There is so much to learn about how to survive in a West-Virginia Department of Correction facility. The place is surrounded with the kind of officers that you wouldn’t want to mess with. It houses hundreds of prisoners whole year round.
Living inside a prison is not a heavenly experience. You would face a lot of challenges that are probably tougher than the challenges you are already facing. It is, therefore, imperative to learn about the life inside prison before you move in.
Life in Prison
Inmates are required to cook food for each other. You can have a good start if you can cook well. If other inmates love the way you cook, then it may help you have a better relationship with them. Inside the prison, you would not know who to trust. Anyone can betray someone at any given time. If you have at least a few qualities that other people like, you may be able to survive inside the prison without getting beaten up.
Most prisoners live in prison dorms without air conditioner. There are single cells, but there are also cells that houses two or more inmates. If you are not used to staying in the same room with someone else, you would need to make a lot of adjustments in prison cells because most of your prison life will most likely be spent inside the cell with one or more strangers inside. You don’t have to make friends with others, but you need to be at least be able to get along with those around you and avoid violent fights.
Prison Works
Inside prison, inmates are required to do several chores and tasks. They help with prison maintenance and also work outside for community-related services. There are several government agencies that collaborate with prisons to provide inmates with opportunities to go out and work in different organizations.
The jobs are provided to keep the inmates productive. It is also one way of helping them to still be a part of the community even after facing a serious problem in their life. Working gives them the chance to prove their worth to the country. It can improve their mindset which may result to fewer years in prison.
Community service includes cleaning public places, painting walls, and serving in government functions. Gardening is also a common work for prisoners. Each year, inmates are required to help in growing vegetables such as cucumbers, tomatoes and other crops that can be added to their daily meals.
The farms and gardens are located in different areas within the state. Upon arrival in the prison, you will have to sign up to a garden or farm located near your area. If you have no knowledge in farming or gardening, you can learn how to survive in a West-Virginia Department of Correction facility through expert farmers and gardeners who are there to teach the basics and help inmates go through the process of growing their own food.
Growing crops and vegetables is not only helpful to the inmates but also to the institution. Maintaining prisons requires funding, thus farming and gardening helped a lot in reducing food expenses. It can also generate income since inmates and officers cannot consume all the products of their farms and gardens.
Prison Entertainment
Prisons don’t provide cable TVs. They can only watch selected TV channels in the TV room during the day. The room is wide enough to accommodate up to 100 persons. It will not always be comfortable to watch TV with so much people around, but that is the closest you can get to getting updates on news and sports programs.
If you love to read, you can access the public library in prison. It provides thousands of periodicals and books. You can browse anything from fiction to non-fiction, and from reference books to magazines.
Life After Incarceration
Family and friends rejoice on the day the inmate is finally released. It is a memorable day for everyone, and life starts anew for most people. However, about 83% of convicts go back to prison 2 or more years after release. Many offenders find it hard to go back to their normal life.
In many cases, convicts need to work hard if they don’t want to go back in prison. Therapy and counseling are usually provided to people who have just been released from prison. It may take a while, but with continuous mental and physical help, the convict may find it easier to live normally again.
Preparation For Prison Life
All the things you’ve learned about life in prison may or may not accurately reflect what you’re going to experience. The quality of your life in prison will depend on the number of prisoners and the treatment of prison officers.
You may follow these tips to help you survive your first few days in prison:
1. Refrain from talking too much.
Avoid talking back to prison officers no matter how harshly they treat you. Also, you need to bear in mind that whatever you say inside the prison can be used against you. It is better to bite your tongue than to get into trouble.
2. Don’t trust people easily.
The friendliest face you meet inside prison can also be the same person that will push you to do things you would not dare do behind prison bars.
3. Avoid gangsters or any kind of group in prison.
They cause a lot of trouble inside prison. If you join one, you might end up staying in prison longer than you should.
4. Don’t show too much emotion.
Inside prison, you have to look and act tough because showing fear, anger, and anxiety may only reveal your weakness.
5. Always be respectful towards your fellow inmates.
Also, show respect to the prison officers no matter how they treat you.
Life inside prison is really tough, but you can learn how to survive in a West-Virginia Department of Correction facility if you are careful with your words and actions.
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