Spreading and sharing social information on the do’s/don’ts earned from passed down knowledge within prison is essential in increasing the odds for safe and positive experiences throughout a new prisoner’s sentence. Those who didn’t have the guidance wish they had and for those, like me, who had it will attest that it made all the difference. Here is my own ‘Survival Guide to Prison’.
#1 Be Respectable and Respectful – Having the respect of others is numeral uno and the easiest thing to lose in prison. Your safety, social circle(s), credibility, value, and overall experience in your incarcerated journey can hinder on the respect you do/don’t have. Those who aren’t respected can potentially be ostracized, targeted, and extorted. How you gain respect is determined upon the values/political position of the social circle or “Car” (Cars are political groups determined by race, gender identity/sexual orientation, gang affiliation, and religion) you’re a part of. So, choose your circle wisely. You can lose respect in prison by stealing, lying, backing down from confrontations, accusations and allegations, being ‘buddy buddy’ with the staff, messiness (drama stemming from gossip etc.), and for certain circles the use of hard drugs. Being respectful looks the same inside and outside of prison, but I will say it can be a bit over the top in prison. For example, in a crowded grocery store everyone is going about their day getting and grabbing whatever they may. In prison you want to announce yourself before stepping behind someone. Respecting another’s personal space is very important.
#2 Get Regular Medical and Dental Checkups – Hepatitis C is the most infectious disease reported in prison. This disease is spread by reused tattoo needles, sharing razors, etc. The incarcerated population is 9x more likely to catch Hepatitis C than the non-incarcerated population. 21% of prisoners report having Hepatitis B and Other STDs. Other diseases that spread in prison are Aids, Tuberculosis, Influenza, and much more. Please guard your health and schedule regular appointments with your facilities medical staff. While you’re at it make sure to sign yourself up to see the dentist. If you don’t request to be seen, you simply won’t be. There are prisoners who go years without being seen and this, combined with poor overall hygienic practices, results in tooth decay and infections. Taking care of yourself is vital, the providers aren’t always the best around and I personally know people who’ve had wrong teeth pulled. So don’t put yourself in that situation, guard your health.
#3 Exercise – We all know exercise is healthy, but that’s not the sole reason why every prison movie shows prisoners working out like it’s all they do. It’s not just a social norm, to be frank staying fit will help you to better protect yourself. Even if you aren’t affiliated, involved in politics, and you do everything right you can still be targeted based on the color of your skin and being physically weak. No one is truly safe. Riots happen over anything and from my experience they’re almost always political, racially motivated or drug related. Working out is mandatory in certain security levels (maximum/closed, medium and, for some, even long-term minimum/camp).
#4 Do Something with Your Time – There are a few programs within prison that help you to gain a GED, Highschool Diploma, an Associates of AAS Degree, etc. There are other programs for parents, addicts, etc. You can take classes and get credentialed in welding and other vocational jobs. What I’m saying is that your time can be more than a consequence, use this time to grow and set yourself up for a new and successful life beyond the bars.
#5 Find Inner Strength and Mental Fortitude – The ability to have strength in the face of adversity. When you’re knocked down, struggling, tired, or bored you don’t give up. Instead, you keep your eye on the goal and continue working forward, showing up even when you don’t feel like it. Inner strength is the power you have to deal with difficult situations to give your all to a development goal or dedicate yourself to being there for others. Mental fortitude is to have unwavering determination and belief in yourself while staying committed and dedicated to whatever goals you set for yourself. Prison, whether intentional or not, will strip you of your individuality and break you down. Having mental fortitude isn’t to simply endure, but to revel in adversity. Your life, future, and opportunities don’t end with your incarceration unless you allow it to. Don’t just do the time, do something with the time you have. Live.
#6 Don’t Gossip – This should be fairly easy and straightforward to understand no matter if you’re incarcerated or not. Gossiping isn’t respected and it comes back full circle. So, if you aren’t willing to risk your own safety and chances of early release over something so petty then just don’t do it. No one likes a gossiper.
