Who's ever been to prison? I have and I'm going again.

[tom73]

We have a system locally called "Arbeit Statt Strafe" ("Work instead of punishment") which is being extended as it is cheaper and more effective than dumping young people with psychological issues in prison. A few of our long term clients came to us through that and stayed on another programme afterwards to try and get qualifications and training.

One issue some had was that in German there's a formal and informal form of "You": "Du" is for friends and "Sie" is for formal situations and people you don't know. Some of our clients asked one of our staff why we insisted on using the "Sie" form between staff and clients, and the staffer surprised him by saying "Because you are worth the respect."

I quite like that it's often forgotten that to get respect you need to show it. Positive disregarded go's along way too.

One of the biggest points of contention here is the should it be YOT or YJS (offender or justice) We have a few early intervention programs which are really helping cut off the flow offenders. But it's still not enough sometimes one thing the last coalition government did was change the Youth Justice act. Once you got past out of court stuff. It was like a ladder no lower none custody punishments allowed twice so you could soon end up lock up. Now you can have more than one referral order for example running at once. It came with a sting though every YP that get's locked up the cost comes out the YOT budget. It's lead to some interesting talks between managers when they live in one place but ended up having just moved to another and committed the crime on your patch.

 

[Pale Rider]

I went on a tour of the education area of Franklands in the 1980s.
The Deputy Governor started his introduction talk with:-

'We have dangerous men here, terrorists from Gaddafi's mob, the IRA and several other organisations as well as dangerous criminals. The prison is designed to hold off a company sized attack for long enough for the Catterick Garrison to arrive and deal with them.'

After that we went and spoke to the 'pupils' and teachers in the education block. It's a fact that every single man we spoke to was 'innocent' most 'fitted up by the police' or in one (Irish) case by the IRA!

It was a very scary place and I'm pleased I've never returned.

I've been in Frankland among a few others.

The North East Coast rail line runs beside it over a low bridge, which crosses the only road access.

When the prison was built, the bridge and carriageway was to be widened because as things stood, you could isolate the jail by running a skip lorry into the bridge parapet.

Money was short, so the work was never done.

There are trip wires over the exercise yard and other measures on the roofs of the buildings to prevent an escape via helicopter.

 

[Cavalol]

Wife's cousin (now sadly deceased) was erm a 'bit of a lad'. Visited him in a couple of YOIs and prisons. He loved most of them as he was often with his mate who had a well known prisoner as a relation, so they were left alone.
Walton was horrible though, it didn't seem to bother him to much but it was a very depressing place to visit.

 

[GM]

I've been to Crumlin Road Jail in Belfast, as a tourist I might add. Fascinating place to visit, although seeing the hangman's noose and trap door is a bit spine chilling, to think that the last person that was hung there was in 1962.
They have lots of events there now like, weddings, live music, catering, you could even have your Christmas dinner there.

 

[Andy in Germany]

although seeing the hangman's noose and trap door is a bit spine chilling, to think that the last person that was hung there was in 1962.

That's one thing I find creepy in Japan: they still hang people, and inmates on death row will be given less than 24h notice of their hanging.

 

[Smudge]

One thing that'd keep me out of prison are those ghastly grey 'joggers' and sweat shirts they have to wear! I suppose I could hack doing time if I was allowed my own extensive wardrobe while inside. I wouldn't mind trying one of those 'last supper' meals that prisoners have before execution in some American states. 10 cheese burgers,a bucket of fries and a gallon of choc chip ice cream sounds quite nice,

Prison clothing would probably be the least of your problems if you did a stretch.

 

[tom73]

Wife's cousin (now sadly deceased) was erm a 'bit of a lad'. Visited him in a couple of YOIs and prisons. He loved most of them as he was often with his mate who had a well known prisoner as a relation, so they were left alone.
Walton was horrible though, it didn't seem to bother him to much but it was a very depressing place to visit.

Having a mate has reminded me of two regulars at the prison Mrs 73 work at. One was called Fletcher and the other was called Godber. For a laugh prison officers wound always fix it so they ended up sharing a cell. Lucky the 2 lads thought it was funny and got on.

 

[Dub30]

Wife's cousin (now sadly deceased) was erm a 'bit of a lad'. Visited him in a couple of YOIs and prisons. He loved most of them as he was often with his mate who had a well known prisoner as a relation, so they were left alone.
Walton was horrible though, it didn't seem to bother him to much but it was a very depressing place to visit.

That sounds a bit like me when I was younger. When I was in court to get sentence I was already on a suspended sentence so knew I would pprobably be going in. Was really only a kid and was a bit nervous but I knew I knew a few lads in there and knew they'd show me the ropes and it would only be afew months so when the cuffs went on I wasn't too bad. And being young and having no responsibilities it was like just one of those things - got fed, a place to kip and clothes (lovely). Had a few laughs in there too. Biggest things I missed was the beer and my phone.

