I've served a prison sentence

[NCforAMA]

I've seen a few threads on here recently where the OPs have basically suggested prisoners are the scum of the earth and are all like the likes of Ian Huntley ect.

I've read the comments and seen a few prison officers defending the prisoners and most posters also defending them, but I thought maybe I would answer some questions so people can understand what it's really like to be inside a prison cell.

Ive name changed for obvious reasons.

Il list a few points that I think would be the first questions;

I'm female.

I'm 33 and I was in jail in 2012.

I received a 12 month custodial sentence. I served 13 weeks in jail, 13 weeks on a tag and the remaining 6 months were served on license at home.

I don't want to say exactly what I was in for as I don't want it to be outing. I will clarify though that it was not a violent offence, not a sexual one before I get abuse from posters. To summarise, I was with a boy who wasn't very well behaved and was basically guilty by association. I was young, stupid and naive. And I absolutely paid the price.

I wish I could change the perception of how people see prisoners.

Anyway, ask away.

I’m going to be greedy with another question - what percentage do you think were repeat offenders, who found it easier to be in prison than to make it outside?

thank you for this thread

What was the food like?

Did you have to work or could you choose not to?

Great thread OP and wishing you the best

It was a wonderful job. I loved it so much and still work for the same organisation on a different project. At least one of my colleagues had been inside so don’t assume it’s not something you could do. There are also opportunities for voluntary work you could do.

You are 100% right. This is literally the case for half the women in prison.

You don't get very much help in prisons. The staff don't have the time. I think the realisation I got was when I had an appointment with my offender manager and he asked if I was going to stay with my boyfriend. I said yeah and he said ok then we will probably see you again.

I burst into tears, I understood my life would be ruined if I stayed with him but I couldn't find a way out. He knew a lot of people in prison, and some had girlfriends in the same prison as me, so he literally knew my every move and would have people hassling me as to why I hadn't replied to him.

Thankfully it was on his license conditions that he's not allowed to contact me until 2027, or he'd get a full license recall so I could use this as a way out. The police said they'd put the license conditions on there for my safety.

Can't think of a question but I am so fascinated by this thread. It won't have been easy making this thread OP but I'm so glad you did! If a question pops in my head I will let you know. Also props to you for turning your life around. Sounds a bit bonkers for me to say but it's almost like that mistake literally saved your life. And I'm glad it did ❤️

Can you say which prison you were held at? There's only a handful of them so it's not particularly outing...

Were there any 'famous' inmates in there (e.g. child killers)?

So when I disclosed in interview he basically went 'ok, that's fine, you made a mistake, you paid the price' and then said 'we'll be in touch soon about the job'. I expected to be declined but he rang to offer it and I was crying on the phone 'thank you so much for this chance' he probably thought what the hell have I let myself in for.

I've since had a promotion and have to report to a new line manager so I felt it was only right I told them, worked myself up about it and they replied 'oh I already know, don't worry at all' and I felt like the world had lifted off my shoulders.

I don't mind questions in real life, I'd rather someone ask than there be an elephant in the room but no one mentions it, no one at work treats me any different although I'm not sure exactly how many people know apart from HR and management.

That's a lovely comment, thank you for your kind words. If only the world was full of people like you!

I genuinely had people messaging me telling me to kill myself when it happened! Obviously I'm not friends with those ones anymore!

Yeah - drugs and phones everywhere! People bring them in on visits, throw them over the fence ect. There's so many.

Thank you for this AMA. Do you know whether the current experience in prison is anything like what happened to you? I heard that during and since Covid there is a lot more time in cells and lot less officers and education.

Do you think you might have had a different life if it was more locked up?

Thank you for been so honest OP glad your doing well now, we never know what round the corner this could happen to anyone.

Such an interesting thread. Wishing you all the best OP! Something needs to be done to help the lady who got life for murdering her child's rapist.

What a great thread

well done for turning your life around, you have inspired me.

also well done for quoting the questions so I could keep up! Drives me mad when I don’t know the question!

The two that investigated it weren't the most kindest and interviewed me for hours and hours. But the custody officer was lovely.

I got a duty solicitor to begin with but you have to wait for them to arrive, whilst I was waiting another from their firm came to tell me they'd read what I was arrested for and came to say do not say anything at all.

Then the duty solicitor arrived and told me to say everything, so I did. And I'd have probably had no further action taken if I hadn't have spoken.

Sorry, my family were lovely. They couldn't have been nicer. They've been so so kind and supportive and il be forever grateful.

Ok so I have already thought of some questions. But they kind of relate to women I've seen on tiktok who have been in American prisons.
The food- over there it seems to be disgusting. Literally labelled "not for human consumption", some of it is mouldy etc. Is it better in the UK?

Periods- over there, you get 1 pack of pads a month. There is no way of getting more without buying them. Is it similar here?

Snacks- can you buy snacks every day? Like I'd die without snacks (not that I plan on going to prison, but you never know!). Or is it like doing a weekly shop? Is it using money from your normal bank, or only from money from your job in prison?

So so sorry for all the questions but I am soooooo fascinated!

Why come on the thread to state the obvious. Do you actually have a question

Take a bag with all your clothes! Take your phone numbers written down on a piece of paper and take stamps as you won't have any phone credit for a couple of weeks.

Get your body parts waxed before you go as you won't have a razor for ageeees.

And don't beat yourself up. What's done is done, you can only move forward. I've seen someone hanging and il never get that image out of my head. I've seen people slice their wrists open. It was awful honestly.

And stand your ground from the minute you get there, if you look soft people will try ask you for your clothes/food ect, just say no.

No, mens are cat A-D, womens are just mixed! So you literally have shoplifters sharing cells with someone who has just been sentenced for murder!

Thank you!!

Thank you!

No x

To summarise, I was with a boy who wasn't very well behaved and was basically guilty by association

That seems to downplay it somewhat...as if you're not really taking responsibility for whaetver you did.

No questions, just wanted to jump on the thread to wish you all the best for the future. It sounds like you have a really positive mindset, I hope your life keeps on going in a good direction. You’ve done your time after all.

OP I did a couple of things for a boyfriend in my 20's that could have got me locked up for a loooong time. I look back at that period of my life and wonder what the fuck I was thinking. There but for luck and a fair wind go I.

I'm glad things have worked out well for you.