You will become the property of the Bureau of Prisons if you are sentenced to federal prison.If you are given a federal sentence, it is likely that you will spend several years behind bars, but if you know what to expect, your life in prison will be much easier.If you want to know how to survive in prison, follow these steps.
Step 1: Put your tongue in your mouth.
You will be handed over to the U.S. if the judge doesn't allow you to self-surrender.The marshals service.Do not allow a marshal to listen to a conversation about your case or anything else.Even if you can't say anything, nothing will make the situation any better and it might even make things worse.Keep your mouth shut as much as possible because anything you say can be used against you.
Step 2: If you have time, be sure to take advantage of any medical care outside of prison.
Outside of prison, the choice and quality of care are better.It's possible that some treatments you take for granted won't be as good in prison.Where else are you going to get your teeth fixed if you don't like the prison dentist?Before you self-surrender and get anything important fixed, you should have a dental check-up.If you need new glasses, you may want to have an eye exam.Outside prison, you have a better choice of glasses and frames.If you have time before prison, you should get a check-up or address any medical issues you've been having.It is better to get medical attention before you are locked up.
Step 3: Line up some books.
Most federal prisons allow magazines and books to be sent to inmates if they are sent directly from the publisher or retailer.If you know which prison you're going to be in, you can take out a subscription to magazines or books from Amazon.Before you self-surrender, do this a couple of days.Give your friends and family a shopping list of books and magazines to order.You have to make your selections before you enter a prison.Being prepared to read material as soon as you're allowed to can help you feel less lonely and more comforted when you begin your sentence, even though choosing reading material may be the last thing on your mind before you start your time in federal prison.
Step 4: If you are sent to a prison camp, keep your guard up.
You may be sent to a hold-over facility if you are placed in transit to prison.You may be sent to a low, medium, or high-level prison.The living conditions in these facilities are not ideal, such as being placed in a two-man cell with up to three other inmates for 23 hours a day, being allowed out to rec in an enclosed area for one hour, and only being able to shower once a week.You should be prepared for the extreme conditions you may face.Be careful during this time.You will be with other people who are in a state of uncertainty and more likely to be volatile than they are once they get settled into the prison routine.
Step 5: Know the rules.
Try to find out as much as possible about how the system works in the prison you will be living in.You should read the official rule book for the prison.It's possible to be punished for breaking a rule that you didn't know existed.Inmates as well as personnel will be affected by breaking the rules.It makes life harder for everyone.Ignorance of the rules is not a defense.Information has power.
Step 6: Before entering a federal prison, you should learn as much as you can about the life there.
The Bureau of Prisons provides some basic information about life in prison, but books like the Federal Prison Handbook and certain websites can help you prepare.You should know what kind of prison you will be sent to first.There is a big difference between a minimum security prison and a Supermax prison.
Step 7: You can bring the maximum amount of money with you to prison.
You can have a certain amount of money.The money will be used to buy supplies.Money is put on your books.Money is needed for supplies such as stamps, envelopes, snacks, and hygiene supplies.Cash won't be needed; it will be taken away.Money orders from the US Postal Service are accepted in all prisons.Don't let anyone know that you have money.Pretend to be poor and penniless.There is no danger of other prisoners trying to extort money from you.
Step 8: Don't trust anyone, that's for sure.
For guards, other prison officials, and the person in the cell next door.Do you know what's in someone being nice to you?They have some hidden motives that you don't know about.If you get a loan from someone in prison, you will have to pay it back with a high rate of interest.If you can't pay, they may demand a favor that could get you into trouble, such as hiding in your cell.
Step 9: You should hide your emotions.
Do not show fear, anger, or happiness if you want to look tough.Emotions reveal your weaknesses.Weaklings are preyed on by both inmates and guards.Don't give them the chance to do it.If someone can figure out what makes you angry, that knowledge can be used to manipulate you.If someone knows what makes you happy, they can ruin it for you.They have a lot of opportunities to test their skills on you.
Step 10: Make use of your friends.
Don't be friendly with your cellmates, but ask some questions.Some people who have been in prison before will be able to give you information about the prison and the system.You will have to decide if you believe the information.If you use common sense, you can figure out if the person has a reason to lie.Some convicts will try to intimidate new inmates.Be careful.
Step 11: You should choose your words with care.
Anything you say to guards or prisoners, no matter how innocent you think it is, can be used to hurt you, manipulate you or be taken out of context.Discuss topics that are dangerous.It can get you into trouble.Religion, politics, racial issues, or your own personal feelings about someone are obvious subjects to steer clear of.People doing time with you shouldn't be referred to as inmates.Some of the prisoners you'll see may be mentally ill, have a short temper, or just plain bad.They look like regular guys, even though they don't have a warning on their forehead.You can be misinterpreted by someone who is trying to cause trouble.A small argument over a trivial issue can turn into a strong personal vendetta against you.Don't be afraid.The prisoner who tells you that gay or black people are like everyone else is just testing your attitude or yanking your chain, so be aware that things may not be what you think.