#7 Count Your Blessings and Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff – It’s all too easy to find reasons to be miserable in prison. Don’t be that guy. Complaining with little to no action results in time sluggishly passing you by. Don’t get stuck feeling sorry for yourself, instead focus on getting out, getting an education or making some other accomplishment(s). I know this might sound crazy but find the silver lining. Take accountability for your own actions lading you in prison and begin to prepare yourself for the day you’re released. Don’t wait until the last minute, take rehabilitation into your own hands.
#8 Stay Off the Radar – You don’t want to be on a CO’s radar as you’ll become an easy target for them. Some will go out of their way to test your patience and push your buttons for their entertainment. They do this by being disrespectful, using provocative language, and if the cruel and unusual treatment successfully elicits a response from you then you’ll be gaslighted and possibly receive some sort of punishment such as cell confinement, loss of store, loss of phone, gym and yard, etc. However, from my own experience and of that of others its usual always brought upon us by being caught with items not allowed, fighting, etc. Staying off the radar makes time easier to get through.
#9 Be a Man in Every Situation – Stand your ground. Always. Do it without becoming overly aggressive. Don’t allow a person to punk you, sex play you or belittle you about anything without correcting them. Simply brushing things off or walking away can lead to you being viewed as weak and potentially victimized.
#10 Convict or Inmate? Choose wisely – Yes, there is a difference between an Inmate and a Convict. Inmates are those who befriend correction officers (CO’s) and jump when they say to. They watch and tell on others, inform CO’s on the latest news within general population, and rely heavily on CO’s for their safety. Inmates turn their backs on their fellow man and will throw them under the bus if pressured to by CO’s. Depending on the security level of the facility, this way of doing time can be extremely dangerous as you won’t last long in general population. Convicts are those who usually always belong to a “Car” (political groups determined by race, gender identity/sexual orientation, gang affiliation, and religion), adhere to a code of conduct, regulate and take care of their own, won’t trust CO’s, is respectful and respectable. For simplicity’s sake do you remember those in high school who were labeled teacher’s pet? Always jumping to answer questions, volunteering for anything the teacher needed, telling, etc.? Those are the inmates and everyone else are the Cons. Prison is literally a dangerous ass high school.
#11 Always, Always, ALWAYS Keep Your Word, Maintain Your Boundaries, and Respect the Boundaries of Others. – Keeping your word, setting firm boundaries and respecting the boundaries of others will let those around you know what you will and won’t tolerate, that you mean what you say and to take you seriously.
#12 Keep Your Personal Life PERSONAL – NEVER Share Personal Details of Your Family, Your Home, Personal Information, or Information About Your Holdings, or Your Assets, and Resources. While not everyone in prison is a scheming, slimy, messed up individual bent on corruption and dirty deeds, there are never shortages of individuals waiting to take advantage of others. Don’t give them an opportunity.
#13 NEVER Borrow From, or Owe Anyone ANYTHING, EVER. – Borrowing and owing just opens the door to animosity, resentment, and in a lot of cases, fights, or in extreme cases sexual assault.
#14 Don’t Go the Journey Alone: Meeting new people via prison pen-pal sites – Incarceration is hard enough on its own, but to go it alone can make it almost unbearable and rehabilitation nearly unrealistic. Communication with the outside world is important for the continuation of one’s personal, emotional, mental, and social growth. Those who have no contact often lack hope, belief in self, and a chance to be freed from the stigmas and stereotypes often and exclusively placed on the incarcerated population. A quick online search will yield many sites, you can also find prisoners looking for pen-pals on our TikTok: @prisonbaes That concludes the list!
I hope this list feeds your curiosity, answers some questions, and most importantly leaves you even more interested in the life, culture, experiences and people within prison. Special thanks to Eugene Young and Christopher Olsen for their contributions.
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