I’m not looking to visit, just wondering if anyone on here has ever done time?
I love prison docs and dramas
Can you enlighten me with your experience?

Sensible answers only, but truly comical responses are welcome

I haven’t, Iv been close and I’m not going to lie I was sh1tting myself in that box.

Know lots of people that have and they all say it’s a doddle.

The prison system is on its backside. You wouldn’t believe what goes on in there. They are out of the cells for most of the day all have iPhones etc. A lad I went to school with goes live on Fb all the time from inside his cell it’s madness and some people are oblivious to what’s actually going on in these prisons, it’s easier to get drugs in prison than it is outside.

I’ve heard mixed feedback from lads I know that have been inside, apparently it’s the young offenders prisons that are hell! Angry teenagers that want to fight each other none stop!

I know a lad that was in strangeways and he literally won’t talk about it, even after a few beers

Never had the pleasure but the idea is very appealing, I can’t think of anywhere else where you get free training & square meals & gym facilities & PlayStations & Xboxes.

Unless someone is talking about turning their life around in a professional arena, I've never heard anyone talk about prison, maybe it down to the company I keep, but I do know people have been inside. I've never asked them though.

Pity Factual Frank wasn't still on here ... he was no stranger to Strange Ways

Nope, but I know a few who have.
Some wouldn't want to go again, others don't mind when they do go back in, they find it easy enough to do.

Went to Alcatraz a couple of years back and spent 30 seconds in a high security isolation cell. That was plenty enough.

No, but my brother is, pity, as he has a real bad stutter and I can't see him finishing his sentence.

Bosscat wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 09, 2021 8:49 pm

Pity Factual Frank wasn't still on here ... he was no stranger to Strange Ways

Oh, he's still around. More names than the phone book!

fidelcastro wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 09, 2021 8:53 pm

Oh, he's still around. More names than the phone book!

Shhhhhh we are flushing him out ...

Dartmoor and Channings Wood (Newton Abbot)
One as a contractor, one to play against the prison football team

Durham, Walton, Lancaster and Haverigg.

All on legal visits.

I worked with a chap who's summary of his experience of doing time in Strangeways was ' you would have to be a complete nutcase to ever end up back in there.'

A rough lad an'all.

lakedistrictclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 09, 2021 9:00 pm

Durham, Walton, Lancaster and Haverigg.

All on legal visits.

If you wait long enough the truth comes out

Darthlaw wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 09, 2021 8:49 pm

Went to Alcatraz a couple of years back and spent 30 seconds in a high security isolation cell. That was plenty enough.

I've been in one at Alcatraz and 30 seconds was more than enough.

Darthlaw wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 09, 2021 8:49 pm

Went to Alcatraz a couple of years back and spent 30 seconds in a high security isolation cell

30 seconds isn't much of a sentence...what crime did you commit Darthlaw?

I've been in a YOI for a job interview. It was a very strange experience.

I have met quite a few people who have taught in prisons and they have some tales to tell. Some funny, some ******* horrible.

It's a doddle, eh? If so, then why is it that nearly all defendants, when found guilty, try to pull every sob-story in the book in order to avoid jail time? Oh, and I say this as someone who thinks that all too many get away with community sentences, time and again, when they should be doing time.

BTW: Just ask any police officer what criminals fear the most and they'll say 'jail'.

Billy Balfour wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 09, 2021 9:19 pm

BTW: Just ask any police officer what criminals fear the most and they'll say 'jail'.

Not always true, I know of lads that love it inside and have been in and out most there life’s they make more money inside and prison isn’t scary for them one bit, Institutionalized some of them who are only 30 years old. Sad but true. Most proper criminals aren’t scared of prison if they have already been.

Mate of mine goes regularly…. When he gets caught he asks for his other stuff to be taken into consideration. He views the whole process as a reset. Three squares, bed, fags indoors, drugs if he wants them, job if he wants one, gym for free… he says it’s a doddle. He’d rather be out, but he maintains it’s easily do-able.

Some time back I worked as a tutor in a high security prison and I really don't feel it's something that's easy to go through. More than anything what came across from talking to prisoners was the loss of freedom, having to conform to a monotonous routine, and day to day living in such a depressing environment. I know when I had finished my sessions, got in my car, and could drive away wherever I wanted, it gave me an unexpected sense of exhilaration. And I'd only been inside for a few hours.

Bob, if it's that good - then why does he ask for any TIC? Obviously, he doesn't want to go to jail or else he wouldn't ask for TIC. Thing is, we are talking about criminals here and they'll tell you any old pony. Also, those who tell you it's a holiday camp are playing up to their 'hardman' image.

I've heard different stories.

One lad was bragging in the pub what a doddle it was until someone he shared a cell with told us all he was sobbing most nights.

A Blackburn lad was telling me he enjoyed his time in Rochdale as all his mates were with him. He got out for a month before being recalled off licence and found all his mates had been locking themselves in their cells all say and wouldn't leave as it had got that rough.

bobinho wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 09, 2021 9:28 pm

Mate of mine goes regularly…. When he gets caught he asks for his other stuff to be taken into consideration. He views the whole process as a reset. Three squares, bed, fags indoors, drugs if he wants them, job if he wants one, gym for free… he says it’s a doddle. He’d rather be out, but he maintains it’s easily do-able.