Step 12: You should always be respectful to guards and other prison employees.
They can make your life even harder if you give them a reason to hate you.It's true that some prison employees are better than others, but never forget who you are on their side.The staff are always right and you need to do what they say.If you have a problem with something, you can always address it later.If you are a server in the kitchen and a staff foreman tells you to clean the dining room tables, the best thing to do is just clean them.If you do anything that makes staff feel challenged or intimidated, they will make you pay for it.
Step 13: Don't look at the other prisoners.
The other person can completely misinterpret your interest in them.In prison, if someone stares at you, it usually means they don't like you.It is possible to show sexual interest by staring.It's okay to look at people, but not to stare at them.Don't stare into the other prisoners' cells when you're walking to your cell.This can get you in a lot of trouble.
Step 14: Don't snitch.
People who tell stories to the guards can be attacked.In prison, the best thing to do is to see everything, hear everything and not say anything.If a guard asks you about an incident involving other prisoners, claim that you were looking the other way and didn't notice or hear anything.It's likely that the staff will understand that you aren't willing to snitch.Other prisoners could assume that you are a snitch if you get along well with prison staff.If you talk to prison staff more than necessary, other inmates won't see it that way.
Step 15: Don't ask the staff to solve your problem.
If you go to the staff for help with issues you may have, you will have problems with inmates.If you go to staff with a problem, the only thing they can do is put you in the SHU as a protective custody inmate, and that will cause you trouble throughout your entire incarceration.You're stuck between the staff and inmates if you complain to them.Try to get used to the fact that you don't have a lot of rights in prison.
Step 16: If you want to be placed in the SHU, you must be in extreme circumstances.
When fights occur in prison, the participants may be placed in a segregation unit or moved to a higher level of confinement, but it is extremely rare for them to be charged with a crime.The system severely restricts your legal rights in prison.They don't want anyone to make waves.If you make waves quickly, prison employees will punish you more than they will help you.Sometimes the punishment is official, in other cases it will be more subtle, such as "forgetting" or "misplacing" something that you need.You can always ask to be put in the hole.The hole is not pleasant, but it is safe.If you go to the SHU you'll spend most of your time locked inside a cell, so don't ask for this kind of protection unless you fear for your life.
Step 17: Don't join a prison gang.
Prison gangs are very different from the outside world and are much more prevalent.Don't join a gang, gang members are soldiers, and gang leaders demand absolute loyalty.If you join a gang, you may be ordered to do something that will keep you in prison a long time, and if you don't, there's only one way to quit a prison gang: to die.All prison gangs are separated by their race.The Mexican Mafia (Mexicans), the Black Guerilla Family (African-American), and theMS-13 (Honduran/Guatemalan/Nicaraguan) are some of the gangs.There are lots of different divisions.
Step 18: You should show your support to your race.
It's important to show your loyalty to your race in the prison system, but you don't have to join a gang to do it.It doesn't mean that you can link up with your homeboys in prison if you are a 19-year-old white suburbanite who used to buy the drugs from them.If you walk up to the brothers with high fives and then shake hands with the white guys, you're going to cause a divide in the community.You don't have to get a swastika or "Blood for Life" tattooed on your chest.It means whichever race you are associated with, you look for them first and introduce yourself.You have to know the inmates of your race first.Especially the important figures within your race.You can be friendly with people of other races after that.Some people look after their own in prison.This is not the time to be colorblind.
Step 19: You should seek out people from your hometown.
Most federal facilities have inmates from all over the country.You can do a search before turning yourself in.To find out if you know anyone or where their home state is, you'll be able to look through the prison inmate listing.When you get to your facility, you need to find other inmates who are from your city or state; these are your " home boys" and they will usually help you with things you have an immediate need for, such as basic hygiene items and shoes.If there is anything wrong with you or your case, your homeboys will probably be the ones to confront you.They think you deserve something.
Step 20: Don't allow the other prisoners to take over your personal space.
If you allow others to get too close to you for comfort, they will keep getting closer and you will be tested.Don't reach over someone else's plate at the mess hall for the pepper, salt, or anything else.You will look like a pushover if you allow others to reach over your plate.When someone is in prison, their personal possessions are very important.Unless he tells you it's ok to do it, never borrow or use something that belongs to another prisoner.Touching someone's possessions without their permission is against the law.
Step 21: The new rules are new to you.
The normal rules of the outside world don't apply anymore.When you're in prison, all that matters to you is surviving the experience with as little damage as possible.