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

Do you not have any remorse about dealing? You say it’s a trade like any other but I disagree, drugs kill people, 2 17 year olds recently died here after taking ecstasy. I couldn’t live with myself if I played a part in that

You think the majority of sex offenders and domestic abusers are in prison? Have you bothered to look up the prosecution, let alone conviction rates of these crimes?

Have you heard of cases like R v Ahluwalia and the issues of women being arrested when using physical force against their attackers? Victims are often in jail right aside perpetrators.

Not to mention OP is a woman and the majority of women in the UK are serving short sentences for non-violent crimes. There is plenty of research out there showing that most women who wind up in prison are there by direct or indirect involvement of a man.

And I'm not even an abolitionist like that, but the notion that the divide between criminals vs non-criminals, or ethical vs non-ethical people, is those in prison compared to those who aren't, is the stuff of children's cartoons, and you are a grown ass woman.

Interesting thread - thank you. I have a few questions:

1. What did you mostly spend your free time doing? Did it get boring?

1. Did you, and other prisoners, read much? Was there a prison library? What books were popular (if you know this).

1. Did you make any lasting friendships in there? Any you still see?

It just means seeking out paid opportunities really.

1. Reading and chatting. Yes.
2. Some people are avid readers. The library is quite popular. Books for young adults were quite popular.
3. Yes i have 2 friends who are still very close to me and my family who I met in jail.

Not really. I didn't sell crack or heroin. I sold party drugs to party girls and boys. I'd have felt more guilty being a bartender

They'd have sailed through.

I have compassion for the victims of crime.

You think the majority of sex offenders and domestic abusers are in prison?

Where have I said that?

And bartending didn't pay as well so ...

For a sentence of less than 5 years, seving 3.5 years, you didn't behave well in prison, did you?

I didnt have to misbehave to be treated well but I would have if I did have to.

The screws came to understand that I wasnt vulnerable and had a very loving and protective family.

Oh God. I'd go nuts

Can you not grasp that traumatised children are the victims of crime also? Ongoing, and often relentless crime.

About 90% of people in prison were victims of crime long before the committed crimes themselves. Women in particular are usually in prison for less serious offences than they have suffered, including SA and DA, their perpetrators often unpunished.

Great that you had compassion for them while you worked in prisons. You’d given the impression you thought they were ‘the scum of the earth’.

So judging!

1. What changes would you like to see to the experience of prisoners to make it more beneficial/therapeutic. Not so much in terms of changes to sentencing, but in terms of the actual experience while in prison.

1. You have touched on the educational opportunities for women in prison. Can you say a bit more about what is on offer, and again, how you think it could be improved.

1. If someone wanted to volunteer their time/skills to help women in prison, what sort of thing do you think would be most beneficial, from a prisoner's perspective?

there is a real undercurrent of being desperate to tell OP off on the thread

It makes the people doing it look far worse than the OP.

Quite. It was 18 years ago, she’s spent many years since then working with voluntary organisations and helping people desist from crime. I wonder what contributions some other posters have made that makes them
feel entitled to judge her long after she’s served her sentence.

This is one of the best AMAs I've seen, well done OP for replying clearly and reflectively. I think it's been really useful.

Do they give you meals in your cell or in a canteen?
Did you feel safe while in prison?

Canteen unless there was some sort of lock down or staffing issue.

No, it isnt possible to feel safe IMO.

What do you think she is attempting to imply by this: The screws came to understand that I wasnt vulnerable and had a very loving and protective family.

Are these the words of ... the average person? Or someone who's trying to make out they're a member of a revered/respected/feared criminal family? What a joke.

What made you feel the least safe? Officers, other prisoners, keeping your mental health safe, something else?

Your user name says it all really.