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.

Thank you for this AMA OP, I’m finding it fascinating and I’m glad to hear you have taken your life in a better direction.

Do you get some choice about what work you do or are you allocated a job? What other jobs are there in prison?

Thank you! I was going to argue this comment but I couldn't be bothered but you've said it perfectly! So thank you!

Yeah loads of mums, the prison I was in had a mother and baby unit so there were about 20 women who had their babies with them (I think it was up to 18 months old). They would have to walk round the jail at different times to everyone else so that they didn't come into contact with peadophiles.

There were pregnant women who would go to hospital and come back alone because there was no space on the mother and baby unit :(

Lots of mums got child leave - they would get to go home for a day, and eventually 5 days at a time. Some would go home Thursday-Tuesday and then only come back to jail Tuesday-Thursday 🤣

There was a girl who was a heroin addict and she went on a visit and was told her children were getting adopted. She screamed for days. My heart broke for her. Although it was probably the right thing for the children x

Hello. May I ask if it's true what they say about child killers being 'sorted out' by the other prisoners? That if the inmates found out what a new inmate was in for and it was something truly horrific and despicable against a child, that other prisoners would see it as a good opportunity for some 'just desserts?' Or is it all an urban myth?

A relative of mine became an alcoholic after turning to drink between arrest and trial. Even though they eventually only got community service, the experience has left a lasting impact (it's over 10 years later and they're still struggling on and off). How was the waiting for you? Did you turn to self-destructive behaviours in order to cope, or alternatively did you turn your life around?

I’m thinking of applying for a teaching job in a local womens prison. Do you think I would be safe? I am worried about being physically attacked - is this a realistic fear, or have I watched too much tv?

Oh there was loads but I can't remember much!

Burn - tobacco.
Bacon - peadophile.

That's all I can think of x

How old are you? How old were you when convicted?

Really interesting thread and well done to you for turning things around - you should be really proud of yourself.

My question is, did anyone try to hurt/kill you or people around you in prison? Did anything happen to make you question your safety?

Trust me, you'd be fine. Any trouble tends to happen outwith the education department, and prisoners see education as a privilege that they don't want to lose. Plus you'd have an alarm and be given personal protection training before you start work.

FloydPepper;

I'm not blaming the duty solicitor, they were advising what the thought was best and I didn't know any other solicitors as i hadn't been in trouble before.

I do blame my ex bf and he made my life hell for years, death threats ect.

I honestly don't think I deserved jail and every single person that asked what I did would say 'what and you got jail for that?!). I wish I could tell the details so you could make your own decision!

Shut up, Louise, you're gaslighting.

Really interesting thread. Also wish you the best of luck for your future, and well done for turning your life around. 👏

No but they did say I was going to get shipped there one day! Then changed their mind and cancelled it.

I really hope I'll never do anything that means I go to prison, but I'm basically clever but maybe not that good at e.g. gardening or whatever. I'd be totally happy to help people sort out forms, teach classes, deal with appeals etc - do they let people play to their strengths like that? Would helping people with stuff like that hopefully avoid you getting beaten up?

Also, you said the amount people got paid varied - what determined how much you got paid?

Thank you for this OP, it's a super interesting thread.

I don't think there were any when I was there. I've not really thought about it

OP well done for turning your life around and the insight into life inside. As a child I grew up on a prison estate as my dad was an officer in a Young Offenders Institution. Education seemed to be key. Many of young men were illiterate and the education department taught basic literacy skills and the youths could learn a trade- carpentry, electrics, decorating, catering or farming (yes, the prison had a farm and across country course!) I reckon things have changed as this was 40 years ago.

I read a fab book recently called 'A Bit of a Stretch' by Chris Atkins. It is like the prison version of 'This is Going to Hurt'!

www.amazon.co.uk/Bit-Stretch-Diaries-Prisoner/dp/1838950176

Sorry if this has already been asked, but what opportunities for education/retraining were there? What percentage of inmates were scary nutters who definitely needed banging up?

Thought of another question!

Were there any high profile prisoners in your prison?

(E.g Rose West, Maxine Carr, Joanna Denehy). If so, obviously please don’t say who if it will give away which prison you were in. But just interested to know if there were any famous faces and if there was any interesting info.

Do you think prison worked? If so what worked about it for you and the people you’ve stayed in touch with?
Thanks for your honesty OP I have definitely done some stuff that would have ended me up in trouble with the law as a youngster and I stupidly thought ‘normal people don’t go to jail so I’ll be okay’ so threads like this are an eye opener. Being lucky/unlucky plays a huge part in how life turns out.

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.

It seems as if there isn't much help for women who have been coerced.

Is there much understanding of it do you think or are they generally thought to be as responsible?

Why would he be allowed to contact you ever?

I am so so so sorry 😢

A lot of prisoners were scared of release. You feel like you've let your family down, like no one will ever employ you ect.

As stupid as it sounds you don't have many worries when you're in prison, everything's out of your control so you worry less as there's nothing you can do. Then all of a sudden you think omg I'm out soon and the real world seems scary. I'm genuinely so sorry for your brother.

They have volunteers working in the visitors centre, I don't think they have many volunteers working with the actual prisoners.

I've volunteered at homeless kitchens since, a lot of those are ex-prisoners. There's a charity called UnLocked that helps prisoners, I'm not sure if they have volunteers x

Thank you x

I'm sorry about your friend. There was literally so many people in this situation.

Thank you for your lovely comment x

I worked in a prison in the medical unit for 7 years and treated everyone with decency. I am not the judge and jury. They've already had that. I was there to do a job of work not concerned. Myself with people's crimes. Most og them have a history of abuse, drugs and deprivation. It's mostly very sad.

OP, the difference between you and the handful of people on this thread who are judging you, is that you got caught. Given the right circumstances/environment, any one of us is capable of making a huge mistake. Anyone who thinks they're above that, is deluded. You mentioned the lady who was in for killing a man who raped her child. I am pretty sure most mothers here would absolutely have those same feelings and some might actually do it, if they found themselves in that horrific situation. I think that proves the point!

So well done to you for starting this thread, knowing you might get flamed. You did a thing, you got caught, you did your time and now you've started a new life.

Also, I would add that you could absolutely work with/help others who are going through the same thing (if that's what you want to do). I know someone who did time for a serious but non violent offence. He now works for a rehab project, working in prisons with offenders. Lots of projects look for people 'who've been there, done that' as a way of encouraging prisoners that when they get out, they can start over.

I wish you well.