Surviving Daily (Mentally, Physically, Spiritually) While Incarcerated Part 2

Inside

Entering prison for the first time can be a terrifying experience. The overwhelming noise is unlike anything you’ve heard before—human clamor echoing through the space. Combined with the sight of cold, dreary bars, it immediately makes you question, “What have I gotten myself into?” Prison is its own world, and no two are alike. Each prison operates under its own rules, depending on its security level—whether maximum, close, medium, or minimum. The atmosphere and the people vary based on the type of facility you’re in.

Despite these differences, prisons generally contain three basic groups: the administration, the guards, and the prisoners. Each group follows its own rules and values, but they are intertwined, as none can exist independently of the others.

Prison administrators are often individuals with years of experience in the penal system, usually rising through the ranks from guard positions. Some may hold degrees in social sciences or penology, while others rely on years of service. Higher-ranking administrators, often more educated, shape policy decisions. Today, many of these positions are filled by Black individuals—a strategy that some see as a divisive tactic by the system. Regardless, these administrators are often figureheads, enforcing the system’s oppressive structure.

Prison rules serve one primary purpose: control. Guards, the enforcers of these rules, act as intermediaries between administrators and inmates. Like prisons themselves, guards vary. Some are professionals who respect human dignity, working their shifts and going home. Others, however, are barely literate, impoverished individuals, or ex-military personnel who relish the power they hold over inmates. Many have prejudiced worldviews and see prisoners as less than human, often projecting negative stereotypes onto them.

Administrators and guards often operate with preconceived notions about prisoners, believing them to be manipulative, dumb, or deviant. These ideas come from training manuals and long-standing stereotypes. Because of this, most prisoners are treated with indifference or brutality. When you come across a guard or administrator who is different, consider it an exception rather than the rule.

Prisoners come from diverse backgrounds, but in such a confined space, people tend to form groups for protection and camaraderie. These groups often divide along racial, religious, or ideological lines, as well as gang affiliations. The administration and guards are usually aware of these dynamics, thanks to informants among the prisoners.

Some prisoners feel “at home” in prison. They have been conditioned for this life from an early age, having spent time in juvenile facilities before transitioning to adult prisons. These individuals are often so inept at crime that they find themselves incarcerated repeatedly. They have become institutionalized, finding comfort in the controlled environment where their needs are met, unlike the challenges they face outside prison walls.

For others, prison serves as a kind of homeless shelter. These individuals don’t necessarily want to be there, but poverty, homelessness, and addiction lead them to commit minor crimes. A short prison sentence gives them food, shelter, and a break from life on the streets. They are not criminals in the traditional sense but are victims of social and economic conditions.

Then there are those for whom prison is simply an occupational hazard. Crime is their chosen profession, and they see imprisonment as part of the job. They aren’t institutionalized because they long to return to the free world, but they also see prison time as an opportunity to continue their criminal enterprises. Inside prison, they plan for their future illegal activities and maintain ties to their life of crime.

Describing the people in prison is challenging because of the diversity of individuals and the variety of criminal offenses. Prisons are negative spaces, filled with people who have experienced various forms of abuse—whether physical, mental, or related to substance addiction. Many prisoners have histories of mental illness and are often medicated. Given the environment, it’s futile to apply logic or reason to the behaviors you witness. Prison is not a place where normal rules of society apply; it’s a world that defies logic altogether.

Associations

In everyday life, whether inside or outside of prison, the people we associate with play a crucial role. We are often judged by the company we keep, and the old saying, "Birds of a feather flock together," rings true. In prison, where proximity is constant, you’ll find that people judge your character and actions even more harshly based on your associations. We are often assumed to share the traits or engage in the behaviors of those we surround ourselves with. These associations can be either positive or negative.

Looking back on our pasts, it's clear that our lives often took a downward turn when we began to hang out with the wrong crowd. It was within those groups that many of us smoked weed for the first time, skipped school, and became sexually active. All behavior is learned, and criminal behavior is no exception. Just as easily as we fell in with the wrong crowd, we could have chosen to associate with the "A" students in the front row—the ones who went on to college and became professionals. If we had chosen positive associations, we might have avoided the negative influences that ultimately led us to where we are today.

The same choice between positive and negative associations remains available to us every day. One of the first steps toward personal change and self-improvement is to seek out positive influences within the prison environment—people whose actions and attitudes will benefit us in the long run. A quick glance around will show that genuine critical thinking is rare in prison. Those who are thoughtful and focused stand out. These individuals take full advantage of the educational and vocational programs available to them, using their time wisely to prepare for life beyond prison. These are the best people to associate with, as their insights and advice can be valuable.

However, a word of caution: not all thinkers are positive influences. Just because someone carries an armful of books doesn’t mean their association will always benefit you. Some highly intelligent individuals waste their talents by stirring up trouble. Often having had lifelong issues with authority, they use their intelligence to antagonize prison officials through frivolous grievances and baseless legal claims. Associating with them can make you a target for retaliation. In prison, where we are already vulnerable, it’s wise to steer clear of smart people engaging in reckless behavior.

Then, there are those who lead gangs or other factions within the prison. These individuals crave power and control over others, acting like characters in their own personal "Godfather" movies. They dominate the prison’s drug trade, gambling, extortion, and other vices, manipulating those around them. They’ve refined these skills through years of jailhouse experience, knowing exactly how to push the right buttons to get what they want. Associating with them offers nothing positive and will only drag you deeper into destructive behaviors.

