What is prison like?

Question

In the UK...... is it like a hotel? Does bullying really happen? Is the food nice??

I don't intend to do a crime - but the man who killed my brother is starting his prison sentence tonight. I plan to sleep well in my big comfy bed for the first time in 9 months!

Answer 1

I'm a prison officer in the UK, prison is what the individual wants to make it if they wanna get on and do there time respectfully and follow the strict rules and regime which we enforce then it's not too bad, if they wanna be the big hard man then that's how they will be dealt with, sorry to hear about your brother, but you can rest assured he will be punished whilst in prison, and hopefully rehabilitated so no other family has to suffer what you and yours has gone through........PS which prison is he in? good luck x

Answer 2

Hi i have never been in one myself but i do know sometimes it is not fair fro the inmates as they do get picked on by so called "top dogs" if new to the prison and stabbings, bullying beating up do happen and it does seem to go undetected by the prison officers who work there has they know they cannot put hem in prison for it has they already are! So it is a horrible ride for a new person and the food would be like school dinners, the beds well like prison beds all hard smelly old so no if going into a prison it will not be your best stay of your life!

Answer 3

Well...can't speak for the UK but here in the good ole US state prisons aren't any fun place to be. Unless you're a politician and go to a Federal pen. Then you can plot an escape by jumping over the hedges or refuse to eat your filet mignon and lobstertail off of Farberware when you should be served on Staffordshire china.

Answer 4

You can go and visit a prison when they have open days (check with your nearest prison when they will be having an open day. I have been in a prison in the UK to visit some one, but they are not nice places. They are very cold (in the winter) and dismal.

Answer 5

I can describe the prisons in the USA:

My husband is in prison. He says that he gets up, go to chow, go back to his cell and read. If he chooses he could play cards or something with other inmates. Sometimes a person is given privileges such as to use the work out room.

You are not allowed Internet Access. You cannot receive anything other than a money order (if you are on the visitors list for some facilities), Letters and cards. No stickers things like that. Very simple and conservative. However, each facility is different.

Media likes to show a lot of gay sex, but it doesn't happen as often as they like to show it does. If you are caught masterbating, you get a disciplinary ticket for "self mutilation".

The amount of time outside your cell varies from facility, classification and housing units. Plus they consider how crowded the facility is.

To obtain medical and dental care, it is very difficult at times. The prison charges you for everything and families usually help supplement the costs. It costs 3$ for my husband to see the nurse and it costs a few dollars for Tylenol. If you don't have the money in canteen, you go without.

Education costs money to the inmate’s families as well. Currently he has been using the library and working on his GED. Phone calls also cost family members a LOT of money. Your phone bill could be anywhere between $20-100 a month, extra.

Sometimes you cannot take showers when you want to. You should always wear shower shoes when you take one (avoid athletes foot).

If the laundry room loses one of the shirts that is allotted to you, the family has to pay. Family also needs to pay for shoes for inmates, if not, they go without. You can get state issued shoes, but they give no support and they fall apart in a few months.

You are able to get visits and make phone calls, but these privileges are taken away for various reasons. If a person is on the phone and one inmate starts causing trouble, everyone has to lock down, you hang up and go!

Basically you sleep and eat. Your basic needs are met very minimally. It is not glamorous as the media likes to make it out to be. You cannot get a TV or a Radio, unless someone sends you money to pay for it. They have a TV in the day room, where inmates can play cards, write to family members, make phone calls, while they are out of their cells. In my opinion, Inmates should only be allowed to get the Disney channel or the Discovery Channel! I can't even afford cable. I feel they shouldn't have cable, but work on educational and vocational activities instead.

Prisons should be working on Transitional Programs to involved vocational goals. Too many times people get out with no skills and little support and go back to the way they were before. With transitional programs, it would help MORE people being released to be law abiding, productive members of society.

Answer 6

Some of them are real laid back to the point where the guards will do some much illegal crap for you.
There are other places that are horrible.
The food in jail isn't good that is why most people need money so they can make food for themselves.

Answer 7

You must be joking. I have seen a British jail. It's not a hotel, the inmates bully and fight with each other and the food is disgusting.

Just like American jails. They suck. And that is the whole purpose of them.

Hotel.......LOLOLOL Good one.

Answer 8

well you dont have bills food cooked for you met nice people who retrain you into say bankrobbbery have tv sky xbox everything really then if still not happy you can take the service to court for anything get big pay out like the drugies who had to cold turkey it is a f-----ing joke thats what it like

Answer 9

As someone who was 'incarcerated' under PTA for no other offence than being Irish i'll just say that like anything you'll adapt but it ain't pleasant

Answer 10

People I know who've been aren't too keen to go back. So I guess its not paradise.