I did 4 years in a state prison. I’ve been out for almost 6 years. Changed my life and got sober. I have weeks go by and I don’t have cravings or flashbacks but I have bad dreams damn near every night. About drugs, violence, and being locked up. I am wary of medications due to my history with addiction. It’s like this, when you lose your freedom, and you know what it’s truly like, that fear leaves a stain.
Hello all, I’m a soon to be felon ..
I wanted to come in here to hopefully put a smile on some of your faces .. were you aware of the new sentencing guidelines for first offenders ?? They’ve moved the zone criteria massively and some of you guys like myself included were looking at jail time and May now be eligible for probation ! Rejoice ! Enjoy your Friday!
I recently started planning a cruise to Bahamas from New Jersey but it turns out that cruises back ground check. I haven’t called the cruise line yet to confirm whether I would be allowed to board but it seems there might be more difficulty traveling as a felon. I also wanted to visit Europe but the new ETIAS background might keep me from going cause I have a violent felony.
Just curious what experience other felons have had traveling to Europe and on cruises.
My Fiancé was recently incarcerated in Washington State. Before this, he had about a few years sober from harder substances, which I really respected and supported.
This is all very new to me, and I don’t have any experience with the prison system or what day-to-day life is like inside WA DOC. I also don’t really know what to expect in terms of communication, environment, and how relationships tend to change during this time.
One thing that’s been weighing on me is that he’s asked me to put money on someone else’s books instead of his. I don’t have experience with this system, so I’m trying to understand if that’s common or something I should be cautious about.
As a side note, if anyone has experience with WA DOC (personally or through a loved one), I’d really appreciate any insight into what it’s like.
Hi -- I just came out on residential confinement after being down in Nevada for 2.3 years for a DUI in which the other driver was injured. I'm struggling emotionally and would love to talk with someone who has been through the experience for support. I don't qualify for any programs because I'm not an alcoholic/addict and do not live in poverty/homelessness. I most certainly have PICS and am really struggling emotionally after the experience. Anyone have any resources that they can refer?
My dad recently got arrested for child enticement over the phone (luckily it was an under-cover cop and nobody was truly harmed). My dad has been there for me my entire life and I- and my whole family- are confused and hurt how this could have happened.
I am not saying that he is guiltless, but I want to know what may have been going through his mind and why he would choose to hurt my family in this way.
for context this is about my dad. 61 M and myself 23 F.
He got into a bad accident while having alcohol into his system and got charged with aggravated assault and bodily harm or something like that. He did this 2 years ago. Did not tell me until 11 days before he was put in for the next 3.5 years. I feel heartbroken everyday. Hes never been perfect but hes always done his best for me and I feel so helpless. It feels like im grieving him and hes alive. We've been calling and are starting to write letters but im so scared he will die in prison. My head is running and running with horrible scenarios. He tells me about the lack of clean water and how commissary takes forever to get to him. I have all these scenarios in my head and Im just trying to be strong for him so he doesnt have to call me feeling like "great I have to call my adult daughter and sit on the phone and listen to her cry while im in prison." He told me before he went in he doesnt even want a funeral because its too expensive and he doesnt feel that he deserves it. I dont want him to give up. I dont want to tear myself apart either.
I'm a sociologist looking at why the system has become a 'provider of last resort.' I'm calling it 'Provision via Capture.' Does the infinite loop between civilian life, the ER department, and the jail/prison cell resonate with your experience?
Take a look at my work and see for yourself. This isn't a solicitation, I don't care if you subscribe, click, or even upvote. I really don't give a shit. I'm also an academic so I can only see the effects second hand. I just thought it might resonate in someone's mind. I'm also not here to treat you like zoo animals there's enough data out there to do that.
Please tell me if I'm wrong, and I'm interrupting or something, but how else do we break the loop? I'm an academic that is no longer in the institution using its own voice to speak back to it.
He finished with his transitional program a little while back and had nowhere to go so I had him move in with me. Circumstances changed, by no fault of ours, and we have to get out. I looked for a place for both of us at first but started running out of time so I found a place on my own. Our relationship has been complicated and I feel like I’ve been taking care of him more as a parent than a partner. He asked to keep stuff at my my place and if he can shower at my place regularly. I initially told him that was fine but now, after reflecting, feel like I really need to have my own space back and us go back to dating. He hasn’t been able to find a place because he isn’t making a lot of money right now so he isn’t sure where he’s going to go and I feel extremely guilty for everything, even though I know these are the consequences of his own actions. I guess I’m hoping for someone to understand where I’m coming from and help me to feel less awful about his situation while mine is going to be fine.
Like what title says. Been out for few years. She think I have lowkey ptsd. I’m not sure but I do feel like I’m a bit institutionalized in the way I think and react to situations in public or etc.
I’m like the typical ex con, gang member that kinda feel like therapy is bullshit. Lol. It’s free with our insurance but don’t want to waste time.
If anyone thought it was worth would like to hear others experience.
