Have you ever been to prison?

[AhhhhThatsBass]

As an inmate, that is. Just that really. I was inspired by another threat I’ve been reading this evening.
What was it like, was it hell or was it bearable? I once watched a programme about a women’s prison and I remember thinking that it didn’t seem that bad, there was a good deal of support and camaraderie there but maybe I’m being completely naive.

(Nosy Me would love to know what you did but that might be a step too far)

Yes. I have.

I now work with women leaving prison.

I was in a secure psychiatric hospital/school as a teenager. Worst experience of my life.
The Drs felt it appropriate to subdue us kids with largactil (a very strong antipsychotic drug). It was a separate building to the main secure hospital. A few times there were breakouts from the main building and a ghostly face would appear at the window!
One kid actually escaped one day... we cheered him on. He was never bought back.

As an adult I've visited people in adult (mens) nicks. I smuggled drugs (hash) into a police holding station and various prisons , all a long time ago, pre children and responsibilities! All for the bastard who beat me the minute he got out INCASE I'd cheated!
Have to say the scrubs was definitely the worse to visit for me, very run down at the time.

Name changed for this post.

My DS was given a 5 year sentence for armed robbery and served 3.5 years in San Quentin. He was 22 at the time. It was literally the most terrifying period of my (and his) life. Unbearable. The terror I felt daily was incredible. It almost ruined my marriage, as both DH and I had to try to mask our distress somehow in order to function. I could not tell anyone at work and had to continue as if life was normal, while winding down a large firm and managing a merger. I think perhaps I was the lucky one, being so very busy and travelling constantly. DH works from home, and therefore had only his nightmares and imagination for company much of the time.

My face literally collapsed somehow during this period, and has never recovered. My hair lost all of it's color in a very short time.

DS tried to make out it was okay, if only to calm us. He did not let us visit, although we talked weekly and wrote letters. We often spent calls just crying and one of us saying "it will be OK." It was not okay.

Now happily married, two DC, same very responsible job for 10 years. He has made a good life for himself. He is a good man. He does have night terrors to this day, and his demons are deep.

not sure where you've been but all ive ever witnessed is tragic places to be.maybe a different catorgory prison ive seen?
slef harm.self hating.agressive.screaming throughout the night.total dehumanising places.very depressive and sad woman.

As a professional. Four years working at Holloway and then several others. It's sad but some women see it as a better experience than life outside. I wouldn't survive it personally.

I worked in several women's prisons as a professional. I would agree with pp that women who have hard lives find it brings them stability and safety that they don't have outside. But others are damaged by it. Either way I found them sad places especially when I left at 5.30 pm on a summer evening and knew they were all stuck inside.