Going to jail for the first time is a scary experience, no matter who you are. The combination of adrenaline, fear, anxiety, and confusion seemed deafening. Once the cell door is closed, you must begin to master the situation and plan how to survive there. Life in prison is hard and scary, but if you follow the rules and stay out of trouble, you can live it safely without any major incidents.
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Method 1 of 5: Prison Survival
Step 1. Develop the instinct to smell danger
Now you live together with thieves, rapists, murderers and swindlers. It's better to follow your instincts than to ignore them.
- If you feel that something is going to go wrong, don't think about it, just go and find a safe place. Don't try to think rationally in the middle of an irrational place.
- Don't trust first impressions if you feel something strange is going on. In prison what appears is not what actually happens.
- If you don't have a sixth sense yet, you'd better start honing it while in prison. Even insignificant events or signs can harm the environment around you.
Step 2. Respect other inmates
A proverb that must be held in prison is to treat others as you would like to be treated. Avoid using harsh words, being confrontational, and getting into someone's personal boundaries.
- Don't insult anyone's manhood, unless you want to go to a hospital, solitary confinement, or cemetery.
- Don't cut the line at the cafeteria or you'll be interrupted too.
- Stay away from other people's cells unless you are invited to enter. You can also refuse to be invited in.
- Avoid violence unless there is no other way. If you are silent when you are insulted, you are a coward and your life will be more difficult than it is now.
- Be friendly and respect everyone.
Step 3. Avoid getting involved in gangs, drugs, and gambling
There is a myth that it is better to join a gang immediately upon entering prison for protection. But to get protection you have to do terrible things. The facts show that joining a gang, getting into drugs, or participating in gambling are the three behaviors that are most likely to get you killed.
- Most of the fatal victims in prison were gang members. They experienced high rates of stabbing, stabbing, and fighting.
- If you are caught using illegal drugs, you can be held in solitary confinement, extended detention, or transferred to another, more dangerous prison.
- Gambling often ends in a fight in prison, especially if you are in debt. Money in prison can be used to obtain goods or other needs. If you are in debt, you are bound to be approached by your gambling buddies.
Step 4. Avoid entering solitary confinement
While solitary confinement sounds attractive compared to living with the world's most horrific criminals, it is often associated with torture and mental disorders.
- Avoid habits that can make you the center of attention or engage in violence. The two things above are the fastest ways to be sent to solitary confinement. Research shows that if the warden doesn't understand your actions, you could be sent to solitary confinement.
- Each prison has its own rules. Make sure you understand this rule as soon as possible because if you break it you can go straight to solitary confinement.
- Isolation cells are often used as a tool to control gang activity. Therefore, avoid joining gangs or racist groups as they are often targets for being sent to solitary confinement.
Step 5. Survive in solitary confinement
Solitary confinement is a cell whose size doesn't give you much room to move, is separated from other humans, locked up for 23 hours without moving much, and in all likelihood, can cause mental disorders, even for the toughest. If you are in this solitary hell, you have to devise a plan to stay sane.
- Carry out regular brain activity. We all have routines or we do nothing. Do not change all of these routine activities while in solitary confinement. Get up, have breakfast, go to work, have lunch, come home from work, have dinner, watch television or do some other activity, and then go to sleep - do it all in your mind.
- Detail all activities down to the smallest detail. This method can train your brain to keep working and think logically. If you like baseball or soccer, try explaining the sport to a stranger who doesn't know the sport at all. In this way, you must explain and provide examples for each step detail. You can spend your day doing this.
- Build or dismantle something. Think about what you need when buying a house and make a shopping list. Go to the store, buy what you need, and take it to your destination. After that, imagine that you are building a house.
Method 2 of 5: Keeping Healthy
Step 1. Eat healthy
Even if your meal is paid for in tax dollars, your dinner is certainly not chicken and rendang. Generally prison food tastes bland and contains a lot of calories.
- Prison meals can usually be supplemented with food from the cafeteria to add to your menu.
- Many canteens sell foods rich in vitamins and minerals. Try changing your diet once or twice a week with this alternative.
- Drink lots of water and don't get dehydrated.
