A guide to surviving prison or preparing yourself to go to prison, with
tips on staying safe, prison
etiquette, how to deal with guards
and other prisoners, how to get
involved in organising and struggle,
and more.
Introduction
Imprisonment
as a form of punishment can be traced back to
Greek times, but until relatively recently
long-term incarceration was extremely rare, only
flourishing in modern times after transportation
to 'the colonies' became unviable (in no small
part due to the American Revolution)
Traditionally, those that
offended against society were punished publicly,
generally in the most brutal way, from the
stocks to the gibbet. Public executions, often
with attendant torture and/or mutilation, were
the norm in this country until the 17th century.
Even when they were abolished it was not out of
any sense of decency or humanity, but according
to the Oxford History of the Prison, because
they had "become the occasion of rowdiness and
disgust - both because the crowd had begun to
identify with the victim, not the executioner,
and because the spectacle had become revolting,
offending a new sensibility about pain and
bodily integrity. Thus, it became desirable to
mete out punishment away from the public gaze."
Today, prison is still very
much a closed world, and while within the past
two decades TV cameras have occasionally been
able to show a very limited view of life behind
bars, they rarely capture anything more than
that which the authorities wish them to see. The
true misery of imprisonment is deliberately kept
secret from the general public, while the
right-wing press and unscrupulous politicians
conspire to present a picture of cushy 'holiday
camps' and 'health farms'. The prison
authorities do everything within their power
(legal and illegal) to prevent investigative
journalists having contact with prisoners and
vice-versa, while Michael Howard and Jack Straw
imposed a ban preventing visiting journalists
reporting anything at all. Though the ban has
subsequently been deemed unlawful, the vast
majority of journalists are so lazy, cowardly,
and/or clueless that it might as well still be
in place.
With the British prison
population currently growing at a rate of four
hundred a week, and New Labour's draconian
policies criminalising dissent, as a political
activist it is more likely that you will see the
inside of a prison cell than at any time in
recent history. For those committed to the
overthrow of the state, imprisonment has to be
seen as an occupational hazard, and as such it's
better to consider it beforehand, rather than
when it's too late.
During my life I've spent
time in over 20 British prisons (plus at least a
dozen more I've visited or 'stopped over' at)
including local prisons, remand centres,
long-term Category B prisons, all Britain's
maximum security dispersal prisons, a couple of
Category A units and 16 segregation units. I've
been around a bit, but I've never been anywhere
near a low security or 'open' prison, and though
I correspond with a number of women prisoners,
I've obviously never been held in a women's
prison. So while I think I'm pretty well
qualified to talk about the prison experience,
there are limits to what I know, and inevitably
this piece reflects that.
Preparing for prison
If you know you're going to be imprisoned, at
least that gives you a head start. Maybe you can
even talk to someone who's been in your local
nick, and who knows the rules and can give you
an idea what to expect. The 'unknown' is the
scariest thing of all, isn't it? Prison is the
worst thing our society has.
The most common fear,
certainly among men, seems to be that if they
get locked up they'll 'have to go in the showers
with Mr. Big.' Forget that - predatory
homosexuality is as rare in British prisons as
malt whisky, in fact in some prisons it's a
great deal rarer. There's probably more chance
of you being raped or sexually assaulted
'outside' than in here. I have never actually
come across a single occurrence.
Then there's the fear of
non-sexual violence - are you going to be locked
up with a load of thugs and psychopaths who'll
cut your throat as soon as look at you? Again,
this is largely exaggerated, but violence does
exist in prison. However, it's a relatively
simple matter to minimise the likelihood of
being attacked. In my experience there's far
less random violence in prison than in wider
society. I was in an adult long-term prison at
19, and the only time I've ever been attacked it
was by the screws.
Staying safe comes down to
basics. Stay alert and learn some manners -
prison is a close environment containing too
many people, so manners are extra important. Be
polite to people, treat them with mutual
respect, don't be nosy or impinge on their
limited personal space, never borrow things
without asking, don't boast or bullshit, never
grass anyone up, and even more importantly,
avoid drugs (heroin) and stay away from junkies.
When I was at Full Sutton in 1996, there was an
average of one stabbing a week, but almost all
of them were related to smack.
