Entering prison is like stepping into a world with its own set of unwritten rules and social codes, and knowing and adhering to these rules can be crucial for maintaining safety and respect. So, if you want to know how to make your (hypothetical) time in jail a little easier, here are 19 essential rules that every inmate must follow in prison.
Understand Gang Territories
Rule number one: it’s important to understand that gangs control specific areas in many prisons. Knowing and respecting each gang's specific territories can help you avoid stepping on the wrong toes and getting into trouble.
Stay Alert
Always be aware of your surroundings because in prison, there are a lot of dangerous people who might not always have good intentions, and as a “newbie,” it’s likely that someone might try to “test you.” Staying alert can help you avoid potential conflicts and stay safe in a volatile environment.
Mind Your Own Business
Keeping to yourself is a key survival tactic in prison. Avoid getting involved in other inmates' affairs or conflicts, as meddling can lead to dangerous situations.
Maintain Good Hygiene
Personal hygiene is non-negotiable in prison, and inmates are expected to shower regularly, keep their living areas clean, and maintain overall cleanliness to prevent illness and disease.
Respect Rest Times
Sleep is precious in prison, so avoid making noise or waking someone up unless necessary. Disturbing others' rest can lead to conflict and have potentially serious consequences.
Respect Personal Space
Personal space is scarce in prison, making it essential to respect others' private areas. People in prison don’t have much space or time for themselves, so what little space they do have, they are fiercely protective of. Entering another inmate's cell without knocking can be seen as a sign of disrespect, so make sure that you always knock before entering other living quarters, as uninvited entry can lead to confrontations and even violence.
Pay Your Debts
Debts in prison can lead to serious consequences if left unpaid. Whether it’s a borrowed book, commissary items, or favors, always ensure you repay what you owe promptly to avoid conflicts.
Don’t Touch What’s Not Yours
Touching or moving someone else’s belongings is a major no-no in prison, and this rule applies to everything from food to personal items, so make sure to respect others’ property to avoid conflicts.
Avoid Lifers
Inmates serving life sentences or very long terms can have different perspectives on life and can be more prone to violence over trivial matters, so it’s generally safer to avoid close associations with them.
Fulfill Your Obligations
If you make promises or commitments, be sure to keep them, as failing to do so can damage your reputation and lead to trouble with other inmates. The last thing that you want in jail is to get a bad reputation, as this can bring trouble to your door.
Stick to Your Race
Most people aren’t aware that prison life can be highly segregated by racial lines, and associating too closely with inmates of other races can lead to trouble, so it's safer to stick with your racial group to avoid unnecessary tensions.
Respect the Queue
Whether it’s for meals, showers, or the phone, always be patient and wait your turn. Cutting in line is seen as a sign of disrespect and can result in altercations. Remember that prison has incredibly primal social codes, which include a “pecking order,” this means that people's social status, or ranking, is often denoted by their position in the queue, so make sure that you know yours.
Keep Conversations Private
Prison walls have ears, so be mindful of your conversations and avoid discussing sensitive topics or personal details that could be used against you. The fact is that social politics can be complex in prison, and someone who might seem like your friend one day might be only too happy to use some information you shared in confidence against you the next day. So it's better to live by the phrase, “loose lips, sink ships.”
Don’t Act Tough
Pretending to be tougher than you are can backfire, provoking inmates will test you, and if you can’t back up your bravado, you’ll lose respect and potentially face harm.
Stick to the Rules
Adhering to prison rules, both official and unwritten, helps maintain order and respect. Breaking these rules can lead to punishment from both inmates and correctional officers.
Avoid Staring
Prolonged eye contact can be perceived as a challenge or threat, so keep your gaze to yourself to avoid unnecessary conflicts. Yes, you are going to see a lot of unusual things in prison, and although they may be shocking, it's best not to look at anyone or anything for too long. Keep your head down, and keep it pushing.
Keep Your Documents
Always keep a copy of your legal documents handy, as they can be useful for proving your background and avoiding misunderstandings with both inmates and authorities.
Limit Phone Time
Phone access is limited, so it’s important to keep calls brief to give others a chance. This helps maintain harmony and fairness, and it will show your fellow inmates that you are a team player and that you are considerate toward their need to communicate with their loved ones, and this can go a long way.
Be Patient
Prison life involves a lot of waiting, whether for meals, showers, phone calls, or other activities and demonstrating patience is seen as a sign of respect, and it can go a long way toward preventing conflicts.
Prison Etiquette
These rules, while not exhaustive, provide a basic framework for navigating the complex social dynamics of prison life. Following them can help inmates maintain respect, avoid conflicts, and ultimately make their time behind bars a bit more manageable.
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