How many people do you know that have been to prison?

[Bearybasket]

Only counting people you know quite well (say well enough to chat with so friends, family members or close colleagues sort of level) not passing acquaintances or friends of friends

One. We went to visit him, it was quite exciting. He’s out now and doing well.

One…a distant family member ….sentenced for 3 years…..did 18 months then came out on tag…..this was 10 years ago ….doing well for himself now….good job. House, car , 3 children

One boy I went to primary school with has one of the worst criminal records in our country and has been in and out solidly for the last 30 years. A national newspaper has done a few articles on him. He didn’t stand a chance to begin with.

A past sports instructor of mine went to prison and died in prison. For owning and distributing CP.

I have also run a youth organisation in my town for 20 years and we have one of my past girls who’s been in and out of prison, and wanted for recall.

To clarify, my father (RAF) was captured by the Japanese in 1942 at the fall of Singapore. He was held in a number of small camps for about a year and spent the remainder of the war held in Changi.
He said the smaller camps were much worse than Changi.

I knew a lad through a circle of friends went to prison for arson, when released they managed to find him somewhere to live to help him sort of hostel. this was quite a few years ago so not sure if it would be open now but due to his learning difficulties and the fact he had never got over his mums death, she brought him up after his dad died in a tragic building site accident he did need help. I hope they did help him.
one other was a friend who was done for murder which I nearly got dragged into
I knew Fred West and family

One close - my uncle. Had a mental health breakdown due to a serious crisis at work (would be outing, but think COVID-style impact on his life).

The judge acknowledged that there was no actual intention to make the threats he did, but due to the impact and potential danger of the situation he was sentenced to prison.

At one place of work, I was nervous that a guy was coming back to work after I started. He'd been imprisoned for a "one punch" style attack which was thankfully not fatal. But he was incredibly grateful for the opportunity to return, had turned his life back, and in a macho, male-dominated environment he was the one to show the most respect to me when he had absolutely no need to (nobody else did!).

I later worked for a prisons charity, so know a lot that way.

One. Old work acquaintance. For murder.

One for theft from a church fund he managed, £1000s ex colleague. It was so unlikely.

ex colleague who harassed and stalked another colleague. She was beautiful but really mixed up, nasty threats.

a friend’s husband 9 years. She stood by him.

It isn’t in the UK, but there are some countries that still do it…..

More than I can remember. Several family members including my dad, grandad and uncle. Many of my dad's friends. Many of my school friends families.
I grew up in a poor city suburb.

One close relative. "3 strikes and you're out", so last offense that got him into prison (for a while) was burglary. I'm not sure what his other felonies were, probably drug-related.

Close to me - none at all.

Know of but wouldn't necessarily speak to or could call a friend - 3.

First family friend's daughter who went off the rails as a teen (joyriding, drugs),
Second was distant family friend (indecency or something along those lines). Third was a girl a few years below me at school (accidental death by careless driving - she was super smart, very lovely but got 3 years and totally changed her life as a result poor thing).

I've heard of a few people over the years who have been put away , but nobody close to me or any relatives( im aware of anyway)

I've just thought of a fourth, a cousin who got caught smuggling marijuana abroad, eventually got pardoned.

If someone has repeatedly targeted single mothers and abused their children in 4 separate instances, and the behaviour is escalating (latest time drugging the child was involved) they should throw away the bloody key before he kills someone.

Do sentencing guidelines account for that?

Your issue is either the COURTS not the prison

The father of one of DC's classmates, about ten years ago. He was a postmaster and was jailed for stealing. Given what has come to light since, I have no idea whether his imprisonment was warranted, it was certainly a shock to the local community. The family moved away as soon as he was released.

On the jail v prison question, for the pp who asked - see photo

Prisons/jails house both though...its not always one or the other anymore

A few from my time at Northern soul niters.
All drug offences.

An ex work colleague. Frustratingly, I caught him fiddling his work expenses, and he also bragged to me that he went on far more work trips than were necessary, so that he could rack up enough points to pay for holidays for himself and his wife. I reported both incidents to senior management. They ignored me and accused me of being jealous because he had been promoted above me.

2,years later he was caught out for raising POs and signing up false invoices to companies owned by him. Basically outsourcing his own job to himself and charging a premium for it. He was found guilty and sent to prison. It transited he had done the same at a previous employer, but no one had bothered following up references when he was hired. 🤬

2 co workers have partners in prison for drugs offences. I've not had the misfortune of meeting them though.

Boy racing offences, dangerous driving. He got maybe 12 weeks served maybe 8 weeks.

One. A guy I had a fling with years ago. He went on to badly assault his ex-girlfriend and was described by police as a dangerous, violent man. She said in court that he was kind until he got angry. I'm so glad I didn't get closer to him and never saw that side of him but there was something about him that I was very wary of.

I didn't realise you could do such short sentences. What did he say it was like? Are there special wings for short stay?

Two. One had spent two spells in prison for drug dealing (when he was a lot younger), and the other (a woman) for fraud.

I had a brief fling with a guy years ago.. years later, I saw his face in the local paper. He was doing time for beating the crap out of his small step child.