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

Officers and some other prisoners equally. People forget that while someone might be in on one charge, they might be something else altogether. Not unlike me, really.

For instance, when I moved to an adult wing, there was a lady who people warned could poison you (no joke). She was in on some sort of fraud/theft charge where she stole off an old woman but that was by no means the worst she would do. She had a history of arson, too.

Average people are often damaged by jail. It's a shame you need to have a loving and protective family and lack vulnerability to be anything resembling "safe". Perhaps if they didn't hire sadistic bullies for staff members, one wouldn't have rely on nepotism to make it through ok.

So what proof did the CPS have that you were guilty? They must have had some.

It was my flat. That makes me guilty

I have to admit I read it the same way, especially bearing in mind that OP said she's not the first family member to be jailed

It's all being wrapped up in some "feminist crusade" now, but it's hard not to wonder if this is just another bunch who fancy themselves wannabe Krays

I hadn’t picked up on the comment about your family before. What did that mean for you? How did the nepotism/protectiveness manifest? I understand there was an implied criticism from PP on this. Not from me, I’m just interested. Eg gave you money to pay people off, made it known there would be bad consequences for anyone who harmed you etc?

How could she poison other prisoners?

You’ve mentioned this a few times. I think most people would feel hard done by if they didn’t know about what was being kept at the flat, even if it was their flat. Do you feel like you must have been guilty just because it was your flat, or do you just mean it was tough luck for you even though you wouldn’t consider yourself guilty and therefore choose not to feel sorry for yourself?

Going to jail wasnt a feminist crusade. I said it got more into feminism in jail. There isn't much to do...

Nobody would want to be the Krays. They were two men wracked with severe mental illness.

I

It's the law. It's a stupid, sexist law, but it is a law all the same.

It's a bit like the fact a mother can go to jail if her 20 stone, 6'3 son refuses to go to school. Lots of people see the issue with this being the law. Lots of people see how it will unfairly impact on female parents. It's still the law though.

This is why you don't shit on your own doorstep. I did that by subletting and subletting to someone who was likely to make poor decisions.

By putting toxic or non-consumable substances in other things they will eat or drink. I didn't get close enough to her to find out. But it goes without saying that there are crazy, dangerous people in jail.

Just depends who visits you and other inmates letting screws know who you are in relation to other people they may know of. I'd never pay anyone to treat me as I should be treated so no bribery here.

All bullies know who not to bully.

There are some screws who aren't bullies, they just feel like prisoners don't deserve to be treated "normally". They tend not to care who you are and treated every prisoner the same (like shit). I actually prefer those. At least they're genuine.

But so what if it is? It’s an ama. Ask her if she’s from an organised crime family. What difference does it make anyway?

If she encountered people like you that treated her like ‘the scum of the earth’, no wonder she used whatever resources she had to protect herself.

Exactly. That's why I 100% believe that person is a screw

Exactly this. It’s not (necessarily) about having a family who will threaten wayward staff, it’s equally protective for people in prison to be able to show those wayward staff that they simply have friends and family who are watching, who will visit, who will raise complaints, take legal action etc. So many people in prison have no one to stand up for them and are therefore vulnerable to targeting by the kinds of officers who think they are ‘the scum of the earth’. You can see it time and again in reports and inquests, this isn’t a surprise or a secret.

No doubt one who got more than their fair share of licks.

Not at all surprised to hear there was a bloke behind it all. I suspect that’s the case with lots of women prisoners.

That's horrible...

Thank you for doing this thread. Can I ask, do you think male guards should be allowed in women's prisons? I know female guards could also be sexually exploitative but the risk would be lower.

I read Vicky Pryce's book Prisonomics recently. It was written in the early 2010s but makes a lot of similar points, she said that she got the impression male guards were often more experienced at dealing with male prisoners and not ideal for a women's prison. Would you agree, or not?

I know you only sold party drugs but the drug trade still causes harm via the chain. It's one of the main reasons there's so much rape & VAWG in Mexico & other places. The cartels use it as a weapon. In Belgium the port workers are threatened with severe violence if they won't ship the drugs illegally.

Sorry if you already covered this, but what happened to the person subletting your property, and the guy? Did you have any contact with them after you went to prison? After you got out? Did you know the woman socially or was it more of a business transaction?

'One has been to prison and the other has seen the inside of a cell more recently than me! 😂'

• can I ask what they were in for? I understand if not.

I'd agree that there shouldn't be male guards in women's prisons. Many prisoners disagree, though. For reasons ranging from "we want to see some men!" to more complex reasoning that them being male isn't the issue and there being some great male staff.

They were in for a violent crime when they were in their 20s.

Fascinating thread OP. Not sure why people are so determined to insist you are lying about certain things when you’ve been really upfront.

Were there any pregnant women in the prison with you and if so what happened when they had their babies?