While adult prisons,
particularly long-term ones, tend to be a fairly
mature environment, 'Young Offenders
Institutions' (for those under 21) can be
different, and violence less easy to avoid. The
general advice still applies though - be
assertive not aggressive, but don't let people
take liberties with you, and if necessary be
prepared to fight. Some self defence training
may give you an edge, but be warned that prison
fights are always dirty - you can expect to be
bitten, scalded, stabbed, coshed, and/or
attacked by multiple assailants. Attacks are
likely to take place in the showers or when the
victim is still in bed.
In reality, it's not other
prisoners you should be worried about, they will
become your friends and comrades. In the harsh
prison environment bonds will be forged that can
last a lifetime. Your problems will come from
the system, and from the screws, particularly if
you're a person of integrity. From the very
first moment you enter prison your principles,
your sense of selfhood, and your very humanity
will be under attack. If you are to survive
unbroken, you must resist all attempts to turn
you into a numbered, subjugated, compliant piece
of jail-fodder, a 'Stepford Prisoner' who has
had their spine and brain removed. You are,
after all, not just an individual, but a member
of a movement, and those that come after you
will be judged by how you behave.
Unfortunately, for those of
you entering prison today, the level of
political consciousness among British prisoners
is at the lowest point for many years. Divide
and rule scams like the loathsome 'Incentives
and Earned Privileges' scheme have undermined
solidarity, and in-cell TVs and heroin have
helped a culture of selfishness to develop. You
will hear people come out with things like, "I
can't afford to get involved" or "I've done my
bit" or "I just want to get out." Ignore these
wankers, they're just trying to justify their
own cowardice. Everybody wants to get out of
these rotten places, but how do you want to get
out - on your feet or on your knees? Resistance
and solidarity will always exist within prisons,
and if you have anything about you at all, your
place is with that resistance, not with the
grovellers and forelock-tuggers who shit on
their fellow cons in the foolish belief that
they can make a comfortable life for themselves
in here.
Prison Receptions, the entry
point into any jail (unless you go straight to
the punishment block - the segregation unit),
have changed a lot since the days when you were
very likely to be met with a beating, but they
are still inevitably an unpleasant experience.
It is here that your prison file will be opened,
that you will be given a number, where strangers
will begin to address you by your surname only,
where others will decide what clothes you can
wear and what possessions you can have, and
where you will receive your first strip-search.
It is in Reception that the battle begins.
The first Prison Reception I
was ever in was at Canterbury in 1980. There
were certainly worse places back then, but there
were still some vicious screws working there. In
every nick in the country they used to read you
a little speech at Reception, part of which
went, "You will call all prison officers 'Sir'."
So it didn't take long for my first
confrontation to come, I would not, and will
not, be forced to call anyone 'Sir'. Nor was I
prepared to substitute 'boss' or 'guv'nor' as
was acceptable in some prisons. Like a lot of
principles it's ostensibly a small thing, it
would be so easy to compromise, especially when
almost everyone else does, but what are we
without principles? Once you start abandoning
them for the sake of convenience, who's to say
where it will end? I remember a few years ago
when I was forced onto a blanket protest at
Durham. Having failed to intimidate and bully me
into putting on the prison clothes, the screws
tried persuasion - "You're alone down here in
the punishment block, away from your mates,
nobody will even know you've put them on." But
I'd have known, and the screws would have known,
and that was enough.
Today there's no longer an
obligation to call your captors 'Sir', and many
nicks no longer require you to wear prison
clothes, but your integrity will still be
tested, and you will have to struggle to retain
it. Relinquish it, and I imagine prison will
have far more of a lasting effect on you than if
you spend the whole of your sentence in the
block.
Screws often behave like
playground bullies and when you come into a new
nick, they'll try it on to see how much they can
get away with. A classic example is to try to
get you to 'squat' or bend over during a
strip-search - tell them to fuck off. Every
prison has its own rules about what you can and
can't have, and they change constantly, but if
you know you're getting sent down you can still
try to be prepared. Often, little can be sent in
after you're imprisoned, so have anything you
need and might be able to have with you. Most
prisons allow you to wear your own training
shoes these days, so get yourself a good sturdy
pair. Prisoners generally wear sports clothes,
which are easily cared for, avoid black and dark
blue colours which aren't always allowed, and go
for cotton fabrics that will survive the prison
laundry. A radio or small stereo will be useful,
as will one or two books, and some basic
stationery. A watch is more or less essential,
ideally get one that doesn't require batteries,
is tough and waterproof (so you can wear it in
the shower), but not unduly expensive or
ostentatious. While highly desirable, food and
drink and toiletries won't be allowed. If you
smoke (and it's a big advantage not to), you may
be permitted to keep a small amount of tobacco.
