't get hold of her he'll ring one of us and ask us to go and check she's ok!

Something seriously wrong when someone in prison is able to do that

 

[princessmaire80]

I’m just discovering how hard it is to have a loved one inside.
One of my closest friends is in prison. It’s not too long a sentence but I’m finding it tough not being able to talk to her, especially at the moment when my mental health is quite fragile.
That said I can’t even imagine how tough it is for her.

 

[Ambrosie]

I have some really boring questions haha.
Clothes - who washes them and does it cost. How do you get new ones?
Hair cuts - is it like a care home where a hairdresser comes in and does everyones in one go?
And this £20 canteen money is that earned or is that just given? Can relatives give money etc.
Sorry for all the questions it just fascinates me. I've never been near a prison and never known anyone been in either.

The prison I was in, you can but clothes from Primark, but not often. Someone buys the clothes in store basically, and then there’s a little shop in the prison where you can look and buy. But you can’t go over your allowance of stuff. So if you’ve already got the maximum amount you can’t buy anything new. They are face value clothes.

There is a salon, prisoners cutting hair I think. It wasn’t open when I was there as was post-COVID. But you can borrow scissors if there’s someone on your landing who can do it for you. You have to hand over your ID card to the officer to be able to borrow scissors.

People can send money in, but you’ll only ever be able to have a certain amount a week to spend

 

[Sleepthiefismyfavourite]

Has their ever been a programme that seems to show what a prison is actually like?

Bad girls?!

 

[bargainhunt99]

Looking forward to the posts in this thread. It's going to be really interesting and educating. Thanks for starting it @eggfriedrice

 

[Proof8]

My pet hate is trying to make justice into a business. It never works. The state cant do it so why in the every living fuck do they think a private co can do it

Yep profit and money should never be brought into the justice system. In my opinion it should never of been done with elderly care.

 

[curiousbean88]

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 .

Hi Ex Probation Officer here!
when they do your vetting they will want all the details of your current close family and partner. They are looking for anything that might lead you to be vulnerable to bribery.
If you are concerned they might pick up on the fact you have been on prison visits before (by searching the system or whatever) there is a box for any additional info and you could mention you have an ex partner whom you used to visit in prison but you no longer have contact with and just play completely dumb about knowledge of him being on the run or wanted on a recall.
their main concern would be that you were or could be coerced into bringing things into the prison.
---

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I take my hat off to you BIG time. I visited someone in prison once and that was bad enough. Confrontation is one of my biggest fears, and I was even scared being in the waiting room with the males prisoners wife's/girlfriends. Absolutely terrified me.

I'd also like to say that anyone that works in or to do with law, I have huge respect...and I know we have a two or three here It would have been my dream job to be a barrister or CID Police, but to put it simply, I'm not that intelligent! I'm not an idiot, but I believe being able to do a job involving the law, criminals etc etc, requires talent. Especially prosecution and defence lawyers

Do YOU face much confrontation from the prisoners?

“ As a probation officer going into a male prison you get swarmed by men shouting Miss Miss Where you from, can you tell my PO this etc” I always worked in the community but would visit offenders in prison often. I worked with 100s of offenders over the years and I probably only had 4 or 5 threatening confrontations. I really liked a lot of the people I worked with. However it is a gruelling and thankless job full of paperwork and unrealistic workloads and expectations. It’s a one way ticket to an early grave due to stress and it’s really not worth it. I quit in the end.

 

[nopenopenopejustno]

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?

 

[eggfriedrice]

@eggfriedrice you should be really careful about what you’re divulging on here you know. Basic prison questions yeah not really an issue answering. But when you’re talking about specific prisoners and their troubles you should really be more careful. I work in a prison and have done for 12 years but I know better than to talk about it on tattle. It isn’t hard to work out from what you’ve said, what prison you work at: I would be careful about what you write as your digital footprint is watched and governors will not take kindly to this

Completely agree and noted. My intention wasn’t to give confidential information away & I will definitely be more aware of what I post going forward!
Sorry everyone.