Some people purposely commit crime in order to get sent down especially the homeless, it’s a massive con people go not guilty because everybody can’t plead guilty because it’d show the system for what it is, it’s not uncommon for tramps to turn up at court with a bin bag prepared failure for the tramp he goes straight back out & robs a bottle of whiskey treating the judge with contempt he’ll get his wish it’s just a matter of time.

Glad youve got it all sorted billy….

As I explained, he doesn’t WANT to be there, he just reckons it’s easy enough, so he clears his slate.

Using your own formula, if it was that bad, he wouldn’t re-offend would he?

Jakubclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 09, 2021 8:47 pm

Never had the pleasure but the idea is very appealing, I can’t think of anywhere else where you get free training & square meals & gym facilities & PlayStations & Xboxes.

Presumably when we put sentencing to the public vote you'll be voting for community service? Putting them in prison would be a reward for them, wouldn't it?

TheFamilyCat wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 09, 2021 10:04 pm

Presumably when we put sentencing to the public vote you'll be voting for community service? Putting them in prison would be a reward for them, wouldn't it?

I believe the majority of the people in this country would vote for capital punishment for murder & other serious offences so playing on call of duty ect wouldn’t even be a consideration. HMPS needs a radical tougher reform but that’s nothing we don’t already know!

A lot of bravado on here.

NottsClaret wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 09, 2021 10:24 pm

A lot of bravado on here.

That's one word for it.

I’ve never been, only know one person to my knowledge who has served time. But if you think that prison is a doddle then you must have a pathetic life. Because the punishment isn’t about preventing people from having access to a PlayStation and food, it’s about the absolute loss of all freedom. If you’re happy enough to live a life locked in a cage being told what to do 24/7 then I truly feel sorry for you.

I wasn’t aware conjugal visits & day releases & early paroles were outlawed.

Pretty much all of 2020 to current day.

Yeh was serving a sentence at the same prison as Deirdre Barlow (you know she was a man right?).

Her constant crying and protruding neck tendons scared me straight.

Yeh Preston & Full Sutton.......visiting a friend,he never came out of Full Sutton,that place scared the **** out of me.

boatshed bill wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 09, 2021 8:57 pm

Dartmoor and Channings Wood (Newton Abbot)
One as a contractor, one to play against the prison football team

I love the museum opposite dartmoor

Been in loads of times but got out as soon as I rolled a double.

Shappie wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 09, 2021 11:13 pm

I love the museum opposite dartmoor

I've not been in it.
Dartmoor Prison is a cold and horrible place. Imagine how those French POWs must have felt

Rileybobs wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 09, 2021 10:36 pm

I’ve never been, only know one person to my knowledge who has served time. But if you think that prison is a doddle then you must have a pathetic life. Because the punishment isn’t about preventing people from having access to a PlayStation and food, it’s about the absolute loss of all freedom. If you’re happy enough to live a life locked in a cage being told what to do 24/7 then I truly feel sorry for you.

We experienced this during lockdown didn’t we, fortunately for most, we were spending it with family with methods of communication. But the simple pleasures of working, socialising and doing the basic everyday things away from home did take its toll.

As for prison though, I can’t imagine spending all my time with unsavoury people with nothing to do and I’ve always said, I’d just take the easy road and become someone’s bitch if I had to spend life inside.

boatshed bill wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 09, 2021 11:16 pm

I've not been in it.
Dartmoor Prison is a cold and horrible place. Imagine how those French POWs must have felt

Cycled past it the other week. It was bleak and the sun was shining. I wouldn’t fancy being there in mid winter with the rain wind and snow!

Shappie wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 09, 2021 11:18 pm

Cycled past it the other week. It was bleak and the sun was shining. I wouldn’t fancy being there in mid winter with the rain wind and snow!

I'm also fairly sure that I was in the first SDL team ever to play in Channings Wood.
They later got accepted into the SDL and only played at home (if my memory is correct), later they were allowed to play away games

boatshed bill wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 09, 2021 11:24 pm

I'm also fairly sure that I was in the first SDL team ever to play in Channings Wood.
They later got accepted into the SDL and only played at home (if my memory is correct), later they were allowed to play away games

Do Channings wood still have a team?

I've not been nor do I know anyone who has. However, as a youth I played
football for my youth club against a team of Borstal lads at Dobroyd borstal
somewhere over Todmorden way.

We weren't too happy at the prospect but it turned out to be quite ok. The grub after the game
was excellent, I have to say.

Shappie wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 09, 2021 11:26 pm

Do Channings wood still have a team?

I really don't know, but I think the prison category may have changed since the early 80s

got sent to prison on my 19th birthday. 14/02/97.

low newton. a woman's jail now but used to be a mixed remand centre.

i was so scared my nose bled and the screw shook his head as he closed the door.

it was particularly horrible as i used to deliver milk there.

oh and the bloke downstairs kept banging on his ceiling telling me he was going to rape me. he never did.

oh yeah and when i realised there was no handle on the door i burst out laughing.

Jakubclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 09, 2021 8:47 pm

Never had the pleasure but the idea is very appealing, I can’t think of anywhere else where you get free training & square meals & gym facilities & PlayStations & Xboxes.

Big statement!...........Why don't you arrange a switch with somebody? There'll be plenty of volunteers....
.....careful what you wish for. I can't think of much worse.

Bosscat wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 09, 2021 8:49 pm

Pity Factual Frank wasn't still on here ... he was no stranger to Strange Ways

Where is he?..........Has he discovered ....Gasp!..........Facebook?