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Megan Louise
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Unwritten Prison Rules - Advice for First Time Inmates
When going to a correctional centre for
the first time, it can be an extremely stressful period of your life. I
must admit though from my own personal experience, prison was not as bad
as I thought it could be. One thing to always remember is your time there is what you make of it.
I never experienced any violence or threats while in custody. I thought
I might share some inside information for people who for whatever
reason end up behind bars and want to do it "easy" rather than "tough".
1) Never steal from other inmates. Rule No.1. It sounds odd being in prison with others that have larceny and other purloining records, but one thing that always gets a person bashed is stealing from another inmate. Usually the person who has stolen is placed "on show" in front of other inmates and is then taken back to a cell and bashed, or if there are screws around, taken to some secluded spot in the jail and bashed. If the screws see someone with a black-eye that inmate will almost invariably be taken to segregation/protection/IMU and will probably spend the rest of their sentence there. Inmates call protection the "boneyard".
2) Avoid going into another inmates cell alone unless you trust that person. An imates cell is their own personal space. You maybe accused of stealing or if someone doesn't like you and they say: "Come into my cell", it usually means a pretext for violence for whatever reason.
3) Never be seen being whispering to a screw or talking in private with them. Even though it may be no-one elses business and has nothing to do with other inmates, you may end up being labelled a "dog" or a "screwlover" and treated with contempt or suspicion. There have been previous cases of the police implanting informants in jail to get information.
4) Never ask anyone about what charges they are on. Be curtious but mind your own business. The biggest thing in jail is gossip and can get a lot of inmates into trouble when the wrong things are said about someone.
5) Try and make as many friends as possible. This maybe difficult and you will get some inmates who are rude or aggressive to you. I kept my distance from such inmates but I was always polite and never hassled them for anything. They will usually leave you alone. Having friends can get you out of trouble with other inmates and the screws. When you're with a group you dont get hassled. When you need something you can work things out without having to threaten anyone or pay for it. After being in custody for 6 months, I ended up with roughly 30 inmates I could call good friends. I still keep in contact with many of them in prison and on the outside. You never know if you'll ever end up back inside.
6) If you smoke or dont smoke always ask for your "free" pouch of tobacco at reception anyway. Tobacco is like a currency in prison. I don't know how many times I managed to get stationary, chocolates and other goodies in exchange for tobacco. Tobacco is also a great way to "break the ice" in forming new friendships. I would often have a cup of tea and chat with other inmates while having a smoke with them.
1) Never steal from other inmates. Rule No.1. It sounds odd being in prison with others that have larceny and other purloining records, but one thing that always gets a person bashed is stealing from another inmate. Usually the person who has stolen is placed "on show" in front of other inmates and is then taken back to a cell and bashed, or if there are screws around, taken to some secluded spot in the jail and bashed. If the screws see someone with a black-eye that inmate will almost invariably be taken to segregation/protection/IMU and will probably spend the rest of their sentence there. Inmates call protection the "boneyard".
2) Avoid going into another inmates cell alone unless you trust that person. An imates cell is their own personal space. You maybe accused of stealing or if someone doesn't like you and they say: "Come into my cell", it usually means a pretext for violence for whatever reason.
3) Never be seen being whispering to a screw or talking in private with them. Even though it may be no-one elses business and has nothing to do with other inmates, you may end up being labelled a "dog" or a "screwlover" and treated with contempt or suspicion. There have been previous cases of the police implanting informants in jail to get information.
4) Never ask anyone about what charges they are on. Be curtious but mind your own business. The biggest thing in jail is gossip and can get a lot of inmates into trouble when the wrong things are said about someone.
5) Try and make as many friends as possible. This maybe difficult and you will get some inmates who are rude or aggressive to you. I kept my distance from such inmates but I was always polite and never hassled them for anything. They will usually leave you alone. Having friends can get you out of trouble with other inmates and the screws. When you're with a group you dont get hassled. When you need something you can work things out without having to threaten anyone or pay for it. After being in custody for 6 months, I ended up with roughly 30 inmates I could call good friends. I still keep in contact with many of them in prison and on the outside. You never know if you'll ever end up back inside.
6) If you smoke or dont smoke always ask for your "free" pouch of tobacco at reception anyway. Tobacco is like a currency in prison. I don't know how many times I managed to get stationary, chocolates and other goodies in exchange for tobacco. Tobacco is also a great way to "break the ice" in forming new friendships. I would often have a cup of tea and chat with other inmates while having a smoke with them.
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