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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:
thebestnamesweregone · 03/10/2021 17:10

@MrsFin

I would imagine he'll find out what rape feels like pretty quickly.
You'd like to think so.....
thebestnamesweregone · 03/10/2021 17:11

Not forgetting gym and TV

thebestnamesweregone · 03/10/2021 17:13

@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.

This re iterates my post, were one of my family offended against/towards I'd never test easy knowing their in prison, having lived it first hand it could my piss what goes on

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HollowTalk · 03/10/2021 17:15

@Arsewangry

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.
Unalive himself?
itsgettingwierd · 03/10/2021 17:15

@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.
I'm so sorry. Thanks
KittenKong · 03/10/2021 17:19

ParkheadParadise - that really is heartbreaking. I’m so sorry for your loss.

itsgettingwierd · 03/10/2021 17:29

@AnnaMagnani

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.

I would assume that's the same for a number of male prisoners too?

I know I've heard before and do believe a high number have undiagnosed adhd and asd.

dragontightrope · 03/10/2021 17:40

I once met a category A prison officer at a drunken dinner party. Needless to say by the end everyone was fascinated and asking him all sorts. One story that I'll never for get is:

Two-man cell, one man was in for raping someone. The other man (don't know what he was in for) told him that there was going to be a riot later, bad stuff going down, and if you didn't want to join in I'll tie you up so that you can't get done for it because that will be your excuse. Good idea. Chap willingly got tied up, and then was raped all night by his cell mate who had tricked him.

Sobered me up pretty quickly.

However I think that he who I refuse to name will be protected from all that, I imagine. Grim.

HadaVerde · 03/10/2021 17:44

@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.

What a load of rubbish.

I very much doubt you’ve been anywhere near a prison.

Iheartbaby · 03/10/2021 17:49

@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.
This makes me so angry and I’m so sorry.
Loubiemoo · 03/10/2021 18:03

Unalive himself

@HollowTalk suicide.

TellySavalashairbrush · 03/10/2021 18:17

My job takes me to young offenders prisons . I don’t agree with those who say what an easy place prison is, at least not for those under 18. There is a high level of bullying, gang wars and mental health issues. There is noise 24/7.
The place stinks and.meals are pretty grim.
I’ve seen some of the toughest kids crumble after a few days inside.

FWBNC · 03/10/2021 18:19

@5thnonblonde

I don’t think you get mumsnet in prison Sad
I'm not going then!!
midsomermurderess · 03/10/2021 18:24

From what Dalmatianmad says, she is very much in the wrong job, worryingly in the wrong job.

WhoNeedsaManOfTheWorld · 03/10/2021 18:25

I know a group of people whose children are in prison. Nothing like WC
All are vulnerable with MH and/or ASD. Its tragic and terrifying. Their medical needs are not met and, if they get any further illness, the parents are terrified. They spend a lot of time contacting prisoner governors and MPs to try and make them aware that someone outside prison is keeping tabs on them. They try hard to not let them see doctors or HCP
Its an awful place for vulnerable people

Dishwasheverything · 03/10/2021 18:51

My mum worked her entire career in prisons, both men and women's and different categories. Interestingly she preferred working in men's prisons as the inmates were generally better behaved towards the education staff and were less inclined to do anything that meant losing their privileges, so she personally felt safer.

She was often asked if prisoners have an easy life and always said no. In her opinion the impact of not being able to see your own family and friends is massively underestimated by people who've never been inside. Particularly as many prisoners are parents and effectively have to give up raising and having any meaningful relationship with their children if their sentence is long. The conditions are also not as good as many people think.
I did ask her about how Wayne Couzens will fare inside. She said prisoners HATE rapists and hate coppers even more. They will make his life utter hell and she would be amazed if he survives more than a couple of years. Good to hear.

TerriblyNaice · 03/10/2021 18:55

@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.
Oh fuck. I'm so sorry Parkhead.
weaselwomble123 · 03/10/2021 18:56

I'm so glad you have said that, completely agree. I was horrified reading the end of that first comment.

25yearsnhsworker · 03/10/2021 19:08

Why do prisoners rape another male prisoner? Is it a control thing or for their own pleasure?

MrsFin · 03/10/2021 19:10

A bit of both I would imagine.

Funnylittlefloozie · 03/10/2021 19:40

There is no such thing as a female Cat A prison, and never has been. High risk female prisoners are kept in the same closed jails as other female prisoners.

A prisoner like Couzens will go to a dispersal prison, probably to Wakefield initially as they hold a lot of high-profile sex offenders and Cat As. He is likely to be put on constant watch to prevent him committing suicide. This is not because the Prison Service are a bunch of pansies who want to cuddle prisoners, but because suicides create a LOT of paperwork, and also because the decent thing is not to allow people to commit suicide. Also, if one prisoner kills themselves, it can start off a rash of "copycat" suicides and self-harm among more vulnerable prisoners, and noone wants that either.

The person who suggested that he will never see a tree again is fantasising. He will spend many, many years in dispersal prisons, but these prisons have grounds, and gardens. He'll see trees.

Prisoners can get jobs and do education. They earn a bit of money, it varies hugely by prison as to how much they earn. Its not much, but it pays for vapes, phone calls, extra food, snacks, coffee etc. Prison is REALLY BORING.

Most prisoners are locked up 23 hours a day at the moment. They have TVs in cell if their behaviour is good, and a lot of prisons have in-cell phones. These only make outgoing calls, prisoners have their own PIN to make calls, and have to buy phone credits out of their own money. The food is pretty grim, because its so cheap. Prisoners have access to health care like everyone else, and like everyone else, they have to wait ages to be seen.

There is a daily routine, but there is no "bedtime". If they want to stay up all night and watch telly or listen to the radio, that's up.to them, but they're not allowed to disturb their neighbours; if they do, they'll get their cell electrics turned off.

Basically, for anyone who's had a normal life outside, prison is shit.

5thnonblonde · 03/10/2021 19:46

I know there’s a lot of strong feelings about this offender but I’m really uncomfortable with people hoping that in prisons it’s easy to rape or harm other prisoners... prisons are full of really vulnerable people, with offenders like this one in a minority compared to all the care leavers/adult victims of abuse/mentally ill etc. If it’s that likely people will get burnt with sugar water or raped that should be alarming not comforting. Imprisonment should be enough of a punishment not likely torture too.

VanillaIce1 · 03/10/2021 19:49

People in A cats are already waiting for him to arrive. There's money on his head. Because who ever gets to him first will get a big name for themselves. A lot of men are willing for him to come to their prison. Whether he's locked away or not he will come across other people at some point in his sentence.

AuntieMatter · 03/10/2021 19:55

100% agree @5thnonblonde

DumbestBlonde · 03/10/2021 19:56

I visited a few times for a charity; "Special Hospital"/High Security. Both genders - separated, but I was just visitng one lady, although in a very informal setting - ina sitting room with other (one especially notorious) people nearby.

Nice location and grounds, but that was something of a facade - very institutional inside. Security procedures very intense obviously.

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