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

Yes there was a mother and baby unit but many more pregnant women who wouldn't be keeping their babies with them. The antenatal care was horrendous but apparently better than a lot of other prisons.

Can I just say OP what an interesting discussion this is - thank you for starting it…

I've always wondered what happens if you go to prison and have a home but have no one to look after your finances/house/garden?

Also if you want to study, say a degree, I've seen somewhere that they won't allow internet access for this and it all has to be done by paper/books/post?

Is there anything you liked or miss? Sometimes I imagine that it would be nice to have female company around all the time or perhaps not having to make any decisions because you’re stuck there. Forgive me if that sounds insulting but I imagine there must of been at least one good thing

The dark humour. Even with the staff sometimes.

I think I stopped myself missing it through the charity work possibly.

I can’t see if you replied. Did you get another council property afterwards?

There are some schemes where they help you keep your property while you are in prison by legally subletting it to someone who needs temporary accommodation.

Obviously I was not eligible for that particular one but it seemed pretty accessible at the time for people from London.

Otherwise I guess family would help you out with that.

No Internet access.

No, I rented privately.

Do you get any housing offers when you leave prison? It’s just I know people who have left prison and gone into council housing before.

For most of us going to prison is perhaps one of our number 1 fears. You’ve been there and done that, does that give a certain sense of fearlessness about life?

Did you ever try to date your prison staff?

Was it cold at night? Did you have blankets to keep warm?

What was the food like? What's a typical day's menu?

What was Christmas day like?

Fascinating thread OP, thanks for your candour.

I read an amazing account of a prison that had a yogurt making trend- prisoners using heating pipes to grow the culture. And I’ve heard about prisoners getting creative to make booze (using bread for example). Were there similar activities at your prison? If so what?