I was in prison in my early twenties, AMA

[Lexibletheflexible]

I was in prison about 18 years ago, between the ages of 19-22. I now volunteer with charities supporting female prisoners. AMA

If I was hiding a gun for a friend, I'd just say. I dont see that as more shameful nor do I see what actually happened as me having less responsibility than if I was hiding it for a friend. The law is the law.

Wait, what? IANAL but I thought that in general, you needed mens rea to be guilty of a crime (with a few exceptions like drink driving, otherwise people would just say they were too drunk to know what they were doing). It may have been your flat but if you didn't know what was going on there, how can that possibly not be a defence? It's obvious that criminals will hide what they're doing!

I havent even read the article. I just know I've never featured in one. As I said, I met a few women on the same charge and similar circumstances to me. Liverpool police liked this approach, too.

If not knowing about the crime isn't a defence (!), what defence did your counsel try to use for you?

1. What treatment in hospital do some of the inmates think they need? Many mental health conditions are out patient.
2. Were there lots of illegal goings on behind bars? If so, what kind of things?
3. How did you find passing the time? Were the days long or did you get used to it?
4. Maybe a daft one, were there any aspects you didn’t mind so much (such as not having to pay bills!).
5. What acts of kindness or cruelty did you witness?
6. Hypothetically, if you had to, could you cope with a life sentence?
7. Are you still with your boyfriend from then now?
8. Was he ever in prison?
9. Which family members also did time and what for?

I’ve been in very similar situation unwittingly in the early 90s, more than once, I was young and naive as were many others in the small town I lived in.
cuckooing was a thing long before it was ‘a thing’ , also subletted in similar scenarios which caused me no end of problems.
plus I was housed by the local authority very young too, following a period in temp accommodations.
i was not street smart but thought I was, those around me could obviously see through tho.
OP’s story adds up for me. I’m sure there is thousands of people with similar stories, and some would have reported to the media for whatever reasons.
these things stil happen today, it’s great to raise awareness

sentencing guidelines say an unlimited fine for a first offence.

How do you think the system could be changed to address that?

I know there are schemes around the world where prisoners are taught skills while doing time in order to walk into decent jobs on release. Does that feel like something that might have helped with reoffending?

if not, what?

I think (you may know this, but in case not) knowing about the facts but not realising it constitutes a crime is no defence.

But not knowing the full extent of what was going on ought to have been a valid defence op?

It is a defence, but a jury hear the prosecution and then the defence cases and then decide whether they believe the prosecution version or not. In OP’s case, they didn’t believe her and the judge directed them.

Mens rea isn’t always provable (or disprovable) by tangible evidence. How do you prove you don’t know something?

She shouldn't have had to prove she didn't know anything. The burden of proof is on the prosecution to prove she did.

@Lexibletheflexible

This question may be intrusive - if you are not comfortable with it my apologies and obviously don't answer it.

Your posts are very flat and factual. There's no anger or self pity or even sadness coming across about the experience you had, both the conviction and the incarceration.

Is that how you actually feel about that part of your life - just kind of flat and neutral? If not, how do you feel about it? And if it is, were you like that (kind of flat) before prison or did it change you emotionally?

this was fairly easy though. The gun was in her home. Therefore they’ve established possession. Your defence then would have to be disproving it. And as the poster said, then the jury decide whether you’ve done that.

I hope this isn't an unkind question: how did you feel when the verdict was delivered? Did you know what was coming?

What are the toilets (and showers) like?

If you don't have privacy I would never be able to go!!

The truth! Mostly hoping for a lenient sentence

Not exactly a deterrent though is it - I wonder about having to pay back the money you’ve stolen alongside financial penalties? Would the deterrent for illegally claiming benefits or tax evasive be effective if it’s just stop doing it in the future? Surely everyone would do it then until they got caught?

Not exactly a deterrent though is it - I wonder about having to pay back the money you’ve stolen alongside financial penalties? Would the deterrent for illegally claiming benefits or tax evasive be effective if it’s just stop doing it in the future? Surely everyone would do it then until they got caught?

Yeah. I had some hope but when I felt the tone of the judge and prosecution, I prepared myself for the gallows.

It’s not supposed to be a deterrent. Social housing isn’t run like the criminal justice system.

Makes perfect sense to me. If you want to avoid being the victim of crime learn about it from
the perpetrator. There’s no point listening to other victims or law abiding citizens about something they have no experience of doing.

Criminals are just humans who fucked up and got caught. Try to remember they are people.

Not the OP? She had somewhere else to live? Actually everyone illegally subletting has somewhere else to live surely - otherwise they would be living in the house they’ve sublet??

That would just encourage you to do more crime or take greater risks with your safety to pay back the money. I'd have sold more drugs.

Exactly. I went to a private rented flat on release.

Of course they do, but my point is that prosecutions more often than not invite the jury to infer mens rea from circumstantial evidence. A defendant doesn’t have to prove anything, they can simply say nothing, but if they have evidence that the prosecution case is wrong they’d be pretty silly not to mention it.