*** What are the most common crimes people are incarcerated for?**
Drugs are way common. Fighting of some sort is probably close behind. DWI
*** Did you witness any child molesters or other sex offenders get treated
extra badly, such as the cases mentioned in this thread?**
No. They are usually in protective custody. Same with former cops
and whoever may need it.
*** How common are suicide attempts by inmates? How often are suiide
attempts successful How are suicides prevented?**
I am not a professional but it seems that people that may potentially commit
suicide are not particularity effective at hiding their warning signs. Guards
are trained to spot this type of activity/behavior. They will take away razors,
shoe laces, excessive loose clothing, pens, pencils, basically everything while
they are on watch.
** * How much information do you have with what’s happening on the outside?
I know that many prisoners have access to newspapers and TV, so I’m sure
you would be informed of what is going on in the local community, around the
nation and around the world. Are you aware of current pop culture trends
(movies, music, games) even if you don’t have access to them? What about
technological developments? Is it possible that a guy who went into prison
25 years ago be surprised to learn that, upon returning to the free world, that
we’ve long since moved on from using DOS on our computers?**
Papers, TV, guards, school to some extent in some prisons. Just remember
the prisoners are not watching CNN usually. Some things really do get past
you. I never really did a multi-year stretch but here is an example. I was in for
over a year. I got my first chance to see a movie. I went to some cheep
theater and asked for a ticket for the next movie starting. It was for
Pulp Fiction. I never saw a trailer, did not know who QT was, didnt realize the
effect and popularity of the movie. Boy was i in for a surprise.
** * What was the most nerve-wracking part of your trial? Did the ongoing
testimonies, presentation of evidence, and the constant litigation between
the defense and the prosecution wear you down? How confident were you
about getting a not guilty verdict before it was delivered?**
Trial, what? Almost no one goes to trial
*** In city jails do they treat murder suspects and other hard-core criminals the
same as they do with people who are thrown in jail for comparatively minor
offenses such as DUIs, battery, etc.? That is, are felony suspects placed in
more secure cells than those who are in on misdemeanor charges?**
Not in any city jail I have ever been to. I was locked up with one other
person for about a week in a city jail that was on California's death row for a
long time. He got out because out because of the repeal of the death
penalty. He was going back in for another serious crime. They may try to
separate but city jails are small.
** * How do you sleep at night? Do they turn the lights out? Do most prisoners
keep quiet? How do you deal with snorers in your cell or in adjacent cells? As I
am a loud snorer, I know I would not do well with other prisoners because of
this.**
It is loud in most jails all the time. Snoring is nothing. Lights stay on.
*** What kinds of makeshift weapons have you seen people make or use? Did
you ever try making and/or using such weapons yourself?**
I never used a weapon. I have had them. Really there are just stabbing
weapons. Made out of anything. Apparantly some have made Zip Guns bit I
have never seen one.
** * Do white-collar criminals mesh well with the hardened criminals who are in
for murder, rape, and other heinous crimes, or are they targeted as being
weak and more vulnerable?**
There are special places for them. Country clubs. Cookie farms. They really got
it easy. I could spend the rest of my life in a place like that. But remember
some businessmen are hard core and could fair well in any prison anywhere.
*** Does anyone brag about his crimes? If a person doesn’t talk about what he
did, do you assume he’s a child molester or someone who knows he’s going
to get the shit beat out of him if anyone knows what he is in for?**
Can't hide what you are in for. No way. If someone does not say you just ask
a guard. They give everyone up. Hell yea people brag about their crimes.
*** Overall, how clean is the prison environment? I know that prisoners shower,
but do you often find yourself dealing with other prisoners’ body odor and
other forms of funk? I imagine there are plenty of guys who just don’t give a
shit if they stink and offend everyone around them.**
Actually it is fairly clean. Smelling bad will get your ass whipped hard core. I
have seen severall forced showers.
** * What was it like to realize that just about every little thing you had taken for
granted was taken away from you upon entering prison? For me, even the
simple little everyday things like being able to go to the refrigerator for a drink
or a snack whenever I feel like it, would be missed.**
You enter a whole new society. Those things are replaced with adaptation to
the new environment. If possession of items is important to you you can
accumulate things and food in jail.
*** If a highly recalcitrant inmate keeps screwing up and causing trouble for everyone (short of committing murder), can he eventually rack up enough extra time to have a life sentence? How are problem inmates usually dealt with?**
Yes. You can still get charged and sentenced with just about every crime while in jail. They are segregated and put in solitary confinement. This usually stops additional crimes and they will finish their sentence.
*** How does a jail cell differ from a prison cell? From the inside of one, is there any difference?**
Yes. A normal city jail cell is small and you don’t leave it for any reason usually. Hold just a couple people each. County Jail is much larger and you may goto church or some have cafeterias other the food is brought to you. There is usually a rec yard as well. Prison you could possibly only be in your sell just for sleeping if you are in general population. Prisons are huge with often thousands of inmates. The inmates do all the maintenance and upkeep Guards just watch and do administrative tasks.
*** Even though you probably have no intentions of actually doing it, do you ever entertain fantasies of going after the detectives and other police force personnel, the judge, the prosecutor and anyone else who had a role in getting you in prison?**
Never. Not even in fantasy. I have had fantasies of certain crimes before. Just not on the judicial system or law enforcement.
*** Does being in prison make you hateful of everyone? Does it make you less trusting of the people around you? What other behavioral or personality changes did being in prison did you undergo?**
No I am not hateful of people. I trust most people. I can spot bullshit and a lie better than most anyone I know though.
*** How will you tell your children about your past once you feel they are old enough to know the truth about their daddy? How old do you think they should be to know this information, or should they even know at all?**
My daughter already knows what she can absorb. I will tell her as she asks or as her ability to understand everything. Knowledge is not to be held back form my children. She is cautious about it though and feels she will hurt my feelings asking. She often asks mom.
*** How do you adjust to doing things like using the toilet with no privacy? I’m sure after awhile you get used to it and nobody really cares, but at first it must be a difficult adjustment. Also, how do you deal with the urge to masturbate?**
Yes it is kinda hard at first. Just as strange or more is getting out and having complete privacy. Just do it.
