I've been to prison AMA!

[NameChanger1987]

I was in a closed prison for 2 months then 4 months in an open prison. It was 5 years ago for a 'white collar' crime.

I know a lot of my friends irl always had lots of questions so wondered if you lot had the same?!

I know what you mean iheart but that's why I really think it's just that they didn't like the business. It's not very ethical or good practice for someone who was supposedly regulated by the FSA. I could have sold the house underneath the tenant or not paid the mortgage so they'd be evicted. It's just not a nice business. I actually think open prison probably does do good for people like me but more savvy/thick, so people who would do it again if they thought they'd get away with it. I think the other group it 'helps' is the saddest, the people who are happy to have a routine, 3 meals a day and a warm bed. It's just that it isn't a prison those people need, it's more support outside.

have you seen 'Orange is the New Black'?

Yeah @NameChanger it does seem that the homeowners were potentially paying a high price to be able to stay in their house (depending on how much under the market value I guess?)
I remember seeing tv adverts for it now aimed at elderly people. So if the people have been able to stay - does that mean you still own the houses?
Interesting what you say about prison meeting some people's needs. So sad though. I've never thought much about open prisons so that's interesting too.
I'm still also amazed at how young you were. At 21 I was a shambles (in an ok way) and couldn't see much beyond the next night out, let alone devise a mortgage fraud!

FourFried I couldn't watch anything prison related for a long time but I have since seen it and in case you're wondering, not similar at all!

iheart Yes, very much under value and little security plus a sales pitch worthy of an oscar. Not me personally, the company but the company changed to property management and the rent was lowered with a much better tenancy agreement drawn up. The other option would have been for me to sell under POCA but that would have meant the tenants being evicted so the judge scrapped that. I used to think you could come and go from open prisons- I thought they were literally open!

bitchplopping my new favourite word - it describes that 'boasting' comment perfectly.

What food did you like best and worst?

What was the first thing you did when released?

You served 6 months? What was the actual sentence?

@RantyMare the food people could make in their kettles was probably the best! The worst, I’m not sure. It wasn’t horrific, just like school dinners.

@StarBurstx 12 months, I had 6 months in and 6 out on licence.

So what was the actual Crime then? Because it doesnt sound illegal jist morally wrong?

I suppose it’s fraud? But I don’t get why it’s illegal either.

So what did you spend the money on?

It’s illegal because she was defrauding the lenders, and as she said upthread, she spent the money on nice holidays, cars, watches etc. Interesting thread op, thanks for sharing your story.

My question: were you afraid of being attacked by other prisoners? I think that would be my greatest fear. (Aside from having my liberty removed.)

So what was the actual Crime then? Because it doesnt sound illegal jist morally wrong?

She was submitting fraudulent mortgage applications.

Thank you for making this thread and being so open and honest!

Sorry if I've missed this being asked already but I was wondering if your children remember it well, and if you talk about that time much with them now, and how they feel about it?

What did you eat on release? Tell me about the day of/day after release what you did? And thank you for being open.

Did you plead guilty at the first opportunity or try and bluster it out initially?

Was there any re-education/rehab provided whilst you were inside and how useful was it, if so?

Yes, as people said it was fraud- I was dodgy on the applications.

@AhhhhThatsBass That's what I kept thinking about before I got there but wants inside of either closed or open I didn't really feel threatened to be honest.

@yaela123 My DD was too young to remember and my eldest has never mentioned it.

@Justanotheruser01 The day of release my parents and partner picked me up and took me home. I showered immediately, spent some time with the kids, had some soup then my parents left and I bathed the kids and put them to bed then went to bed myself. The next day I saw my siblings and closest friends just in my house and just chilled out really.

@PenguindreamsofDraco I was going to just tell them everything but my solicitor told me to go 'no comment' and then she prepared a statement. I felt so guilty and stupid and regretted it all as soon as I'd been caught, I just wish I had felt that way before and didn't do it.

I'm really pleased you all seem to be glad I started the thread! Also, don't ever commit a crime. It isn't that it's horrific but it's a horrible waste of life.

How often could your kids visit you in jail and for how long?
How did they adjust to you being home when you were released?
Do you think this has had any lasting effects on them?

Do you still get an income from the property company?

In your case prison has obviously made you much less likely to break the law again- do you think this was the case for your fellow prisoners?

Why were you put in the closed prison initially rather than going straight to open? Does everyone start in closed to see if they behave?

Did you see much drug use in prison? Did you ever feel physically threatened?

They visited for an hour a week in open but I didn’t have them come every week so that I could see my siblings for example. My then youngest didn’t seem to notice much and my eldest was just happy I was back and like I said he’s never mentioned it since. I’m lucky they were both young.

Yes as an employee but like I said it’s a very different company now, the original one is dissolved it’s just that the same tenants were moved to new company but with different terms.

I realised before I’d even gone to prison. I think reform is needed but I have no idea how to do it.

When you first go you don’t have a category so you’re put in closed and very secure with no privileges. You’re then given a category so if it’s a category you get moved to an open prison. It just took forever to get me a category. Everyone starts in closed until you’re given a category based on crime, if you’ve had a long sentence for a serious crime you might be put in open for the last of your sentence presumably to get people used to more open conditions before the real world.

I never felt threatened but I did feel intimidated by screws at closed prison, the way they search you is clearly designed to humiliate and dehumanise.

At closed I was in my pad so much I didn’t see anything. At open I didn’t see much, I saw people being taken out for being high and heard of searches but it wasn’t close to me or the women I talked to because we weren’t into drugs, I suspect if I was then those types would have found me.

Can mums with young babies go straight to the mum and baby unit or do they get separated until the mum has a category in closed first?

Thanks for answering

Such an interesting thread OP, thank you.

I’m not 100% sure but I would think separated until get a category. The places are really tight too, always full.

You’re all welcome!

What would be a high paying crime that would be easy tog et away with, OP? Something fraudulent but hard to catch people out?

Great thread BTW.

I imagine your baby didn't really remember you when you got out. Did you have to win her trust back? Did she generally want to go to your parents instead of you?