The advice is the same for a BT

 I'm a 30-year-old man expecting a 20-year sentence in state prison for bank robbery. What should I expect in prison? What are some things I should avoid doing there?

I am truly sorry that you have to suffer this ordeal. But you can indeed survive prison and come out even stronger than you went in. I did. And although my bid was 4 years (served 3 1/2), the principles are the same.

I don’t know what prison you are going to, but I did spend 6 months in a State Prison with bank robbers, and people that committed many types of felony crimes. I have some experience to draw on.

You should expect to find most inmates you meet giving you leeway and respecting your boundaries, although there are many strange people in prison. Typically, as long as you respect others, you should be respected.

I would not be too outward focus at first. I’d stay within myself, but not aloof or arrogant, until you get the lay of the land and decide who you can trust (to a certain extent), who you can confide in (but I would recommend you not confide in anyone), and you can hang with.

I was in 5 prisons, including the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center (not such a nice place), a Medium Security State Prison, (a bit rough from an inmate standpoint but the guards were for the most part decent, the food considerably above average and the medical care good). I was also in the Federal Oklahoma Transfer Center, and two Federal prisons in Miami. So I have a little bit of prison type background on which to base my recommendations.

Here is my list of advice. You can obviously take it or leave it:

1. Don’t be pushy, or arrogant, or try to be the toughest guy in the cell block. Believe me, you will always find someone tougher. The fastest gunslinger is just around the corner
2. Don’t snitch - period
3. Don’t share details about your case - have a brief story ready to tell, so it does not seem like you are unwilling to be forthcoming, but keep it brief
4. Don’t ask others about their case
5. Don’t join a gang
6. Don’t lie to inmates
7. Avoid asking for favors - you don’t want to be indebted to anyone
8. Don’t share with anyone how much money you have in your spending account
9. Don’t shop for anyone at the commissary - you want to give someone something? Go ahead. but don’t go shopping for anyone
10. Be careful with:
1. your mail - assume it will be opened by the guards - incoming and outgoing
2. your email - assume it will be read by the guards
3. your phone conversations - assume it will be listened to by the guards
4. Make sure other inmates aren’t listening or reading your stuff
11. Don’t take or borrow someone else’s stuff - EVER
12. Don’t physically touch people or get in their face. Give people space
13. Do not assume you can sit anywhere. Wherever you want. Inmates stake out favorite places to sit. If there are others sitting, ask first before taking a seat. That goes for the cafeteria, TV Room, game room and other places depending on prison or cell block. And never sit on someone’s bunk unless given permission.
14. Be open and willing to share to help someone out - for example, someone is out of coffee? Give them some. Chances are your kind gesture will be repaid in the future. At a minimum you will come across as someone who can be trusted and counted on to help out
15. Don’t let anyone take advantage of you. Short of fighting, don’t let some wise guy make you look weak
1. Having said that, don’t fight, unless it is absolutely the last resort to protect yourself. If you find yourself in this position, be ruthless and finish it.
16. Stay clean - hygiene is very important in prison - keep your body, sleep area, clothing, locker, in tip top shape. When your family or friends come to visit, be clean, clothes pressed, and smelling good
17. Do not have or keep anything that is considered contraband - unless you are ready to face the consequences - this means drugs, food you are not supposed to have, too many pieces of clothing, radios, tobacco, etc.
18. Respect the COs (guards) many of them are incredible assholes, but they have the power over you. Typically, if you respect them, don’t talk back, follow orders, and don’t make yourself to be a wiseass, they will leave you alone and at least be civil to you, and maybe even respect you. I earned a lot of respect from some absolutely miserable guards and counselors. SOme of them even referred to me as Mister
19. Take care of your mind, body and soul
1. read a lot - books, magazines, newspapers - find the prison library, ask your friends and family to send you books, magazines and newspapers, get some reading buddies and exchange books and magazines with them
2. take every course or class you can find - in prison, mail order, online if you are allowed - consider pursuing a GED or college degree. It is DOABLE
3. learn how to play a musical instrument
4. learn a craft - woodworking, leather work, ceramics, anything
5. work out - stay in shape - do some aerobic and strength training exercises - find good workout buddies
6. find a prison job that keeps you engaged - you may not have the luxury of a good job at first, and might get stuck with a nasty job, but eventually, if you demonstrate that you follow orders, keep your nose clean, and can be counted on, you will get a better one
7. watch what you eat - if you can, supplement the prison food with commissary items that have good protein and try and stay away from junk
8. take vitamins and supplements yo can buy from the commissary
9. worship and pray in your own way - find a higher power if you don’t believe in God - just find a centering and focusing peace you can use to meditate, reflect, and you can count on to keep you whole
10. at the sign of any health issues, turn in a request to go to the clinic
11. stay in touch with your family and loved ones - have them visit, write to them, call them
12. help the older and infirm inmates when you can - it shows you are just and fair and will help those in need
13. if you have skills, like preparing a resume, writing a letter, or interpreting a complicated document, or translating something, do it. You will get a reputation for being helpful and I guarantee you it will make you feel like a million bucks
20. Finally, take time to reflect on what choices you made to land in the predicament you are in, and vow that you are going to make it right and re-establish and regain your reputation and self esteem

Bottom line? 20 years is a long bid. Most probably you won’t do the whole twenty, but that list above is designed to do some very important things - keep you busy, safe, healthy and focused on productive behaviors and to let the time to go as quickly as possible.

How do you serve ANY prison sentence? A day at a time my friend, a day at a time…

Hope this has helped. All the best to you. You deserve to serve your time in peace and in health and to emerge a better man with as bright a future as you can build.