Make sure you have cash with you, so that you
can buy phonecards and other items you need from
the prison shop.
There was a time when every
cell contained a copy of the prison rules, and
prisoners were required to read them. Now the
prison authorities generally do their best to
keep them secret, because they are so regularly
broken. You will find it useful to consult the
Prison Rules and Standing Orders, which outline
your few rights and entitlements, and they
should be available in the prison library. The
Prison Service also publishes its own
information booklets, but the contents are very
selective. If you have difficulty getting hold
of a copy of the rules, or think you are not
getting what you're entitled to, as regards diet
or exercise for example, either contact your
solicitor or the Prisoners Advice Service at the
address given elsewhere in this section.
Prisoners' letters are generally censored, and
so have to be handed in or posted with the
envelopes unsealed. However, you may write to a
solicitor or the Prisoners Advice Service in
confidence under Prison Rule 39. Contrary to
what you may be told, you do not have to allow a
member of staff to seal the envelope for you,
and if you do not have stamps you can ask for a
'Special Letter', which should be sent at public
expense. Simply seal the envelope, write your
name and 'Rule 39' on the back, and hand it in
or post it in the box provided.
There is a good deal of
variation in prison architecture, from the
ancient cathedrals of human misery to the stark
modern control-units. The accommodation parts of
prisons are known as 'wings' or 'houseblocks',
and they generally have cells on 'landings' or
'spurs' on more than one level, known as 'the
ones', 'the twos' etc. Most modern prison cells
are approximately 7ft x 11ft, but some are a
good deal smaller, and in some prisons each cell
may contain 2, or even 3 prisoners. Personally,
I am not prepared to share a space that small
with another person, and if necessary will opt
for a single cell in the block. Prisoners are
having to spend more time locked in their cells
than for many years, but you should not be
'banged up' for more than 23 hours at a time.
Prison really is a bizarre
institution to come into, and it'll take you a
while to get used to it. Humans are an adaptable
species though, and within a few weeks you'll
probably find you're cracking on like an old
lag. If you're on remand though, this can be a
time when you fuck up, and it's something I
always warn people about. Time is different in
jail and particularly when you're first locked
up, a couple of days can seem like a month. It's
a harsh environment, and you'll be spending a
lot of time with the same people. Many of these
will turn out to be good friends, but always try
to bear in mind that in reality, you've known
them for days or weeks, not years, and that not
everyone in jail tells the truth about
themselves. In particular, be wary about
discussing the details of your case with those
you hardly know - too many people wind up in
court with former cell-mates giving evidence
against them. Also be careful about giving out
your home address or personal details until you
know your new friends a lot better.
There's a thousand scams and
tricks in jail - cons are extremely inventive
people and are always one step ahead of the
screws. As you pick up your jail-craft, you'll
learn everything from how to pass a cigarette
from one end of the wing to the other, how to
make prison 'hooch' without yeast, how to make
weapons out of next to nothing, how to defeat
electronic door systems, how to make a cup of
tea without a kettle, and all sorts of other
survival skills. When you first get locked up,
you'll doubt that you could last more than week
in this environment, but in all likelihood you
will, and will even share in the gallows humour
endemic to this otherwise joyless existence.
The human spirit can flourish
and triumph in the face of the darkest
adversity, but I'm not going to tell you that
prisons are anything other than utterly rotten
places, particularly for those of us who have to
endure year after year of long-term
imprisonment. Prison kills you physically and
psychologically - it's a living death, like
being buried alive. I once read about a Native
American woman who suddenly woke up from a coma
as if from sleep. She wanted to know where her
husband and her children were, but she'd been
unconscious so long her husband had remarried
and her children grown up. It's a tragic story,
but at least she didn't have the slow torture of
having to watch, helpless, as her life slipped
away from her, together with everything she
cared about. That's how it is for most long-term
prisoners, and many lose their families, homes,
jobs, savings, and possessions even before their
cases come to trial. Hang onto your integrity,
because when the system's finished with you and
spits you back out on the street, it may be all
you have left.