Edit: Thanks everyone for reply I guess I’ll try it and let you know how it goes
Before I get started, I'm not aware of a prison or jail that allows inmates to possess cellphones and that a cellphone or communication device in an inmate's possession is considered to be contraband. The inmate is subject to disciplinary action and or new criminal charges against them. Any staff member or civilian involved in supplying a cellphone, components of a cellphone or a communication device that has not previously been approved by the institution is also subject to receiving criminal charges and or imprisonment. But there are some transitional centers and or halfway houses that do allow inmates to legally possess cellphones but that's because those inmates are nearing the end of their sentence and are in the process of transitioning back into society.
Some institutions do allow and supply monitored tablets to inmates. Also I want to be clear that I myself have never been involved in the process of getting any contraband into an institution. Usually this is orchestrated by gangs and I'm not interested in being involved in that lifestyle. It's just not for me. I'm just here to tell you about the topic.
Officers & Staff: The most common way of getting cellphones and any other contraband into an institution is through correctional officers or other staff members. Many times they're the most successful and simplest means of getting whatever contraband an inmate wants into the institution because they can often be bribed, coerced or in extreme scenarios extorted to bring contraband into the institution. I don't believe the extortion route is very common though and I'll explain why. I've been to several institutions during my time in and I've seen cellphones range in price from four hundred to two thousand bucks. Now keep in mind that these are prepaid cellphones that are bought outside of the institution for about fifty each. So with a markup like that you can see that there's plenty of money available to bribe an officer or staff member into smuggling them into an institution. Those higher prices also go for anything else that's smuggled into the institution as well. Officers and staff members are usually reliable because they can work their way into an institution sometimes through ways that aren't heavily monitored or they may even work together with other staff members that are in charge of monitoring and intercepting things such as contraband. It's definitely not unheard of for an officer to be working an entrance into the prison and to allow another officer to slip through the regular screening process. Especially if both or all of them are on the payroll of the inmate who's orchestrated the transaction. It doesn't take many cellphones being smuggled into an institution to have a lot of funds to bribe staff members with much more than their regular salary pays them.
Outside Work Details: common way of smuggling contraband into an institution is through inmates on outside work details. I'm sure you've probably seen inmates on the side of the roadways, at parks or other public and privately owned government properties picking up trash or doing something that helps to maintain that property in some way. Well it's very common for these inmates to introduce contraband into institutions every single day that they go outside of the prison to work somewhere. Sometimes this is things that they find on their own while out working or they'll work with people on the outside to purposely plant contraband in places the inmate will be at. The inmate will often hide the contraband on themselves or on other items and equipment that may be headed back inside the institution. Once the inmate arrives back at the institution after their detail is completed they are often searched for contraband. It's not uncommon for an officer or staff member to be very relaxed during a search, not conduct a thorough search, or for staff and officers in charge of searching these inmates and the items or equipment that's entering the institution to also be getting bribed, extorted or coerced into purposely letting things slip through the screening process.
Drones: Drone delivery services provided by large retailers. I'm totally joking here. But drones operated by civilians conducting illegal activities by delivering contraband into an institution is a real thing and is very common these days. Often gang members will work with fellow gang members or any other people that are willing to take a chance to help introduce contraband to an institution. Often these people on the outside are paid extremely well for the part they play in the operation which often includes acquiring whatever the inmates on the inside request. These items are most often cellphones, illegal drugs and narcotics, prescription medications, tobacco and vapes, sometimes much more dangerous items such as knives, box cutters and even guns and ammunition. I've even heard of and can confirm that things like steaks, shrimp or other foods have been brought in this way and all the other ways too. And if you want a wild one I found out when I asked an officer what was the craziest thing they ever found during a search and the reply was a pocket pussy. Yep, you heard that right folks. Inmates are getting original and knock off fleshlights into the cells with them. It's not DeJorno folks it's pocket pussy on delivery.
So those are the most common ways inmates acquire cellphones and other contraband inside institutions. There are definitely many many other ways too that I haven't covered here. It's simple folks, inmates have all the time in the world to sit around and think of new ways to exploit the system so the cat and mouse game isn't likely to end any time soon.
My grandfather is in his final days. I'm the family historian, but I live far away. I'm going home to visit him soon, and he says he has something he wants to share with me. Coincidentally, I learned about it without his help a few days ago and told no one.
My grandfather was convicted of a serious violent crime many decades ago. He confessed. He was sentenced to life in prison, but his sentence was commuted after 10+ years. He became a firefighter and a phenomenal grandfather.
I think he wants to get things off his chest. And I want to handle it with care and dignity, for him and the people he hurt. I am the one who carries our family story forward, and it's important to me to do it justice.
For people in a situation like his, what are some questions you wish people would ask?
Any other tips?
After 4 and a half years on pretrial, and 3 of it on home confinement, I was sentenced to 37 months on 1 count of Mail Fraud.
My attorney didn’t even show up for sentencing; they sent some dude I’d never met or talked to. I have not received any reporting mail from the BOP, but my PO called me and told me I’d be reporting to Yazoo City, MS.
I'm not sure if it’s the Low or the Camp, but I’m assuming it’s a Low because of my Criminal History Category II score (all possession of weed when I was 18) and the fact that I’m 25 years old at this time.
I’ll be driving 7 hours on Friday morning to surrender, and I’m just curious what I should expect, realistically how long I’ll do, and if anyone has tips? I’d really appreciate it. Thanks guys.