I am probably going to prison. Have I messed up the rest of my life?

Question

I am being sentenced in a couple of weeks, and will probably go to prison for a year or two. What I did was stupid and selfish, and I probably deserve what ever sentence I get.

Have I messed up the rest of my life after release, or will people see beyond the fact that I have been locked up?

Should I me more worried about the present? Possibly. However, if there is no future does the present matter?

It is reassuring to read that if I put in the effort then enough people may be prepared to look beyond what I am now and that it can be worth getting up every morning.

If I can hold onto that thought, then may be it will help me have the right attitude in facing what is to come and help me make the right choices that lay ahead.

Thank you to everyone who responded, you have given me lots to think about.

Answer 1

A short sentence will not mess up the rest of your life unless you let it do so, one of the people I love most in this world did ten years for a violent felony and he has a terrific life now, he worked hard to get to where he is but it's a very sweet life, filled with loyal friends, loving family, travel, hobbies, all the things that make getting up in the morning a good thing... Use this time to improve yourself, accept whatever vocational training and counselling opportunities the facility offers, keep yourself out of the cliques and gangs, do not lend or borrow anything more than books and the occassional stamp or two. That rule does not apply to pooling resources with a cellmate but even then keep it as even as you can. If you are offered a chance to go to a fire camp, DO IT! You'll get to work outdoors and get trained not just in firefighting but in forestry and some landscaping, which may be your best avenue for employment immediately after you're released.
If you accept responsibility before the court as readily and openly as you have here, the judge might be moved to be lenient.
Good luck.

Answer 2

Unless you're going to some lame camp situation, you should be worried a lot more about existing minute to minute in prison, instead of how you will be treated once you're out.

My husband has done 26 years of a 41 year sentence, so I can't relate much to people who only get a year or two. You seem rather cheerful and remorseful, which I don't see too often, for someone about to get sentenced. You should be scared to death and sick to your stomach. Are you losing a good job, your ride, your credit, your girlfriend, a place to live? Why isn't this more serious to you?

IF you wind up with just probation, are you aware that the officer can send you to prison for something as stupid as a speeding ticket, or forgetting to tell him you had a doctor's appointment instead of going to work? Can you not screw up for a year or more? Can you go a year without flinching every time you see a cop car?

If you wind up in prison, use this as an opportunity to NOT ever go back there again. If you go to "real" prison, that's usually sufficient to convince someone there is hell on earth, and a smart person will toe the line forever once they get home. If you get sent to a work camp, know that that is not remotely "real" prison. That's a picnic spot compared to time in an FCI or State.

If you go to a real prison, you will never be the same again, or see your world the same. You won't be worried about how other people see you, except for the cops. You won't want them to ever notice you again.

Good luck to you.

Answer 3

I wouldnt say that you have messed up your whole life, but it will tarnish you, especially in the first few years after getting out, while the conviction is still relatively fresh.
You'll have to declare the conviction when applying for jobs or travel visas. The nature of the conviction may affect your ability to travel freely to certain countries too.
The best thing you can do is try to stay strong when you're inside, keep your nose clean, learn from your mistakes, do your best to be as good a person you can be.
When you get out you'll be an ex-con, but the way you carry yourself and behave when you get out will make a world of difference.
The title of ex-con is not something you can change, but it doesnt make you who you are.
When you get out, hopefully people will judge you for your actions in the future, not what you have done in the past.
Good luck in the big house.

Answer 4

Because jail does not enable t.v. and stuff. It's terrible. You're locked in an tremendously small mobile with just one hour to head external. You haven't any one to speak to and you probably have viewers, although it is household, you are surrounded by means of guards. With weapons. And for the dying sentence facet, it is dependent upon what the jury says. Now, I agree that greater than only a small institution of humans and one pass judgement on will have to come to a decision the destiny of the crook. But our executive is screwed up large time and if we desire anything performed approximately matters like this, then we ought to paintings in combination as a nation and do anything approximately it. Plus, you ought to bear in mind that Christianity is meant to be peaceable, and now not have any killing performed by means of the federal government. So our executive, by means of devout regulation, isn't allowed to kill humans with out there being a couple of offense. Even If that first offense used to be homicide. I'm sorry for what occurred in your pal, however our executive is responsible of what occurs to criminals, now not us Americans.

Answer 5

this may be a chance to turn your life around, you seem to accept and know that what you did was wrong so you are halfway there.
knuckle down in prison and take some classes that may help you on your release and also show that you did not waste your time there.
people do change, im living proof of that.
good luck and all the best.

Answer 6

Some will some won't.
How you handle yourself after you get out will determine if you have messed up your life.
My son went twice for drug charges. He is now doing OK. He has a family and a job and seems to be happy.
Good luck.

Answer 7

nope as long as you try do make a change of your lifestyle when you get out and dont make the same stupid mistakes but gl