But hey, nobody said it was
going to be easy - if it was easy they wouldn't
call it 'struggle' would they? As political
activists we're the lucky ones in here, given a
rare opportunity to get inside the machine and
act like a virus. As an activist, you're not
locked up to take a holiday - there's a real
struggle to be fought in here, so keep militant
and get involved...
By Mark Barnsley, Whitemoor Prison, England
More notes on surviving
prison
Britain has the largest prison population per
capita in Europe and if the government has its
way it'll carry on growing! More and more people
are likely to do time for crimes they did or
didn't commit, partly because the state is
always creating more + more laws that we can
break, especially laws criminalising political
protest. The fear of prison is one of the
state's ultimate deterrents to stifle dissent
and protect the ruling classes from the wrath
and poverty of the masses. This deterrent only
works as effectively as we are fearful of it,
and this is an attempt to dispel some of the
fears and myths that surround prison.
Experiences of prison can
vary greatly from person to person and from
prison to prison. Obviously there's a big
difference between a short stay and a long
stretch, not so much on the experience while
there but mentally it can be harder to remain
unaffected, and will take longer to re-adjust to
the outside world as it will have changed more,
and old skills will have to be remembered. Being
in prison on remand can be mentally and
emotionally taxing, because of the uncertainty
regarding length of sentence, and the stress of
an approaching court case, etc. Women's prisons
are also quite different, not only are you
likely to be further from friends and family
because of the scarcity of women’s' prisons but
my women are in for gender/poverty related in a
way that men aren't, basically because most
coppers/judges are male chauvinists. Category
‘A’ prisoners (high security) also have less
privileges than Category ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’
respectively. It should be remembered worldwide,
British prisons have a reputation for being soft
compared to elsewhere especially outside of
Europe.
If you know in advance that
you're going to be going inside it's helpful to
talk to others with experience of prison. It's
good to tie up any loose ends regarding family,
housing, money, support before you go in. Also
get a few good reading books together!
This section is aimed mostly
at those who do time for political 'crimes' or
crimes(?) of conscience although it can apply to
anyone. Some political activists see going to
prison as a natural extension of direct action.
Political prisoners have the advantage of being
part of a wider movement, which can offer
practical support and boost moral. Having a good
understanding of why you are there can give a
degree of inner strength, calm and confidence
and so from this perspective prison can be an
empowering experience, and can also be somewhat
amusing at times as well!
Most folk on knowing they're
about to go down have a flood of varied emotions
and/or passing attacks of anxiety and fear. It
can feel like the whole weight of the world is
falling upon your head.
with the threat of prison
hanging over my head I try and find out as
much as I possibly can about the prison I am
likely to be sent to... I worry about what
the other prisoners are like; will I fit in?
How much stuff I can take with me? Will I be
on my own or sharing? When I arrive
different questions become a problem: where
do I go to eat, to shower, where is
everything, this place is big. After you
come out of prison, take a holiday, or rest,
to give yourself time to adjust to being out
again and having space to move about. Give
yourself time and tell others how you are
feeling.
"Prisons and prison experiences vary
enormously.. the first time I went to a
British prison was one of the most hellish
weeks of my life: I was beaten up by the
guards, denied a vegan diet, taken before
the governor three times (and threatened
with everything from the punishment block to
the psychiatric wing) and put in a cell with
someone in for murder and someone in for
manslaughter. In contrast, much of my five
months in another prison was a leisurely
rest - badminton, jogging, table tennis,
evening classes, my own cell, passable vegan
food, friendly enough screws
I had sort of expected I
was going to prison and actually felt quite
prepared and calm. As the prison van pulled
up at the gates I felt a strange sort of
excitement mixed with a bit of nervousness
and uncertainty. I found it fairly easy to
settle in after the initial 'crikey! I'm in
prison' type feelings. Getting used to the
regime can be a bit hard - so many rules.
