What’s it like in prison?

[Redhairgreeneyes]

I know lockdown is nothing like prison, but it has made me curious.

How long do prisoners typically spend in cells? What do they do in them? Do they have to share, or do they have their own space?

When they leave their cells, what for? Gym, work, church, food?

Just curious. No plans to go to jail.

You’re picking the absolute extreme, but what the hell...

They don’t have to shit where they sleep.
They probably have a space larger than 8’ x 8’.
They can probably have a shower whenever they want.
They have their own clothes.
They have access to the internet.
They probably aren’t surrounded by constant noise.

I could go on.

and all of those thing you describe are a loss of privilege caused by the direct actions of the person in prison. They made their choice and now they are paying the consequences.

I’m reading a book called Redemption at the moment, an autobiography by John McAvoy. He spent time in Belmarsh and his accounts of prison life are fascinating. He is now a top athlete and world record holder and his story is intriguing.
Search him on Instagram, he has posted today about the similarities between his life in prison and the current situation we’re in.

I'll go on, then...

They can take their medication when they want, and make free choices about their health.
They can hug and kiss their kids, and read them stories.
They can have a sexual relationship their partner.
They can masturbate in private.
They can wear their own pants (possible in some prisons, not in others).

They can usually shower every day , but in answer to the question of how many pairs of pants, I don't issue them and have never asked ! 😂😂

Yes, but you asked about the differences 🙄

Thanks for the informative replies, everyone.

And no, in case any of you are wondering, my middle-class professional DP isn’t about to be locked up!

DB started in Young Offenders which was awful. A lot of fighting and aggression. He eventually moved to an Adult family (Bullingdon,Guys Marsh,The Mount,amongst a few) which he found less chaotic.

He was on suicide watch most of the time and credits his wellbeing today to the amazing guards who supported him through some very dark times.

They can order things online and eat what they like as long as they can afford it
They can open the windows and hear the sounds of nature
They can watch TV when they like
They can do what they like when they feel like doing it
They can eat when they want to as often as they want to

*Facility not family

and all of those thing you describe are a loss of privilege caused by the direct actions of the person in prison. They made their choice and now they are paying the consequences.

Nobody is claiming otherwise. You, however, asked for differences, and now have many examples.

They can take their medication when they want, and make free choices about their health.
They can hug and kiss their kids, and read them stories.
They can have a sexual relationship their partner.
They can masturbate in private.
They can wear their own pants (possible in some prisons, not in others)

Still all things that they have chosen to go without because of their criminal status.

They can usually shower every day , but in answer to the question of how many pairs of pants, I don't issue them and have never asked

Ok thanks. I bet its like 2 or 3 it most. I'll have to ask ppl I know. I don't want to bringing up prison with them atm though, this lockdown could be triggering, maybe.

I know someone who was locked up in an adult prison and said it wasn't that bad. Just boring, but he was mostly left alone. He was built like a brick shithouse and didn't really involve himself with anyone else though. And absolutely there was no "holiday camp" about it. It was six months of pure boredom with little to fill the days.

You guys have no idea. No idea at all

I used to volunteer in one. It's grim. Some of the women are fantastically supportive of each other. The reality though is a total lack of privacy, no quiet, no real choice of food and you must never feel truly safe.

user1353245678533567

I think if you look at Scandinavian prison systems it makes you realise just how inhumane and counterproductive ours are. There's a certain level of acceptance because it's a cultural norm we're raised with, but stopping to look properly it's barbaric and shameful.

The vast majority of people who pass through the prison system will be rejoining communities. How does institutionalising, degrading and traumatising those people benefit them or the communities they will live in? It doesn't.

This with bloody bells on.

My father in law is in Wandsworth and normal life for him is being locked down in his cell for 23 hrs a day

A HUGE proportion of uk prisoners have diagnosed mental health issues. Maybe 80% in some prisons.
A shocking proportion went through the care system (so what the hell are we doi g to those kids?). Many have known lifetimes of abuse and violence.

The drug/substance abuse is eye watering.

Prison debt shocked me. That prisoners could incur debt to other prisoners - eg through drug supply or canteen bootlegging. Or simply by moving to a new cell or being 'allocated' it by an indebted but better connected prisoner. The debt could follow you from wing to wing, from prison to prison. Pressure might be put on your friends and family outside to pay it off. Or you might be asked to commit violence to pay it off.

New prison officers tend to not last that long in the job.

and all of those thing you describe are a loss of privilege caused by the direct actions of the person in prison. They made their choice and now they are paying the consequences.

Not an apologist in the slightest, but I think we have a shitty attitude these days towards prison and probation services. The reality is that many, in fact most, prisoners follow the trajectory they're on from a young age because of the life they've been born into or the trauma they endured as children. If we better understood trauma, if we had comprehensive mental health support and identification at a much younger age I would bet my left arm on it that we wouldn't have so many people committing crimes in future generations.

Crime is a choice, sure. But for some, it's the logical choice rather than the dangerous one.

A friend of mine was in an open prison. I remember him telling me he made bird boxes and got paid 50p for each one. The food was awful.

@AuntieMatter
Good posts. It's awful currently isn't it

As an aside I grew up in foster care. My 11 siblings and I were all housed separately. Of the 12 of us, two have committed suicide, three have been in and out of prison, two have lost their DC to social services because of neglect, one has been missing for over 3 years and two are junkies.

Only two of us out of the twelve have gone on to create good, honest, decent lives for ourselves. So -using us as an example - statistically probably less than 16% of children growing up in foster care stand a chance. Check the rates of prisoners with undiagnosed MH conditions, with undiagnosed learning disabilities, who've grown up in the care system. We've got prisons full to the brim with people our society has fucked over.

Yes, and the next few months are going to be a real challenge, even more so than usual.