Prison Life in American Institutions

Prison life is one that is mysterious in its own nature because everywhere an offender goes it is different but the same. There are rules and codes in which offenders follow that are not written or posted. The correctional facility itself has their own rules and policies and so do the offenders. We can think of prison life full of offender etiquette. The life of an offender is very strange full of secrets and untold stories.

When offenders make a trip to a jail they are being prepared for prison life and in a sense they must keep quiet and watch. Prison life consists of politics and watching other people all day long. Given a length of time offenders learn laws, rules, inmate procedures and most importantly the jobs of every employee around. When I started working in a correctional facility I learned very quickly just how fast something can go wrong.

Offenders are often pressured into gangs or other affiliations without being able to tell staff of the situation. It is in the secret code within prison life that makes their lives much harder and that is not to tell on others. Prison life is set upon seniority first and foremost because it is said that the person who has the longest time served is well experienced and should be looked up to as a leader or advisor.

When a fresh offender enters prison life he or she may not know that they have been placed through so many tests before they even make it to the facility. Usually it all start at the county jail or detention facility and mainly they are tested to see what would become of them. Every offender that has habitually entered the system knows what it is all about. New offenders should keep quiet and to themselves and more than likely they will be ok but it is until that person comes around to start trouble, and believe me it will happen. A new person does not necessarily need to beat up the biggest person around but should be on his or her p's and q's. Other offenders are always watching to see who makes movement, in this business it is all about rank and watching each other.

Prison life can be very tough for a new person but is second nature for conn's. One thing that must be understood that there is a difference between a conn and inmate. A conn has done time in and out for many years, understands the business, and does not make any movements that are rash as well as commit offenses while incarcerated. Inmates often commit offenses, are mouthy and do not have regard for anyone else, this simply signifies that they are weak and cannot be trusted.