Step 2. Exercise regularly
There are three exercises you can easily do on the prison floor: stretching, resistance, and aerobics. This exercise will make you strong while maintaining your waistline.
- Time can go faster with exercise.
- Prison is a stressful place and channeling stress through exercise is better than fighting.
- People who are physically fit are less likely to be targeted by violent groups because you are more able to defend yourself.
Step 3. Keep yourself busy with activities
There is plenty of time to do things in prison. Instead of lying down all day in your cell, join in on a sport, play non-violent cards, or join a club.
- Unemployment without activities will only cause problems in prison. Participating in positive activities can distract you.
- Activities can provide encouragement and an opportunity for socialization. You can relieve your fear a little, even if only for a moment.
- Join a basketball, weightlifting, cards, or walking club.
Step 4. Take care of yourself when you are sick
Each prison has its own rules for dealing with sick inmates, but health services in prisons are always as cheap and efficient as possible within the limits of safety and care. Some prisons have their own clinics or hospitals or use local hospitals, depending on the severity of the illness and the medical treatment required.
- If you need medical services in prison, you must make a written request. Once accepted, your request will be processed and given priority.
- Emergency services are available when needed.
- Drug dependence treatment, surgery, prenatal, palliative available when needed.
Method 3 of 5: Staying Sane
Step 1. Read to strengthen the mind
In prisons there are newspapers, magazines, and books on current topics, general knowledge, and education. By reading you can escape to another world outside the prison.
- Knowledge can help you deal with difficult situations while in prison.
- Once free, you can apply the knowledge you gain.
Step 2. Get a diploma
Most prisons offer package courses or lectures for inmates who wish to earn a diploma. You have plenty of time to study. So, why not try to get a diploma?
- Education will help you later after you get out of prison.
- As employers, they want educated employees. The diploma you earned while in prison can provide proof of the education you need to get accepted to work in the outside world.
Step 3. Deal with depression
Prison is not an ideal place for anyone and living in prison can certainly lead to depression. What's more, most prisons are usually overcrowded, boring and disappointing, full of sexual predators that create an environment conducive to depression. In prison you can't necessarily get doctors, counselors, and drugs.
- If you can't get mental health services, try finding a fellow inmate who will listen. It could be that many other inmates suffer from depression just like you.
- Try to focus on your body rather than your thoughts. Exercise can release hormones that help fight stress and depression.
- Avoid using drugs and alcohol because they will make depression worse.
- Eat more vegetables and fruit while cutting back on coffee and sugar.
- Find some close friends so you're not always alone. Perhaps your fellow inmates can provide a positive boost to lift your spirits.
Step 4. Manage emotions
The experience of being imprisoned can make us irritable. Emotions are common in prisons because there is more frustration than solution. So when anger gets out of hand and you explode, that's when the problem gets big.
- Be careful not to be prejudiced. Being prejudiced while in prison can end badly. Never try to read minds. Find out why someone nudged you while you were in line. Mistakes can be fatal.
- Do not apply your rules to other inmates without their knowledge. Usually it starts with a statement like this: "He should be…"
- Many inmates claim privacy rights that must be respected by other inmates. If you violate their fictitious rights, you must be prepared to defend yourself.
- The more you "generalize" something, the angrier you will become. For example, if you're constantly complaining that you're "always" ostracized or "never" taken seriously, you'll get even angrier.
- Try not to think in black and white. In prison, you can last longer if you understand that there are many gray areas. Not everyone is really good and really bad.
Method 4 of 5: Understanding the Rules
Step 1. Don't trust anyone
This applies to everything including inmates, wardens, and other prison staff. Remember, nothing is free in prison.
- Always be skeptical if someone is nice to you. Ask yourself, "What's in it for them?" Since most inmates understand the "trust no one" rule, it's certain that the person approaching you has some motive.
- You can talk to the warden or prison staff, but be careful because anything and everything you say, no matter how trivial, can be used against you.
- Jail wardens will not protect you and even if they protect you, you still have to go back to your cell and everyone knows you live there. You'd better keep your mouth shut not to say what you know about other inmates.
