I work in a prison - AMA

[Alpacamysuitcase]

As per the title.

I won't say anything to identify me, the place I work, or any individuals. I won't disclose sensitive information. But happy to help other than that!

Do you get a lot of riots ?

No.

Occasionally one or two prisoners will refuse to move, or climb out on a roof. But nothing really rioty in all my years.

Is prison food better than NHS hospital food and school lunches?

How often does someone do a dirty protest?

No, it is terrible. The budget is very low. The kitchens do what they can. But it is bad. Not helped by being heated up then kept in metal serving dishes, so everything (like chips etc) goes soggy. Not enough fruit and veg either.

Is it a women's prison or men's? What's your job?

Dirty protests happen but aren't routine.

I would usually associate them with highly distressed people, often people who have experienced high levels of trauma (particularly sexual abuse) or are acutely mentally unwell.

I actually work on a number of prison sites so have worked with/work with a variety of prisoners.

I have a helping type job but don't want to be too specific.

Are you in men’s or women’s estate?

Why did you choose to work in a prison?

I chose to work in a prison because a job came up that looked interesting and was a chance to advance in my career. I stay because I feel like I'm making a real difference, and because I continue to find the work interesting and professionally stimulating.

Do prisoner/guard relationships actually happen or is everything really closely monitored?

How close is orange is the new black / Wentworth to real life?

They do happen, but I tend to only hear about them in the papers! So hopefully they are rare. They are certainly frowned upon by just about everyone. A real taboo, risky, and often highly exploitative.

Do the other inmates hate the child sex offenders? Do they ever beat them up? Do the guards allow it or do it too?

How do you deal with prisoners that crimes are too vile? Is it hard to stay professional?

Can you tell if someone will be back before too long or are there some that you know would never risk going back to prison?

Sorry, I haven't seen any of those sort of prison dramas.

All I can think of is Shawshank, which felt like it might be realistic for the time, if not now.

@Alpacamysuitcase
This is probably very naive, but how are there so many drugs etc in prisons given all the searches and strict rules? I heard on Radio 4 the other day that half of prisoners either have a drug problem upon entering prison or develop one whilst they are there.
Do you feel safe?

Sex offenders are kept separate. If other prisoners had the chance they would definitely attack them. Within sex offenders there would still be a degree of hierarchy, I'm sure attacks happen in that basis.

Most officers are too professional and/or couldn't be bothered with the hassle of facilitating attacks.

I find it quite easy to switch off from what people have done. It's usually possible to see the whole person - I don't believe in monsters. The first time I met someone who had murdered someone I did feel a bit weird and probably looked flushed, but it is routine now.

I don't want to seem like I don't care about the victims. I do, and I think good prison work helps to create less victims. But I couldn't do my work if I got emotional or dwelled on things.

How safe do you feel at work? Have there been situations where you felt in danger?
Do you feel that prison actually serves a real purpose for most inmates ( rehabilitation not just punishment) or do you think that custodial sentences are overused?

Most (not all) people in prison have had horrendous childhoods of abuse and deprivation. Prison can give stability. So it is easier to see the people who will come straight back. The reasons for offending are complex so I don't always have a strong instinct about what short termed will return.

Things that help people stay out are getting help for drug use/alcohol, getting work/education, improving self-esteem/reducing shame and having a sense of purpose e.g. having children. But these things aren't always enough.

It is hard to keep drugs out. Lots of staff, visitors and mail enter prisons every day, some bringing drugs that can be hard to detect. Some of the drug problem comes from trading prescription drugs.

I feel safe. I've never felt unsafe, that I can recall.

I think custodial sentences are over used. They aren't appropriate for low level crime. The justice system should be more rehab focussed. There are many pockets of great rehabilitation work, however.

Some of the most transformative experiences come from the professional relationships between prisoners and staff of all kinds, rather than any one specific rehabilitation approach.

I work in a similar environment and wanted to ask is the use of miss and sir encouraged!

What can the general public do to support prisons in rehabilitation? Are there schemes for volunteering, for example? Is there anything that people like us can do to help?