How do people survive in Jail/Prison?

Question

I was locked up in a Michigan Jail for about 13 hours one time, not even a full day, and it nearly drove me insane. Maybe I'm just "soft" but a month in there would have driven me nuts. How do people survive in there.

Thanks for the answers.. My trip thru hell started as an arrest for felony assault which I later pleaded down to misdemeanor aggrivated assault. I basically blew my temper one day at a random stranger and apparently scared the bejesus out of him, so he promptly told the police. There was no physical contact or anything but they still ran me thru as a felony.

I NEVER want to go thru something like that again as I was facing up to 4 years of prison time if convicted on the felony, and had no idea it was going to work out the way it did. Even though my story sounded silly to my friends, the system took me pretty seriously from start to finish, and it was a scary experience...

Answer 1

You are not alone. Most people are crying for Mom within the first 24 hours. It's very, very different from what most of us see on TV, and no one can be prepared for the dehumanizing that it does to you, from the arrest all the way through processing. It is particularly devastating for "regular" people who get caught up in a five-second bad judgement arrest, and suddenly find out that they are considered garbage just like child molesters to the people running the jail.

Your medical conditions don't matter, your kids waiting for you at school don't matter, your pets outside in a blizzard don't matter--hey, you broke a law, you got arrested, you are trash with an orange jumpsuit and a number. Forget innocent until proven guilty--You Are Garbage.

And that's just county jail.

My husband has been in federal prison for 26 years. He is the strongest man I know, which is why I'm still waiting. I did some time myself, and know that I couldn't, and wouldn't, do it again.

On these forums, I see all the jokes about soap on a rope, and hear all the self-righteous ******* who think everyone who winds up in county jail for 24 hours should die. Those are the ones who learn the hard way when their own loved one goes to prison or jail. Those are for the ones who haven't seen kids on a 2-year drug charge die after being gang-raped.

The only way anyone can make it and not go crazy is to remain true to themselves. If you cop out, give in, become a snitch, you're gone.

My husband has learned from his experience, regrets what his family has been through, and hasn't quite gone buck-nuts waiting for the parole board and attorneys to release him, like they should have done ten years ago.

While in prison, he's been through a lot. He lost his mother and dad, and a brother. His disabled daughter is unable to visit him because she doesn't travel well and he's 900 miles from where she lives. He hasn't seen her in 15 years, since her accident.

The worst was when we lost our son unexpectedly a few years ago, and I wasn't even allowed to tell him in person. He had to be told over the phone. He also wasn't allowed to attend the funeral. These are things that are almost impossible to deal with on the Outside. Imagine trying to deal with this while living in a steel cage with nonstop noise 24/7.

People do adapt. They learn how to retreat inside themselves, when to get involved (as little as possible), when not to get involved (most of the time), who to trust (no one). My husband had an eighth grade education, but got his GED and now reads a lot to pass his time. Contrary to popular opinion, there are very few programs left in the federal system, and nothing in the way of rehab. Prisons are warehouses, not rehab centers.

I work with a lot of the long-term people upon release, and most are so exhausted. Few are able to sleep more than a few hours each night, and surprisingly, most are afraid to be alone. They cherish things that you and I take for granted, like the ability to choose what they want in a grocery store, when to get up, when to go to bed, or to be able to sit on a front porch and rock. Every little freedom, every choice means so much to them.

So don't be hard on yourself--it's a horrible way to live, you saw that for yourself, and you learned from it. Some people never do, but you know now what freedom is all about. :-)

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

You're normal, don't worry. Jail is supposed to make you feel sub-human, and they've got it down pretty good. Several of the volunteers at our animal rescue shelter are ex-cons, and they were forever changed by living worse than I'd ever treat my animals.

They said, like some of the others, you adapt. You don't have a choice, except to live or die. My guys are all older "stand-up" cons, the ones who never told on others and lived by the older codes. I think that's why they relate to the animals here so well. Most of my animals were throw-aways because they were too old or misfits, and have had to adapt to living with a lot of other animals, including cats and dogs and rabbits and squirrels and some chickens. Natural enemies, but they HAVE to get along if they want to be fed and have shelter.

Men in prison HAVE to get along because the only way out is through the razor wire, which means bleeding out in ten minutes or less.

God bless you, I'm sure it was an awful experience, but like some of the others have said, you learned from it, and appreciate things now. Since you understand, maybe you could get involved with some of the organizations that need your help, especially those for women?

Answer 4

How To Survive In Jail

Answer 5

How To Survive Prison

Answer 6

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
How do people survive in Jail/Prison?
I was locked up in a Michigan Jail for about 13 hours one time, not even a full day, and it nearly drove me insane. Maybe I'm just "soft" but a month in there would have driven me nuts. How do people survive in there.

Answer 7

With every day pass, our country is getting into more and more trouble. The inflation, unemployment and falling value of dollar are the main concern for our Government but authorities are just sleeping, they don’t want to face the fact. Media is also involve in it, they are force to stop showing the real economic situation to the people. I start getting more concern about my future as well as my family after watching the response of our Government for the people that affected by hurricane Katrina.

According to recent studies made by World Bank, the coming crisis will be far worse than initially predicted. So if you're already preparing for the crisis (or haven't started yet) make sure you watch this video at http://www.familysurvival.tv and discover the 4 BIG issues you'll have to deal with when the crisis hits, and how to solve them fast (before the disaster strikes your town!) without spending $1,000s on overrated items and useless survival books.

Answer 8

For the best answers, search on this site https://shorturl.im/avbXo

I think so I use to work with this guy who did 15 years in state prison for shooting another guy, but it was self- defense or so he told me, anyways everyday I went to work he would teach me everything he knew how to survive like how to keep a low profile when in the yard or who to talk to and how to look for signs of when sh*t about to go down. Also one thing he told me which I had no idea was when your in a room with a bunch of inmates like in the library of mess hall and suddenly when everyone is quite and I mean not even a peep, to look around and if no one will look at you or even in your Direction it meant that there was a hit out on you and you were about to get killed. He even told me how to make weapons with the materials that you were allowed to have. So if i ever do go to prison which I hope NOT I think I will be fine.

Answer 9

I did 3 1/2 months in a county jail facility & the first month WAS the most difficult for me. I thought a lot like QUEEN BEE did until I found myself in the middle of a big mess with my butt in a maximum security area for high level felony crimes where almost everyone was awaiting transfer to a state prison! It was a learning experience. I listened to what people did to get themselves put into jail & my circumstances & lifestyle were so very different than theirs. We ALL had one thing in common...we failed to listen to that little voice inside of us that says, "don't do this!" I made a bad decision based on my lack of knowledge of the world & I learned a lot in the process. I waited & followed the rules & avoided people who wanted to fight. I cried myself to sleep & I learned how to accept life on life's terms. In the end, the truth became known & I was told that all charges were dropped, & I was exonerated of any & all wrong doing, & I had my record cleared. It still won't ever erase the fact that I WAS in jail. Even after being out for over 15 years, certain sounds STILL remind me of my time in jail. Electronic doors slammimg with the click of an electronic lock give me the shivers within!

Answer 10

A person is very adaptable at staying alive. I would image a prison of war camp would be much worse. Thank God some of our guys lived thru them.

to Queen Bee: Just because a persons ends up in jail does not mean they are dumb. Sometimes things happen and in a split second you have made a choice that you have to live with. Sometimes it is just a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Sometimes it is just that you are poor and don't have the money for a good lawyer. Be careful, next time it could be you that ends up being "dumb".