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AMA
Original poster

I work in a mens prison AMA

339 replies

CrispAura · 16/08/2025 16:28

Send me a question, and I will try to answer as honestly as possible

OP posts:
Original poster
CrispAura · 17/08/2025 00:05

TheCurious0range · 16/08/2025 21:34

😂 so many people clearly have no idea about the inside of a prison. Lavish!!

OP are you a prison officer or a POM? If the former would you be interested in the latter, or vice versa. I used to work in probation and now work in a related public protection field and have been around a fairly long time so have had a few different roles. I used to say the only thing I couldn't do is work behind the gate.

Prison Officer

OP posts:
Spaghettihair · 17/08/2025 00:08

What advice would you give someone going in for a first offence?

Original poster
CrispAura · 17/08/2025 00:10

daddysgirlnot · 16/08/2025 23:32

What percentage do you think are actually guilty?

99%

OP posts:
ForFunWriter · 17/08/2025 00:12

CrispAura · 16/08/2025 23:22

I have. It was a fantastic place to work 20 years ago, now not so much. Too many young girls in their 20s, with hair extensions, false nails and duck lips. I mean, why is this job attractive to girls lik that? They clearly have an agenda of meeting a bad boy and wanting adulation of the wrong sort. It makes my job more difficult and everyone is put in danger aren't they? All the experienced Officers have gone or gone sick and never came back.

Show quote history

Who’s recruiting them?

Original poster
CrispAura · 17/08/2025 00:12

MrsPerfectlyFine · 16/08/2025 23:33

My question is….do you have a Listener Scheme in your prison and if so, how effective do you think it is in keeping the prison a slightly calmer place? is it well supported by you and fellow officers? or seen as a pain in the arse moving the Listeners around when they get a call?

We do. They do a good job too. I think they help the prisoners but have to work in pairs in case hey get attacked which is fucking sad

OP posts:
Original poster
CrispAura · 17/08/2025 00:16

Gladysknightjustwalkinmyshoes · 16/08/2025 23:38

Do you get fed up with the media portrayal of your place of work being akin to a cushy hotel.

Yes!!! It's not like a hotel at all! I laugh at those memes that say we should put the elderly in prison so they have free TV and 3 hot meals a day! Really? Prisoners get one hot meal anyway and they live in a shitty cell. I wouldn't like my mum and dad to be in prison!

OP posts:
Original poster
CrispAura · 17/08/2025 00:18

DinoLil · 16/08/2025 23:42

I used to live next door to an open prison. Every weekend, all the prisoners would pour out, get the train, buses, taxis. I found that unsettling tbh.

Now I live near a very famous prison but isn't a Cat A anymore. Lots of paedophiles and rapists instead. I know several people who work there and have for years, as POs and admin staff. I used to volunteer for a charity assisting offenders in the probation service until Covid shut it down.

It must be a fascinating but exhausting job @CrispAura

The funniest story I heard was a PO who had gone to KFC for lunch and left the box under his car because he didn't want his car to smell. The bomb squad were heading over from the mainland before they realised what it was!

Edited

Blimey! Sounds like an Irish prison! Not sure my nick would have a bomb squad arrive for a KFC box!

OP posts:
TaupeMember · 17/08/2025 00:19

Great thread, thanks

Notfeelinguptoit · 17/08/2025 00:21

Are there any high profile well known male inmates in your particular prison?

Obviously you can’t name names, but is it eerie working around them if there is?

Original poster
CrispAura · 17/08/2025 00:21

Francestein · 16/08/2025 23:59

Have you ever felt unsafe? Can you please describe the situations in a non-outing way?

I've felt unsafe on a landing with only me on it. I just make sure I'm behind bars so no one can get to me.

OP posts:
Original poster
CrispAura · 17/08/2025 00:24

Notfeelinguptoit · 17/08/2025 00:21

Are there any high profile well known male inmates in your particular prison?

Obviously you can’t name names, but is it eerie working around them if there is?

I have high profile names on my wing. They are high profile for being in the news or in the paper. Most of them are pretty insignificant in the big picture of a big prison.

OP posts:
Tallisker · 17/08/2025 00:27

What a fascinating thread, thank you.

Morecoombe · 17/08/2025 00:34

CrispAura · 16/08/2025 19:21

No. I've hardened up over the years not to believe all the stories I'm told. A couple I have really felt sorry for, a couple where they should not have got a sentence (in my opinion) . Some have had horrendous childhoods, sexual abuse was rife, broken homes etc. I didn't blame their drug use, they took drugs to escape some awful awful things. So yes I suppose I did feel sorry for them. Ive met some bloody horrible vile people too, and prison is definitely the right place for them.

