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

I wondered this too. But the thing I haven’t been able to figure out from OP’s posts though is whether she told the police she was subletting. She mentioned that subletting was another illegal activity and yet she didn’t get done for it. So maybe she didn’t let on about the subletting? OP, did you tell the police about that?

I don’t see that the police / CPS would really care about subletting

Yep, I can see that totally. But just wondering, as someone else said, if it was used as part of her defence. And if not, might that have been the reason?

I am glad you’ve managed to turn things round Op. how old are you now?

I don't think it's at all outrageous to think that a five year sentence of which 3.5 were served would be deeply unlikely for a nineteen-year-old with no previous criminal record illegally subletting to someone whose boyfriend was dealing drugs and stashing weapons in the property, unbeknownst to either the 'tenant' or the person with their name on the tenancy. The OP refers herself to drug dealing and other forms of criminality she was involved in, for which she could have ended up serving equivalent time, and though she says she was never caught for these things, it doesn't mean that they didn't contribute to the case against her suggesting she was not just a naive teenager with poor judgement in illegal tenants.

Even if it was used by the defence, it’s only a defence. It may have been irrelevant, or just not believed

she was jailed for possession of a firearm. That’s incredibly serious.

the fact that you’re a small scale drug dealer doesn’t contribute to your sentence for possession of a firearm, no.

Yep, I’m aware of all these possibilities. I’m not making any assumptions. But this is an AMA and I’m just asking the OP a simple question that I’m interested in!

Sorry, it just sounded a bit naive like if you’d only explained OP, they would’ve let you off

Presumably you accept that there should be some form of penalty for people who do things like assisting an offender, possession of a firearm, dealing drugs, and illegally subletting social housing for profit? What do you think the penalty for those things should be, if not prison?

Thanks for the apology:) No, I’m definitely not naive, I’m just interested in the detail of the prosecution case and what details they used to convince the jury of her guilt (not suggesting OP isn’t being truthful here).

So they basically didn't believe the subletting? It seems awful you went to jail over someone you literally didn't know and did not invite into the flat.

They should've taken the flat off you maybe for the subletting but the guy with guns and drugs should be the one who went to prison, not you!

Nowadays that would be classed as cuckooing. This guy obviously taking advantage of this naive middle class student, knowing it wasn't actually her flat, she was the perfect target.

Did you spend any of your sentence in an open prison? . If so, was it a positive experience in comparison?

@Lexibletheflexible

This is really interesting, thank you.

What do you most wish that people who haven't had any experience of the prison system knew and understood?

Is there a question you are hoping you will get? If so, please assume I asked it and answer it.

I agree it's incredibly serious, and the five year mandatory term sits with the OP's sentence, by her own account. I suppose I'm not in fact convinced by the 'Oh, I was just a dopey teenager who illegally sublet to someone naive who got involved with an armed dealer unbeknownst to her, and because I happened to keep some clothes in the flat, it still looked like I lived there and must have known' defence. I mean, the judge/ jury clearly weren't either if she got five years for possession.

Totally. That was my point in quoting the other poster who was asking how she got one, by saying I got one. Much easier back then.

OP has said that the subletting story didn’t matter. It’s being presented that if she’d just told them about it she wouldnt have been found guilty. OP is saying that by being the tenant of the flat, she was responsible.
She’s not putting forward a defence, she’s doing an AMA anonymously 20 years later. Why would she say it if it wasn’t true?

You haven’t answered my question about how you will stop your children going down the same path? (Assuming you don’t want them in prison), relating probably more to the bits you didn’t get caught for.

Much to think on here…

There are many criminals who have written books, given lectures, etc and earned a living from this.

If they are genuinely reformed they would be thinking about their victims and making amends.

A decent portion - if not all of their profit should go towards compensating their victims either directly or indirectly via reputable organisations who provide services for those who were effected by crime.

I'm always curious about how I would fare in prison. It was a real worry to me as a child!
I'm professional (public servant), well-educated, middle-class lifestyle with working class background and family. I like listening to people and I like my work which involves supporting and caring for teenagers. I am sensitive and a worrier. However I know some people react negatively to the way I speak and experience my perfectionism to be judgemental and/or "stuck-up".

Did you know anybody like me in prison, and how do you think I would fare in prison please?

They didnt believe that. They believed the woman lived there with me and/or these were my friends and I got her involved with them. I did go to the flat at least once a week. I just didnt sleep there very often.

Some might feel threatened by your background as you will resemble authority figures but if you are not judgemental and don't see yourself as superior to others, you'll just be "posh Ads" on the wing. Some people won't like you but nobody is liked by everybody.

That's difficult because I don't respect people who languish in poverty and won't break the law that keeps them there.

Mostly I've tried to make sure they can earn legitimate proper money asap.

In your opinion, what types of charities/support organisations do the most effective work with women in prisons?

They likely thought i was a female gang member keeping illegal things for my male associates who were part of one of the notorious gangs in the area. They didnt believe that the other woman was the one who was primarily involved with this set of people. The prosecution said that was all a lie.