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Original poster

What's life like in prison?

115 replies

JackofGentlemen · 03/10/2021 15:07

Following on from the WC case, I've been wondering what life will look like for him? Do whole life prisoners get treated any differently to those with lesser sentences? What will his day to day life involve for the next 40 years?

I did some Googling on the subject but nothing really came up.

OP posts:
Original poster
JackofGentlemen · 03/10/2021 16:18

No, this isn't about HIM. The case just made me wonder what prison life is like. Uk prisons, cat A/B.

How long are they locked up for? Is there a daily routine? How much do they get to interact with each other? Is there a set 'bedtime'? Breakfast, dinner, etc.

OP posts:
Gilead · 03/10/2021 16:19

Doing time

dalmatianmad · 03/10/2021 16:20

Sorry that was a typo! Was rushing and on my phone.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Crime
KittenKong · 03/10/2021 16:23

I imagine it will be a bloody picnic compared to many of our elderly folk in care homes.

Original poster
JackofGentlemen · 03/10/2021 16:23

@KittenKong

I imagine it will be a bloody picnic compared to many of our elderly folk in care homes.

😞😞😞

OP posts:
AnnaMagnani · 03/10/2021 16:25

Female estate is very different to the male estate though. Nobody has pets for a start!

Male - some prisoners might have a play station if they have earnt enough priviledges. However it will be a shite model from years ago. If they misbehave in anyway it will be removed. Also how are you proposing managing a load of hyped up young men, loads of whom have ADHD and may be in lock up 23 hours a day? Those play stations are invaluable!

Not every prison has phones in cells either. You have to be safe to have a kettle i.e. not going to boil water and use it as a weapon.

Good quality food? Yes if you would like carbs with your carbs and are strangers to vegetables. Prison is a great place to develop diabetes.

Health care - varies wildly from prison to prison from excellent to absymal.

Original poster
JackofGentlemen · 03/10/2021 16:25

@dalmatianmad

I work as a Nurse in a Female Cat A prison. They have a very easy life. Sorry to say this. The lifers have extra privileges such as PlayStation and xboxes. They are allowed small pets in their cells such as Guinea pigs and Budgies. Basic prisoners and those on remand have a TV in their Cell. They all have a kettle and buy tea/coffee/sugar cheaply at the shop. Everyone has a phone in the cells (since covid). You have to purchase credit to use them. No one can ring in on them. They eat good quality food cooked by "trusted" prisoners. 3 decent meals a day, snacks from the ship which they have to buy.

They have easy jobs. Most of them work outside in the summer months. We have a farm and very beautiful gardens, they love working out there.
They get good education and leave with qualifications. There is a beauty academy. They practice on the other girls for a small fee.
They are encouraged to do lots of craft. They buy sets very cheaply from the craft shop.
They receive regular amazon parcels from family.

Health Care is really good. No waiting for a GP or dental appointment. Same day usually.
The girls aren't separated according to their crime. You have paedophiles/murderers sharing cells with shop lifters.

It's a real eye opener.Makes me sick sometimes.
There's no deterrent hence why some of the girls reoffend so much and keep coming back in.

Thank you, that's really interesting. I wonder if there's any difference in comfort levels between male and female prisons? Or is it just to do with how serious their offence was?

OP posts:
TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 03/10/2021 16:27

It is The Evening Standard...

www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/wayne-couzens-life-prison-jail-sentence-sarah-everard-noel-smith-b958384.html

Simonjt · 03/10/2021 16:30

It depends on the prison and the prisoner.

My father in law had a four month sentence for Swedens equivalent of breaching the peace (repeatedly), he was able to carry out his sentence at his own convenience, had his own room, computer, tv, any books he wanted, access to high quality education etc. To be honest it sounds like he enjoyed the break.

I’ve done a bit of rugby coaching in a mens prison, the outside area was a decent size, but there was nothing there, no benches etc, just an expanse of poorly maintained grass. They were all very very obedient, no idea what the conditions were like for them inside etc.

Indigokitten · 03/10/2021 16:30

@dalmatianmad

I work as a Nurse in a Female Cat A prison. They have a very easy life. Sorry to say this. The lifers have extra privileges such as PlayStation and xboxes. They are allowed small pets in their cells such as Guinea pigs and Budgies. Basic prisoners and those on remand have a TV in their Cell. They all have a kettle and buy tea/coffee/sugar cheaply at the shop. Everyone has a phone in the cells (since covid). You have to purchase credit to use them. No one can ring in on them. They eat good quality food cooked by "trusted" prisoners. 3 decent meals a day, snacks from the ship which they have to buy.

They have easy jobs. Most of them work outside in the summer months. We have a farm and very beautiful gardens, they love working out there.
They get good education and leave with qualifications. There is a beauty academy. They practice on the other girls for a small fee.
They are encouraged to do lots of craft. They buy sets very cheaply from the craft shop.
They receive regular amazon parcels from family.

Health Care is really good. No waiting for a GP or dental appointment. Same day usually.
The girls aren't separated according to their crime. You have paedophiles/murderers sharing cells with shop lifters.

It's a real eye opener.Makes me sick sometimes.
There's no deterrent hence why some of the girls reoffend so much and keep coming back in.

Are women’s prisons different to men’s though?
6demandingchildren · 03/10/2021 16:32

My friend is now in a D cat but when he was in a B cat he said it was easier to get drugs than it was too get a decent cup of tea!!!!!!

traumatisednoodle · 03/10/2021 16:32

My BFF had a boyfriend who did time (Cat A drugs). He spent a lot of time in the gym and completed his degree. I wouldn't say he enjoyed his time in there (about 9 months I think) but it wasn't terrible either.

