Advice on Preparing For Prison

When a person is convicted of a crime, then they are sometimes sentenced to prison or jail. This is often a worst-case scenario and rightfully so. Prisons and jails are not the nicest places to be in.

If you're faced with charges, then you'll want to hire a criminal defense attorney that has sufficient experience because they can work on your case and you could potentially be given a less severe punishment. Sometimes you'll be given an alternative to incarceration, such as probation. However, not everyone will have such options, and they'll have no choice but to serve a jail or prison sentence. Those are about to go to jail for the first time may be wondering what they should expect.

Preparing for Prison

 The truth is that some aspects of prison life is exaggerated by the media, but most aspects are not exaggerated. The harsh truth is that prison can be extremely hard and unwelcoming. If you already know when you'll be starting your sentence, the good news is there are several things you can do to make the transition a bit easier on yourself. Furthermore, you will want to do what you can to prepare for your release.

Before Going To Prison

 Following a conviction, some people will be handed down a prison sentence, and the court will tell the person when they will report to jail. Some people may be allowed to walk free for a bit before they go to jail, which gives them time to prepare themselves for when they enter prison. If you end up in a situation that allows you to be free for a bit, then there are several arrangements you'll want to make. These arrangements include:

·       Tell Family and Friends. Informing family and friends that you are going to prison lets them know you haven’t just disappeared off the face of the earth. Many people are too ashamed to do so meaning the only way they can be found is via an inmate search.

·       Have cash on hand. Whatever money you have on you when you go to prison will remain yours to keep. Most people choose to have their money put into a commissary account, that way they have cash to use during their sentence. When you are brought to jail, the staff at the jail will confiscate your personal belongings and then they'll store them.

·       Make Plans with Loved Ones- Another thing you'll want to do is tell your loved ones how they can get in touch with you. Tell them how they can send you mail and that they can transfer money to your account, if they wish. Keeping in touch with loved ones during a stint in prison can make things a little less stressful. Furthermore, you can let loved ones know they can order books for you from various websites, such as Amazon. However, physical books can't be mailed directly to you. Reading is a good way to pass the time during a sentence, so keep this in mind.  

·       The Booking Process Is Rough- Another thing to remember is that the booking process can be rough. The guards tend to have short fuses when it comes to dealing with prisoners. Don't give the guards any reason to be short with you and do everything they tell you to do. Furthermore, don't enter jail with an empty stomach because the food at most prisons are horrible. Just be prepared to eat bad tasting food throughout your stint, but do eat something good before you report for your sentence.

·       Remain Quiet- As a general rule of thumb, do your best to not talk to anyone. This goes for both the prison guards and other inmates. This is especially the case during the booking process. Remember, you're not in jail to make friends, especially during the booking process, so it's best to just remain as quiet as possible.

Being incarcerated does have a social stigma attached to it and being in prison can take a toll on your mental health. It's always best to just avoid doing anything that may have you sent to prison. However, if you've been arrested and charged with a crime, then you should hire a criminal defense attorney right away.

An attorney with experience will fight for you and they will work hard to prove your innocence. They can do a good job at representing your side of events too. In turn, you might be handed down a lenient sentence. Just remember, anyone charged with a crime is at risk of being sent to jail.