 

[SunshineRae]

Guys I just wanted to say I’m not being rude not answering your questions and I will get round to it, but I’ve been at work this morning & im just getting ready now for an afternoon of day drinking with my team I work with so I promise I’ll answer them tomorrow!
But quickly:
Clothes - they get issued prison issue clothing (grey trackie & jumper) and can also have clothes sent in but have restrictions (no black/navy tracksuits, no hoods, no football tops, no slogans etc)
Laundry - we have a laundry orderly, most wings have washing machines and dryers on wing so for example Monday will be the 1s landing washing day, Tuesday the 2s landing, Wednesday the 3s landing and so on.. the laundry orderly gets paid £2.50 a day by the prison to do his job
Cell cleans - they have dustpan and brush in cell and can have access to mops/cleaning equipment in their domestic times
Cooking in kettle - they make anything and everything! Usually mackerel curry or some kind of rice/pasta dish, but they’re so clever and cook all sorts of things!
Money wise - it depends what IEP level (basic, standard, enhanced) as to how much you get each week to order canteen. You can have money sent in and it goes in your savings account then every Thursday (in my prison) the money drops down to your spends and goes on your canteen sheet. So basic I think it’s like £7/8, standard £12/£13 and enhanced upto £20, sometimes more depending on the establishment
You can also receive loss of canteen as an adjudication award (say for example someone has a fight, they will get put on report and have a mini court like hearing infront of a governor where the governor finds the charge guilty or not guilty and can issue punishments) and one of them punishments could be loss of canteen for 7-28 days depending on how severe the charge
Other punishments are loss of gym, loss of association (pool), loss of earnings (if they’re employed)

Enjoy your day out @eggfriedrice You definitely deserve it

 

[Kas01980]

@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 ?

 

[moreanimalsplease1]

Ah you made me blush

I can’t quite believe how stupid one of the jailed officers was to take this picture

 

[Ashshakur93]

Just to add my two cents in with Elles post, my daughters dad was in prison on his last sentence for 3/4 years and you do feel guilty missing phone calls because you know they rely on them. It is like doing a sentence alongside them as it’s always about how hard they have it and what’s going on with them (my experience.) whenever I see these girls on Tik tok bragging about having a man in prison I do laugh at them because majority of these men will never change regardless of which shitty tracksuits you send in

 

[QueenKoala]

Nothing to add other than I was obsessed with this thread and sad it has gone quiet

 

[DanaScully]

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.

 

[forgotmyacc]

My friend is like this. Her partner is currently in prison, not yet sentenced but already served almost 18 months. He phones her anything upwards of 4 times a day and she feels like she's always got to be on hand to take his call. She got invited to a hen do recently, it was only at center parcs but she didn't go because it "didn't feel right to be going away whilst he's stuck in there". She's self employed so schedules her clients around the times she knows he typically calls so that she won't miss his call. It's like she's serving a bit of a sentence as well because she's always got to consider talking to him before agreeing to any plans, it's sad really. If he can't get hold of her he'll ring one of us and ask us to go and check she's ok!

Your friend needs to get the fuck out of this "relationship"
And also.... I need more information about a hen do in centreparcs ?! Is this a thing

 

[Ravenstown]

What does the water melon signify? I'm not clued up on the jargon

I lurk on Jack Monroe threads so I think this is triangulation so a poster says something that might id themselves due to info they dropped. Another poster couldn't find the actual red triangle hazard sign and so the water melon came forth.

Loving all this insight to prison life!

 

[Terflife]

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.

. Family do a sentence as well.
it really affects children, parents etc when a parent / child is inside.
There are things that help maintain ties with family while inside.
things like storybook mums (& dad's) , children's letters (in addition to the free letter/s ) family day visits, etc.
Some prisons have a private space for a family/children's visir, as well.

I'm the same, I love prison documentaries, especially women's.
I prefer women's because I can relate to it more than men's as I've spent a while in them over the years, & sad to say that at times I miss it!?..... Don't get me wrong , I love my freedom & family / friends , but prison was my life for a while & it not only helped me , it probably saved my life.
people think prison is this terrifying place with evil bullies, but it's really not. Yes you do get your bullies, wronguns , & evil p.o.s BUT it's also got women from all walks of life, just normal women who have made a mistake, you've also got women who are always in & out. But it's also got really troubled women , & a lot of self h*rmers. .
I witnessed a lot , & saw women covered in scars. Heard some horrific stories , too.
Had some sad & bad times, but also had some good times & laughs too_& made life long friends. .
---

https://www.archive.is/oldest/https...2/Prisoner-caught-TWO-mobile-phones-anus.html

That doesn't surprise me at all. .
You can fit A LOT in your bum aka 'prison purse' ....... And us women have 2 purses to 'store' our goodies. .