So, You're New to Prison -- Cliffnotes to Surviving

 Coming to prison for the first time (and hopefully the last!) is scary for anyone. It's anxiety inducing to step into the unknown, especially given all the horror stores many of us have heard before coming to prison. What is portrayed about prison on TV and movies definitely paints a picture, too, that increases one's anxiety, though that picture is often inaccurate. 

Some fish (as new prisoners are called) project an air of aggressiveness or false confidence in order to counteract their feelings of anxiety. Others try being friendly and playful, while still others try to hide in the shadows as much as possible. They make themselves small, so to speak, in order to observe and stay out of prison drama. 

A lot of factors contribute to a fish's anxiety about entering prison, but the most common include: 
* Security level (levels 4 and 5 are the most likely to be violent)
* Race (non-gang affiliated whites often feel the least safe)
* Crime (sexual crimes and/or crimes against children often increase one's danger in prison)
* Personality (very timid people are usually targets of thieves and extortion)
* Size (smaller people are perceived as weaker and more vulnerable)
* Sexual orientation (gay men, especially, face increased danger)
* One's city of origin (this one surprised me, too...who cares where you're from?!)

One can do very little, if anything, about most of these factors. However, other factors also contribute to whether or not one feels safe. These include:
* Gang affiliation (street beefs often carry over to prison)
* Behavior in prison (one must show respect to others, including to those who do not "deserve" it)
* Attitude (too friendly is usually not good, but neither is carrying a chip on your shoulder)
* One's interactions with officers and staff (a surprising number of people "snitch" in prison, but it's still bad to be perceived that way)

When I was in the county jail, before transferring to prison, an "old head" (a prison veteran) warned me against gang affiliation, gambling, and being involved with "the gays." He wasn't wrong. These "three g's" do attract a lot of the prison drama, but so do debts from using the store man, the dope man, or the gambling table. Much of the violence I've seen in prison has been over unpaid debts or due to gang conflicts, and a small amount over (perceived?) disrespect. 

New prisoners should expect to be watched carefully by veteran prisoners, and perhaps even tested. But simply staying in one's own lane (stay out of other people's business or drama) and saying no when asked for something can help. Vulnerable prisoners, especially, are tested to see if they will say no. If they don't, or don't stand up to the pressure, they are likely to be used by people who pretend to be their friend. 

One of the best pieces of advice I have for new prisoners is to not immediately purchase all the luxuries they can. Hold off for a few months on purchasing a TV. Don't spend the maximum on commissary every store or buy a bunch of personal clothes. Even if you have the money, don't spend it freely. Other prisoners observe new arrivals to see if they have money, and those who do are prime targets for manipulation or exploitation. 

Also, don't talk about your personal business. I've learned that it's better to be up front if asked about your crime (without sharing details), but keep your business to yourself as much as possible. Those who had "stuff" before prison or come from well off families should keep that to themselves. Be kind, but not too helpful. Kindness is sometimes taken as weakness. But false bravado may also be tested. If you're not a fighter, don't pretend to be. 

Prison is definitely an anxiety inducing place, but if one simply uses a little common sense and is observant and socially wise, he (or she) can usually survive unscathed. It also helps a lot to know how to talk to people without being disrespectful, and how to be assertive without coming across as aggressive. 

Surviving prison is definitely a learned art, but eventually one picks up how to "jail" (often pronounced "gel" in prison). Only then can one start to really focus on the important things, like rehabilitation.