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

My legal advice was mainly to say no comment in interviews. Or I should say that I mainly stuck to the advice to say no comment. Where I strayed was to remind them of the fact that I did not stay there.

However, the open secret is that everyone involved knew i was subletting to some extent because the police were watching the flat. The fact I was barely there is legally irrelevant, though, because it is my flat.

Essentially, they messed up their case on him/he was surprisingly forensically aware or lucky perhaps. They only had us and nothing pointed to her with any real substance (she had good legal team obviously). CPS didn't pursue her. They pursued me, in the hopes I'd be scared and help them get him.

But I didn't have that relationship or info on him even if I wanted to. So, after all that paid investigating and watching, they sent 1 person to jail. Me.

I don't see myself as a victim, really. But this is why you might see me arguing elsewhere on the site about what the pressing feminist issues in prisons really are.

At the time, there were other girls and women far more vulnerable and innocent frankly than me in jail for the same sort of charge.

You were sentenced to 5 years. You served 3.5. What was your PED?

Nah. Waste of time/money. Once I knew it was a thing they were doing from a political standpoint, I knew there was little point. They were really blaming "baby mothers" and the mum's of gang members for enabling them at the time. Women, basically

What do you think the appropriate punishment or deterrent should be for defrauding the state/taxpayer/other people in society who need housing by claiming you need a house and then illegally renting it out for significant financial gain?

Unfortunately I’ve seen a lot of cases like OP’s, where a (usually unwitting) woman is convicted (or more often pleads guilty for the reduced sentence) to possession of a firearm that some bloke has stashed in her loft/airing cupboard/laundry basket. Often - but not always - she might have thought he was storing drugs there, but not known about the gun. This was really common during Trident years and the poster - while not one we’d probably see today - was aimed at black communities where gun crime was much more prevalent a couple of decades ago. Mandatory 5 years minimum for gun possession meant lots of people - women and young men - on the periphery went to jail because possession is easy for police to prove if it’s in your house, much harder if you are the actual owner but had the sense to wipe it clean.

Well, not 5 years in prison obviously 🤣

It’s very hard to find a job. The man I mentioned earlier can’t.

he wants to work but seems no one will give him a chance due to his record

Sorry, it's unclear. You had the money to pay for legal representation but decided not to because you knew that the police were prosecuting you from a political standpoint?

Thank you for your frankness. Were there male prison guards in the women's prison? Were their relationships between them and the women prisoners? Was their rape?

I don't understand what this means - a hustling family? Do you mean like the Mafia? Or more like cash in hand jobs, not 100% strictly legal and accounted for?

Very open and honest thread OP, thanks.

I am also interested to know whether the man in question has since been prosecuted for anything else? Did he reach out to you at any point?

In this instance I was speaking in general.

As for OP. She mentioned that she was personally involved in crime while not realising her tenant was allowing illegal activity.

I am not convinced by this.

Firstly I have a great deal of experience living around criminals and in areas they frequent.

They’re generally not that stupid or naive and would know what the sub letter was at and benefit from it. Of course there are exceptions.

OP seems quite smart. She doesn’t appear that stupid or naive so the story sounds like a defence strategy

Given the sentence, there must have been reasons/evidence to contradict the ‘trusting the wrong person’ story.

But of course the jury’s job is to decide whether they believe the person knew they possessed it. How do you convince someone you didn’t know something? Many women - on the advice of their legals - will plead guilty, to get a lesser sentence. And also common (though maybe not OP) because the person who put the gun there may not be very nice. Plead guilty, take the punishment, stay safe.

Why would she lie? She’s literally served a prison sentence for this crime, there is no point in making things up to make herself seem more innocent at this point!

If you'd subletted it, why did you regularly visit the house? You said that you went there weekly but 'didn't often stay there'. Who did you visit, and stay over at all?

I believe OP now, on the basis she has no reason to lie now doing an AMA; I suspect I would have doubted her story if I were on the jury at the time. Presented with an accused acknowledging they kept their belongings in the flat, stayed there each week, and were in the flat on the day it was raided - despite supposedly living with a boyfriend elsewhere and not knowing either of the other people in the flat well so having no clear reason to be there: there’s a lot of room for doubt.

How did you cope with the lack of privacy in your cell? And did you always get on OK with who you shared with? Was there solidarity between prisoners, or hostility? I guess I am asking about the overall atmosphere. I knew someone a long time ago who was sent to Holloway just for two weeks following some political activism, and on coming out she said it was horrific. Thanks for the thread.

People literally come on here and pretend to have terminally-ill children. Who knows why people make stuff up?

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.

The sentence is making amends. Any fine or compensation order applied will be included in the sentence, and everyone who is sentenced in Crown Court pays a victim surcharge.

Beyond that, for how long must someone be punished by giving up their earnings and making amends? Forever? And does it depend on the crime? If I go to prison for trading speeding points who should I give my future profits to? How many hours volunteering must I do?

Generally speaking, OP, your comments suggest that you have no real interest in being law-abiding and that any means of making money is okay with you and your family, and you're teaching your kids the same. Is there a limit to that? Obviously most crimes do hurt other people, but some are more traumatic than others. Are there things you'd tell your kids not to get involved in for moral reasons, because they would hurt people/ruin lives? Or do you focus more on just teaching them how to not get caught?

Why were you visiting the flat every week? That seems weird if you were subletting it to the other girl - didn't she get pissed off with you constantly turning up?

It isnt a matter of time.
In my opinion any gain to the offender that comes directly from their crime should be donated.
My examples are writing a book, TV appearances, after dinner speaking perhaps.

Are you sure they didn’t Al Capone you and just pick the stuff that would stick to get you convicted?

Most of police information comes from CIs, very possible they knew what you were up to and just picked what would stick. Police tactic for the ages.

Fascinating thread, thank you.

What happened to the flat?

Do you mention your time in prison when meeting new friends/partners?

Nobody makes money as a direct gain from talking about their crime. For example most TV companies won’t pay someone if the are talking about their own crime. Media might pay for commentary on prison experience or opinion of others crimes. Even that’s unusual these days.

Barely any money is made from books, and I can’t think of many criminals getting paid for after dinner speaking these days. Used to be people around the Krays etc who did that but who on earth should they donate their money to?

Moreover it can be hard to get a job. I’d rather someone make money from the media than stay on benefits forever.