But second time was for much longer and I did have responsibilities and was a bit older so was a totally different experience. I know a few like me who just do crazy things when we are younger and sort of just growv out of it and realise there is alot more to life than getting in trouble.

But when I got out after that first time I had fallen out with my family and had no work so ened up living in a hostel with some other ex prisoners (and others) and there was nearly worse as had all the temptations of the outside world do not too much of a shock that I started getting into trouble and ended up back inside again.



The thing is after getting out that first time I

 

[pjd57]

Visited the Maze / H Blocks once.

Strange experience.

 

[captain nemo1701]

Worked once in Leicester Prison a very strange experience had to be escorted and tools were checked in and out . Leicester Prison is an old Victorian building reminded me of the opening sequence of porridge . Very grim indeed

Yes, been in & out of Horfield prison in Bristol back in the 90's for work purposes. Had to go through double gates - like an airlock - van searched, left personal posessions at the gate etc. It was similar to going into the old GCHQ in Cheltenaham although on that occasion, I had to have an officer sit in the van with me as I drove about.

 

[PaulB]

Yes, been in & out of Horfield prison in Bristol back in the 90's for work purposes. Had to go through double gates - like an airlock - van searched, left personal posessions at the gate etc. It was similar to going into the old GCHQ in Cheltenaham although on that occasion, I had to have an officer sit in the van with me as I drove about.

The same for me as well. I'd carry equipment with me to the theatres so would have to drive my car to the big imposing doors, they'd open and I'd go forward a few feet to another set of doors, the doors behind would close so I was enclosed in a box whereupon a prison officer would look under the car with a mirror on a stick before getting into the car with me and he'd direct me which way to go once the second set of doors opened. The theme tune to 'Porridge' would usually be playing on my mental radio.

 

[Cavalol]

That sounds a bit like me when I was younger. When I was in court to get sentence I was already on a suspended sentence so knew I would pprobably be going in. Was really only a kid and was a bit nervous but I knew I knew a few lads in there and knew they'd show me the ropes and it would only be afew months so when the cuffs went on I wasn't too bad. And being young and having no responsibilities it was like just one of those things - got fed, a place to kip and clothes (lovely). Had a few laughs in there too. Biggest things I missed was the beer and my phone.

But second time was for much longer and I did have responsibilities and was a bit older so was a totally different experience. I know a few like me who just do crazy things when we are younger and sort of just growv out of it and realise there is alot more to life than getting in trouble.

But when I got out after that first time I had fallen out with my family and had no work so ened up living in a hostel with some other ex prisoners (and others) and there was nearly worse as had all the temptations of the outside world do not too much of a shock that I started getting into trouble and ended up back inside again.

Without wishing to sound patronising, it's good to read you saw the light, so to speak. Prison seems a vicious cycle to me if people aren't careful, seems very easy to get sucked into that culture and then try and get out of it.

One other thing my wife's cousin did tell me was that they put him in an open prison once and it was worse than the 'normal' ones. The moment he got there, the governor asked him where he came from, then passed him a tenner (or whatever it was) and told him the times the bus went that way. he asked why he'd done that and the fella replied 'Just to say you can go anytime you like, but you won't make it back home before you're lifted and back in Walton'. The lad said it was horrible knowing you could just go at any time, but at the same time couldn't risk it. To be fair, he hung on and managed it, though some used to nip to the off-licence and the night times were quite entertaining, apparently.

 

[dubuy]

Have worked as an officer in various prisons in Dublin for the last 28yrs not nice to work in but the money was pretty good when I joined up as a young lad thank god I though they are very depressing places and its great to have an interest to get away from it all.

 

[Moon bunny]

I visited Maghaberry when I was considering a career in politics. I felt distinctly uncomfortable, in an "I'm a posh bird, come to gloat" way. Even the officers seemed to resent us being there.

 

[Dub30]

Without wishing to sound patronising, it's good to read you saw the light, so to speak. Prison seems a vicious cycle to me if people aren't careful, seems very easy to get sucked into that culture and then try and get out of it.

One other thing my wife's cousin did tell me was that they put him in an open prison once and it was worse than the 'normal' ones. The moment he got there, the governor asked him where he came from, then passed him a tenner (or whatever it was) and told him the times the bus went that way. he asked why he'd done that and the fella replied 'Just to say you can go anytime you like, but you won't make it back home before you're lifted and back in Walton'. The lad said it was horrible knowing you could just go at any time, but at the same time couldn't risk it. To be fair, he hung on and managed it, though some used to nip to the off-licence and the night times were quite entertaining, apparently.

Yeah I suppose I did "see the light" before it was too late, thank f**k. But it did take me two visits. Never got to an open prison but that must be really strange knowing you could leg it if you really wanted to. Not that I would have, lol

Have worked as an officer in various prisons in Dublin for the last 28yrs not nice to work in but the money was pretty good when I joined up as a young lad thank god I though they are very depressing places and its great to have an interest to get away from it all.

Eek I was probably a "customer" then at some point. At least I only got 3 years and it is all behind me. You've done 28 and are still doing your time!!