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Do you think any one is actually evil or just circumstances made them have personality disorder ?

thechatclub · 17/08/2025 00:35

CrispAura · 16/08/2025 23:22

I have. It was a fantastic place to work 20 years ago, now not so much. Too many young girls in their 20s, with hair extensions, false nails and duck lips. I mean, why is this job attractive to girls lik that? They clearly have an agenda of meeting a bad boy and wanting adulation of the wrong sort. It makes my job more difficult and everyone is put in danger aren't they? All the experienced Officers have gone or gone sick and never came back.

Show quote history

I have false nails and hair extensions. I also wear false tan and have false eyelashes everyday. This does not mean anything to the type of person I am or my attitude to my job.

I work with children whose parents are well off. I’d hate to think someone judged how I look and accused me of having an ulterior motive at work because of my style and beauty choices.

Allisnotlost1 · 17/08/2025 00:40

CrispAura · 16/08/2025 23:05

No. Women are either Mad or Bad. Not something I would go to

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so what are men?

Morecoombe · 17/08/2025 00:41

thechatclub · 17/08/2025 00:35

I have false nails and hair extensions. I also wear false tan and have false eyelashes everyday. This does not mean anything to the type of person I am or my attitude to my job.

I work with children whose parents are well off. I’d hate to think someone judged how I look and accused me of having an ulterior motive at work because of my style and beauty choices.

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I wish I had such pride in my appearance & the self discipline to style my hair , put on eyelashes and fake tan etc . No judgement here, just in awe of women who always look their best. what motivates you to do this as I would like to find this motivation 😊

Bekcee7 · 17/08/2025 00:49

thechatclub · 17/08/2025 00:35

I have false nails and hair extensions. I also wear false tan and have false eyelashes everyday. This does not mean anything to the type of person I am or my attitude to my job.

I work with children whose parents are well off. I’d hate to think someone judged how I look and accused me of having an ulterior motive at work because of my style and beauty choices.

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I’m pretty sure we all judge others on their appearance, without exception. Unconscious bias, maybe, but you’ll probably make judgements based on people who don’t make as much effort to prepare themselves for the working day. Our experiences will then either prove or disprove our preconceptions, but we all judge.

Gladysknightjustwalkinmyshoes · 17/08/2025 00:58

thechatclub · 17/08/2025 00:35

I have false nails and hair extensions. I also wear false tan and have false eyelashes everyday. This does not mean anything to the type of person I am or my attitude to my job.

I work with children whose parents are well off. I’d hate to think someone judged how I look and accused me of having an ulterior motive at work because of my style and beauty choices.

Show quote history

Yes it's so obvious that working with children whose parents are rich is the same as working with manipulative dangerous criminals.

At it big time nice try.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 17/08/2025 00:58

When you read things where people are almost gleeful that a prisoner will have some "Prison Justice" meted out to them , especially a crime that other prisoners would take offence at .
Or almost resentful that they'd be 'protected' or safe as they;d be in with their peers who committed similar crimes .
How does that make you feel that the General Public wants to be Judge Jury and Executioner?
Do you try telling them that prison is also to rehabilitate the prisoners and keep the general public safe ?
Though I don't lose a wink of sleep when I hear of some prisoners getting worked over if I;m honest

ForFunWriter · 17/08/2025 01:10

Morecoombe · 17/08/2025 00:41

I wish I had such pride in my appearance & the self discipline to style my hair , put on eyelashes and fake tan etc . No judgement here, just in awe of women who always look their best. what motivates you to do this as I would like to find this motivation 😊

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Insecurity

gentlemansfamily · 17/08/2025 01:13

I am a registered nurse (1 year). Would love to try prison nursing. I love building up therapeutic relationships with service users and help/educate them on their health and well-being.

Do you know any of the prison nurses, and do they enjoy there jobs?

ForFunWriter · 17/08/2025 01:19

gentlemansfamily · 17/08/2025 01:13

I am a registered nurse (1 year). Would love to try prison nursing. I love building up therapeutic relationships with service users and help/educate them on their health and well-being.

Do you know any of the prison nurses, and do they enjoy there jobs?

Lovely viewpoint.

3678194b · 17/08/2025 01:30

What do prisoners have to do/how long do they have to wait to get 'enhanced' ? What advantages does enhanced get them over ordinary prisoners?

Trendyname · 17/08/2025 01:36

YouWillFindMeInTheGarden · 16/08/2025 21:40

They call us all ‘miss’ or ‘yo,guv’!

I had a prisoner who told me he couldn’t remember ever being shown any form of love or affection as a child. Not a single instance.

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That’s very sad.

Frannieisnthappy · 17/08/2025 01:53

CrispAura · 16/08/2025 19:11

Well, I thought it would be interesting and varied, which it is and I love it. I also like helping people, but it can be hard when you cannot provide clean clothing etc and get prisoners out for social more because of lack of staff.

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What are the main reasons for lack of staff?