As mentioned earlier, the choice of whom to associate with presents itself to us every day. Peer pressure is especially strong in a confined environment like prison, but when someone makes a clear, determined decision to do something positive, they often earn the respect of others. The same is true for us—we must take a firm stand to seek out associations that serve our best interests and lead us toward positive change.

Family

The importance of family bonds cannot be overstated. Strengthening the connections between ourselves and our families is vital. Regardless of the circumstances, family is more than just a name—it is a spiritual bond. After our Creator, family should be our primary source of strength. If you look around, all you see are sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers. We are all linked to a family system, whether good or bad.

America's system of slavery was responsible for the destruction of Black families. One of the first tactics of the oppressors was to break families apart, selling us off from one another. The modern American penal system continues this pattern, severing us from those we love.

Time and distance can wreak havoc on the ties we have with our families. Many prisons are located in rural areas, not only to provide jobs to impoverished communities but also to isolate inner-city Blacks from their loved ones. When a person is isolated, they become easier to control because there’s no one to question their treatment. This gives prison authorities the freedom to act with little oversight, often in ways that target Black inmates.

The Department of Corrections (DOC) is infamous for its role in breaking Black family ties. Most DOC facilities are located far from urban centers, making it difficult for families to maintain contact. Black prisoners are routinely sent to facilities hundreds of miles away from home, making visits nearly impossible for concerned family members. Strict limits on the number of visitors further complicate these relationships. Conjugal visits are nonexistent, which can lead to the promotion of unhealthy behaviors and the spread of diseases like HIV/AIDS. Parole boards frequently extend sentences, causing less committed family members to lose hope and sever ties. This systematic destruction of family relationships occurs even as the DOC hypocritically claims to encourage strong family bonds.

Many people in prison have never experienced the support of a loving home environment. For them, the State has often acted as a surrogate parent from an early age, leading to a life of being "state-raised." These individuals make up a significant portion of the prison population, especially in places like Ohio. It’s a deliberate crime that we live under a system designed to condition people from childhood for incarceration, ensuring the system's control.

If you have a family or anyone on the outside supporting you, consider yourself extremely fortunate. Do everything you can to maintain and build those relationships. Communication is key. Regular letters, phone calls, and visits can go a long way in keeping these bonds strong. Share the positive things happening in your life, acknowledge past mistakes, and let go of old resentments. Show appreciation and love for your family because they need it too. A strong support system can carry you through the toughest times.

Time Utilization

Start by creating daily schedules. Think of yourself as someone with a lot to accomplish but limited time. Before going to bed each night, make a list of everything you want to achieve the next day. Keep that list with you, and check off tasks as you complete them. At the end of the day, review what didn’t get done and carry those tasks over to the next day.

In prison, time is our most valuable resource. Our lives are measured by seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years. Since time measures our physical existence, we must learn to measure it and become conscious of how we use it. In this way, we can make the best use of our time in prison and turn it to our advantage.

If you look around, you’ll notice that a lot of time is wasted. Precious hours are lost in pointless activities. Recreation isn’t harmful, but when entire days are spent playing cards, board games, basketball, or watching television, it’s time to reevaluate priorities.

Take a critical look at each activity you engage in. Ask yourself if it is truly beneficial. You can judge an activity by the results it brings and how much time you devote to it. An hour spent playing cards or chess can be enjoyable and relaxing, but if those games stretch into four or five hours, it’s become a waste of time. The same goes for basketball (don’t dribble your life away). None of these activities will transform your life or prepare you for the challenges of the outside world.

One of the biggest time-wasters in prison is excessive television watching. Some adults spend hours each day glued to cartoons and soap operas. They know every character, plot, and twist in the storyline. They live through the TV screen. It’s called the "boob tube" for a reason—it can dull your mind and spirit, robbing you of creative thinking. Constant TV watching creates a dangerous habit of always wanting to be entertained, leading to laziness.

Television is also a powerful tool of propaganda, and for Black people, especially children, it can distort self-perception with its endless images of white intellect, beauty, and superheroes. For a conscious Black person, television is generally a "NO NO."

Try cutting out TV for a month, and you’ll be amazed at how much you can accomplish. Managing your time properly is essential, both in prison and in everyday life. Once you learn how to make the most of your time, you’ll experience a sense of fulfillment and achievement. There are only 24 hours in a day, and once you start actively using them, you’ll realize there’s never enough time to get everything done. This realization will help you understand the true value of time.

Here are some tips for effective time management:

1. Develop the habit of waking up early. All you need is an alarm clock and a little willpower. Think of it as getting a head start on the day. While others are just waking up, you’ll be up, clean, dressed, and already in motion.

2. Set short-term and long-term goals. Goals give life purpose. To achieve your goals, you need a plan. For example, your short-term goal might be to earn your G.E.D. within six months. Your plan would be to study for a couple of hours each day. A long-term goal could be to earn an associate’s degree in two years, with a structured plan for completing your classes during that time.

   
   

Prison time should not be wasted—it’s still time in your life. This is the best opportunity you have to develop yourself in every way possible. You’re being fed, clothed, and housed (even if it feels like warehousing). There are no bills to pay, no job to report to. Your main goal should be to gain as much knowledge, awareness, and skill as possible. If the system has given you a long sentence, use it to walk out with a degree or valuable skills. Take control of your situation, and don’t let the situation control you. This is how you beat the system and come out ahead. It all starts with learning how to use your time effectively.

~ Written By @AskForCorey