When your life is totally in the hands of
authoritarians you just have to adapt and
get used to it, and know that they can’t
confine your thoughts or hold your true
freedom. It's important to use the time well
with things to focus your mind. There lots
of potential for self development and
learning from people of different
backgrounds. I really benefited from doing
lots of meditation and tai chi, which helped
me keep calm, especially when dealing with
some of the screws who would try and draw me
into confrontation because of my beliefs
However the reality is a lot
easier than the fears, and when you start
meeting the other cons you realise most of them
are just ordinary enough people brought here by
unfortunate circumstances, rather than the
social monsters the government and media would
have you believe. Obviously there are some
nutters but they aren’t that common, and let’s
face it there are plenty of nutters on the
outside as well! Very few people are looking for
a fight because that can mean time in solitary
and less parole, so if you're not looking for
trouble you're unlikely to find it. If you try
and act hard, someone's going to challenge you,
so just be yourself and be calmly confident,
and, keep a good sense of humour!
Political prisoners tend to
get a fair bit of respect in prison, if not a
few strange looks for having somewhat alien
beliefs. Most trouble in prison is over drugs
and addictions (including tobacco) and bullying
to get them when personal supplies run low (the
prison shop's only open once/twice a week and
everyone's skint anyway)... Time to give up?
Sometimes, especially if it's obviously your
first time inside, you may find yourself
challenged in some way by other prisoners, as a
kind of test of strength which as long as you
stand your ground in a calm but confident
manner, will generally pass off without
incident. Backing down to any threats or
bullying leaves you wide open for abuse and
bullying later if you become seen as an easy
victim, so stand your ground. It's pretty
similar to school playground philosophy really.
An open mind and a bit of
common respect can go a long way in prison
meeting half-way the many different lives,
experiences and expectations that you'll meet
there. It can be a time of 1earning and an
insight into the inner workings of Babylon, both
in the oppressive and overly bureaucratic
organisation of prison and in the inmates
themselves, most of whom are in for some kind of
poverty (class) related crime. Prison can be a
lonely place, it is designed to isolate.
Communication and solidarity is essential, both
with other inmates and with the outside world as
well. Political prisoners usually get a lot of
support correspondence from the wider movement,
this gives a big boost to morale and in some
cases can be a lifeline (make sure they know
you're there - see contacts below) It also makes
a prisoner feel less anonymous, less of a number
in a system to be pushed about.
Adapting to prison regime can
be strange (if not interesting)... it's a
culture unto itself- so many new rules and
regulations, new behaviour norms, respective
routines, social hierarchies, different
language. You can expect some overcrowding,
frustrating and irritating levels of noise and
distraction and little personal space or
privacy. It may be difficult to sleep properly,
radios blaring, bars, loud arguments etc. Food
will be starchy and dull. You will learn to
wait...for a phone call, a shower, a meal, the
answer to a question even the time of day. Time
can become distorted, days will slip by but each
hour could seem like an eternity. Focusing your
mind on something like a campaign, reading,
studying, drawing, yoga etc. can be a great help
in dealing with the monotony and stresses of
prison life.
Different diets can be
catered for upon request although you are only
guaranteed a vegan diet if you're a member of
the Vegan society before getting sent down. Some
progress has been made recently on getting GMO-free
diets, although such decisions (as are most
decisions regarding personal welfare) are at the
arbitrary discretion of the individual prison
Governor. Visits and the sending of books, money
stereos, what you can and can't send in/out
varies greatly from prison to prison so check
with the Prison Visitor Centre concerned. The
screws are generally alright, if not a bit
uptight, with a predisposition towards having
authoritarian fantasies. Their prime concern is
to preserve order through obedience and
submission. However you don't have to indulge
them in this fantasy and as long as you don't
take the piss they generally leave you alone.
Let them be responsible for keeping order while
you stay responsible for keeping your
conscience.
A sense of humour goes a long
way in dealing with the daily routine of being
inside, and a smile can disarm all but the
meanest screws and cons. Sometimes it's hard not
to laugh at those in authority when they take
themselves far too seriously especially if their
authority and power in not having the desired
effect on you. Just because your body is behind
bars doesn't mean you've got turn in your
conscience or convictions with all your other
belongings at the gate. Whether in prison or
not, the freedom we enjoy is the freedom we
claim for ourselves, and while the body can be
incarcerated the spirit is as free as it wishes.
Being in prison can be an incredibly empowering
experience by bringing this message home.
When you come out, give
yourself time to adjust. If you've been in for a
while, take it easy, it can take a while to
psychologically adjust to looking after yourself
again - cooking, cleaning, socialising. Tell
friends how you're feeling and above all keep
smiling, ‘cos there’s nothing you can't laugh
at...
From the
UHC Collective website