What's it really like in a UK Prison?

Question

I am not a criminal nor am i facing prison but it's always fascinated me to know what it's really like inside one. Is it like on the TV where there are the "top dog" inmates who run the prison and get privelages? Is there much crime in a prison between inmates such as assaults? Or is it nice and cosy and people don't know what they're missing?

I'd like to hear from anyone who works or has been in one if you don't mind talking about it.

Answer 1

Sleep half the day. An hour of Tricia and Tots TV. Shepherds pie and non fruit yogurts. Bangers an mash Saturdays, then we have sausages and potatoes for supper. Not much different out the clink than innit, innit?

Answer 2

Apparently nowadays it's rather like a holiday camp whereas in the late 60's, all of the 70's and early 80's it was not very nice at all. I was in Dartmoor Prison in the late 70's and it was a depressing place where at that time the screws (prison warders) could get away with whatever they wanted too. Not having been in trouble for over 20 years now I can't say what it is like now but I can tell you that even after all this time the place left such a nasty impression on my mind that I can still remember the postcode even now. PLZ0 6RR, assuming it's not changed since then.

Answer 3

I have visited many prisons no not as an inmate but work related.I personally always felt Strangeways in Manchester one of the most depressing and Liverpool as being full of little Hitler Warders. On one occasion I wanted to give a very depressed inmate some photographs of his children also a picture one of the children had drawn for him. I was not allowed and had to post them instead. Incidentally this man attempted suicide shortly after my visit. Don't think it was anything I said but a general feeling of hopelessness and missing his children.

Answer 4

Pretty much like Porridge - did you know that Prisons are always on the lookout for Prison Visitors to go and see the guys and gals who have no relatives to visit them. This is a very rewarding experience for all concerned. If you volunteer at your local Prison you can find out from a someone who is experiencing it first hand. At the same time instead of it just being morbid curiosity you can be of help to the prisoner themselves.

Just a thought.

Answer 5

well yes you do have people that you can say run the jail iv done some number ov yrs in and out its not a nice place as you do see things which will stick in your mind iv seen prison offices that are ok and want to make some extra cash while working ther i would not like to see young persons in jail i think ther should be more help out there

Answer 6

Only you could tell us about it after experiencing not as an inmate but as a visitor. Remember visitors record their presence in the prison for the purpose for which they go their.whereas inmates are made to go there by justice departments or courts. I want you to be a visitor only.

Answer 7

In Liverpool (Walton) a fight every mealtime, extern paramedics are called at least once per day.

The food always "runs out" before the end of the queue, those who have to queue for medication are always late for food. They are lucky if they do not receive any. The stuff is not fit for schwein. I would not feed it to dogs either.

I served 3 months almost without food, and devoid of any clean laundry.

The general hygiene is even worse, no one can produce / serve edible food in such atrocious conditions, on 90p / man / day, for food, hygiene & laundry.

I lost 3 stone in 3 months, & yet added 12inches to my waist. I lost 5 litres of blood too. Upon release I was rushed to A&E with a burst ulcer & hiatus hernia.

Obviously legal aid does not cover "civil" cases, how convenient!

No pro-bono will take action against "big brother".

Five years on I am still appealing against conviction, therefore sentence.

I am still refused the Right to Employment as per Human Rights Act, Articles 6, 9, & 10. Also Paragraph 1612, 05/10/68 Brussels.

In the meantime my commitments have put me £50k in debt, & I am often refused housing & council tax benifit.

Even we "passive" smokers smoke chain inside, there is no law to protect us. The home office have no duty of care toward their captives & to hell with Human Rights.

At least 80% of inmates are on Smack throughout their stretch, over 25% on Crack. There is no supply problem, most consumption is funded by / with telephone-cards.

Without the above "anathsthetic" no "lifer" would survive to see release.

It shows there is an extreme security / staff-discipline problem.

Being framed & stitched up by the home office para-military is bad enough. . . .

I am still serving a "Civil Death" sentence, & will continue to do so untill I am finally exonerated and allowed back to "self - sufficiency" by means of honest labour in the "carreer / trade of my own free choice."

I was certified "fit for work" by a Doctor only two weeks ago at the expence of the job center (taxpayer).

The dept. of work & pensions are still disputing this & have offered a medical "review" 27/07/07.

Answer 8

Because of the politically correct idiots, tree-huggers the prisons are too soft.
Back to the Victorian days I say :-) make prison so bloody bad that nobody wants to go back.
No TV, no gyms, no exercise yard, sh1tty meals and if the cell is overcrowded.......TOUGH!

Answer 9

I knew someone who went to Woodscrubs (East Acton) He says the food was ****, but he spend his year there keeping to himself, and got a computer course. (apparently prisoners can study on line) He said nothing about inner prison crime, but we suspect he probably experienced it, and doesn't want to talk about it.

Answer 10

hardcore is wot it is, 2 off my mates have been inside and it aint a good place to be. If u can defend urself ull proberbly be ok. If u cant, ur screwed. so dont think about doin sumthin for a free meal! lol.