- The most important thing is to believe in yourself. After all, you can only believe in yourself while in prison.
Step 2. Don't show your feelings
This may seem easier said than done, but try not to express fear, anger, pleasure, or pain. Other inmates will take advantage of your feelings. Simply put, feelings are your greatest enemy because they reveal weaknesses that inmates and guards can use against you.
- Since most inmates are bored, they have plenty of time to apply their manipulation abilities to attack you. They will provoke your anger and destroy your happiness.
- Always remember that prison wardens and staff are always right and they are never on your side. In other words, be nice and respectful to them to keep them away from you.
- Avoid challenging or intimidating inmates, wardens, or prison staff. Whether you are right or wrong, you will always be the victim.
Step 3. Don't stare at other people
No matter where you are, staring at other people is disrespectful. Usually it won't get you into trouble, unless you're in prison. When you walk in prison, keep your eyes straight ahead and don't stare because you can be misunderstood.
- Don't stare, but don't walk with your head down either because you could run into other people, creating a whole new set of problems for you.
- In general, staring can mean two things, sexual attraction or hostility. As you can imagine, don't let these two happen in prison.
Step 4. Don't complain
If you want your life to be really hard, report other inmates' offenses to the warden. You could end up being beaten almost to death. You better see and hear everything, but keep it to your heart.
- If you are suddenly asked by the warden about an incident, pretend you have other things to do and never answer their questions.
- Be careful where and how you talk to the jailer. If you seem discreet or seem overly friendly, people may think you're complaining. In other words, it was better to avoid talking to any prison staff.
- Not only the inmates, the wardens also hate complainants. If you ever make trouble for a warden, your name will be leaked as a snitch to your enemies, right or wrong.
Step 5. Respect the warden of the prison
You inevitably have to have respect and disdain for wardens and prison staff. They control everything and the decision is in their hands. If you clash with a warden, they can become your biggest enemy in prison.
- Prison has its own rules of the game. Under this rule the prison guards will not hesitate to use you as a victim.
- Be good at choosing who you talk to and what you say. Anything you tell the warden can be used to hurt, manipulate, or betray you, no matter how small.
- Avoid discussing religion, politics, race, and personal feelings. These topics can easily get into trouble, if the conversation goes in the wrong direction.
Method 5 of 5: Communicating with Your Family
Step 1. Write letters and make calls
Both are the most important means of communication both inside and outside the prison. Communication will be an important bridge for you and your family.
- Stay in touch with your family and friends. This will give you hope and maintain a sense of normal life while you are being held.
- Connecting with friends and family will motivate you to do whatever it takes to see them again.
Step 2. Don't neglect your role
If you are a father, husband, mother, or wife, try to maintain that role in the family while you are in prison.
- Make it easy for your spouse and children to communicate with you and talk as much as you can about your family life on the phone and in the mail.
- Trust your family. Don't let the failures around you affect how you feel and treat your family members.
- Ignore the little things and look at the big picture. If you get angry and "silence" your wife, you may end up shutting each other out forever.
- Make your child, if you already have children, as a uniter not a family breaker. Don't make them take sides and make sure you will do whatever it takes to encourage and support their cause.
- Be polite and don't be afraid to apologize if you're wrong. You were wrong when you went to jail.
Step 3. Make the most of every visit
A family visit can be a time to reconnect and talk about everyday events or a disappointment if you let the little things get in the way.
- Remember that your family made sacrifices when you went to prison. If your prison is far from home, your family will have to travel, stay, and buy food just to see you.
- Your family will have to deal with troublesome checks, long lines, unpleasant treatment from prison staff, and other embarrassing procedures. Make sure you show your appreciation for their efforts.
- Even though you are suffering a lot in prison, understand that your family is also in shock and they may not want to listen to your complaints. Focus on family and problems in the family during the visit.
- Do not let you lose touch with your child. They grow up fast, their preferences change, and they are also stressed because their parents are in prison. As much as possible look for common interests between you and do not lose contact with them.
- Follow their activities and give them advice, always ask for a recent photo, and share their successes and failures. You are their parent just like any other parent.