Arsewangry · 03/10/2021 16:33

I've worked in prisons. He won't have a fun time I don't think. He won't be popular. I imagine he'll try to unalive himself or someone attempt it for him as he's so high profile. I imagine he will require some sort of protection scheme at least in the relatively short term due to his profile. Even the roughest nastiest dirtiest prison in the country will be too good for him I know that much.

traumatisednoodle · 03/10/2021 16:34

Sorry class A drugs, I don't think he was in a Cat A facility.

Worldgonecrazy · 03/10/2021 16:34

I have worked in both male and female prisons. There was no such thing as ‘Fenale Category A’ in those days though as there are not enough female prisoners to require the separate categories. I worked with various from shoplifters through to child abusers and murderers. No pets in cells but yes to gardening and jobs. Mind numbing work such as filling bags of screws for DIY stores. The companies get cheap labour.

Men’s Prisons were very different. Violent, dark, smelly and claustrophobic.

viques · 03/10/2021 16:36

@dalmatianmad

I work as a Nurse in a Female Cat A prison. They have a very easy life. Sorry to say this. The lifers have extra privileges such as PlayStation and xboxes. They are allowed small pets in their cells such as Guinea pigs and Budgies. Basic prisoners and those on remand have a TV in their Cell. They all have a kettle and buy tea/coffee/sugar cheaply at the shop. Everyone has a phone in the cells (since covid). You have to purchase credit to use them. No one can ring in on them. They eat good quality food cooked by "trusted" prisoners. 3 decent meals a day, snacks from the ship which they have to buy.

They have easy jobs. Most of them work outside in the summer months. We have a farm and very beautiful gardens, they love working out there.
They get good education and leave with qualifications. There is a beauty academy. They practice on the other girls for a small fee.
They are encouraged to do lots of craft. They buy sets very cheaply from the craft shop.
They receive regular amazon parcels from family.

Health Care is really good. No waiting for a GP or dental appointment. Same day usually.
The girls aren't separated according to their crime. You have paedophiles/murderers sharing cells with shop lifters.

It's a real eye opener.Makes me sick sometimes.
There's no deterrent hence why some of the girls reoffend so much and keep coming back in.

An interesting post. What would you like conditions to be like for them?As a professional with access to details of their personal medical and social history I expect you are in a position to tell us how many of the women in prison are of low intelligence, have come from disfunctional backgrounds, have been addicted to drugs, abused and raped.
funghipizza · 03/10/2021 16:45

@JackofGentlemen

No, this isn't about HIM. The case just made me wonder what prison life is like. Uk prisons, cat A/B.

How long are they locked up for? Is there a daily routine? How much do they get to interact with each other? Is there a set 'bedtime'? Breakfast, dinner, etc.

There are 100 docs on this
AnnaMagnani · 03/10/2021 16:51

Women's prisons are different to mens.

However it is worth thinking about:

How many women in prison :
are victims of abuse
have sustained head injuries
are care leavers
have low educational attainment
have SEN
have drug addiction

Before getting upset about the fact some of them might be allowed access to beauty products or fed a healthy diet.

Hmumoftw0 · 03/10/2021 16:52

He will be bullied and beaten within an inch if his life, probably looked after though cause they know what he has coming

Hmumoftw0 · 03/10/2021 16:53

@ParkheadParadise

The evil bastard who murdered my dd was able to set up a FB page from prison when he was on remand. Prison was good for him he got his drugs, visits from his arsehole friends and he was set up with a house when he left. Prison is A roof over your head 3 meals a day Visits from your family No fucking bills to pay.
Remand is more luxurious than after sentencing, but yes prison really isn't a "hard time" unless your a nonce or police officers that kills and rapes women!
Kanaloa · 03/10/2021 16:54

My dad was in prison for a long time, so was my grandpa. My dad mainly complained about being bored, he is not a big reader or anything so struggled to pass the time. They had a television though. He also complained about minor things such as his room mate who liked to sing along to the radio and the food which he disliked. During the day he could walk around and visit with other people and he had a card to use the phone. I’m not sure how the card was topped up or if you needed money.

My grandpa was a carpenter and would work on small projects during the day so he was more busy. He also liked to read and things so I think the day passed fine for him. He had been in prison a long time so possible it just didn’t bother him anymore.

So overall I think it depends on firstly what type of prison you’re in and secondly what type of person you are.

Pokhora · 03/10/2021 16:58

The healthcare for pregnant female prisoners sounds pretty terrible.
www.theguardian.com/society/2021/sep/23/fear-of-more-baby-deaths-as-ministers-stand-firm-on-jailing-pregnant-women

FleasInMyKnees · 03/10/2021 17:04

Viques, dalmationmad should not disclose any personal, social or medical history about any of the women she looks after. Nursing is a privileged position and nurses must adhere to strict confidentiality rules.

MemoriesOfAnotherFuture · 03/10/2021 17:06

With the details about how female prisons differ from male ones, I wonder how long before WC starts identifying as a female, like that other murderer Ian Huntley aka Lian.

thebestnamesweregone · 03/10/2021 17:09

Female prison warden here, uk

Dvds,
Computer games,
Prison shop: basically most things you can buy in spar that don't need refrigeration, choc, sweets, cereal, milk,/shakes, weight gain, newspaper's, razors, hair care, cereal, long life milk,
Pool tables,
Chapel (95% socialising)
Phones, (pay phones and concealed
Drugs,
Library

If you saw what I see go on in prison you'd never rest easy were it the punishment for something done against you and yours
The wings stink of weed and the prisoners for the most part see it as a holiday camp. There's more glad handing and fisbumping than a celebrity bash,
Relatives are frequently housed together, indeed at present we have two brothers cousins and an uncle on the same wing, this is commonplace
Actively seeking a career change.
It's a scandalous joke