hi pto. this is sam.

jason thought it would be a good idea to post this. i am going to let everyone know some of my experiences. i'm not a great typer. jason helped with some of it.

i had a really good childhood, so no one can blame parenting or video games. my parents were great, they never hit me, but always punished me for bad behavior. anyway, at the age of 18, i started getting really stupid. i did a few b&e's, but mainly i forged checks and bought stuff for my then girlfriend and her friends to try and impress her. i know, stupid, but i didn't know any better.
after only a year of doing this, i got bored, and upped my crimes to larger amounts.

this landed me in jail, as the people that i ripped off really wanted to make an example out of me (and rightfully so). i stole about $50,000 from them total.

the judge was not easy on me, and i got 5 years in prison for my crimes. this was not my first offence. previously, i was jailed briefly for some minor drug stuff, and a b&e. anyway, off i went to the big house.

i was really scared, but i acted like i was tough. they say that the first few weeks are the hardest... that's true, but it NEVER gets really easy, just routine.

the hardest part was at first, dealing with the other inmates. now, i'm not a huge guy! i'm 5' 8" and around 140lbs when I first went in. no one bothered me the first two days, i guess they were 'feeling' me out. well, after those two days, i got hassled and attacked.

the second hardest part was dealing with the lonliness. my family left me, so i didnt have anyone. i was one of those poor people in prison, and i made the mistake of 'borrowing' from my celly. big mistake!!!! i paid a lot for some soap and snacks, let me tell you.

let me tell everyone right now!!!!! : pen pals rule! so, if your a pen pal, keep it up! after about a year there, i got a few pen pals, and they really helped me keep my sanity.

i know this wasnt much help to you. please, i do better if you ask questions. i have lots of stories to share, and i'll answer ANY question. no topic is off limits. here is some basic info about my prison stay:

9 years, in a new hampshire prison.
i was released on parole once, i violated it, got sent back.
now i am out without parole, my time was just finished.

ask away! sorry i wasnt more help.

-sam.

ps: jay says hello! he is feeling better now that he is out of the hospital.

Sam,

It's so good to hear your story! We've heard bits & pieces from Jay. I'm glad to hear your penpal experience has been such a positive one. As of yesterday, I have nine penpals. I can't imagine how my life was without them writing to me.

Give Jay some hugs from me!

Megan

Thanks Sam for telling us a bit about yourself!! It's nice to meet you.;) Give Jason a hug and keep the faith. :grouphug: Good things come to those who wait...and you both will have a wonderful life!!!

So glad to have you with us!!:thumbsup:

Cheryl

Thanks for sharing and i look forward to reading more of your posts... ((hugs)) I hope Jay is feeling lots better...

Deb

Sam thanks for sharing your story with us....You did a real good job on it. And it was a big help. Love Jeanne

I really enjoyed reading your your experiences in prison. Glad you are done and no parole...that is great!

I guess my question is kinda crazy but that's me...

Do you feel like the same person you where before your incarceration?

Did you ever tell your pen pals what you thought they wanted to hear instead of the real deal? Not saying you would lie, just curious if you felt you had to play a role, so to speak.

Thanks and feel free to think I've lost my mind!

Sam- why do you say that wasn't helpful? I beg to differ! You don't know how starved we all are for tales of "how it really is." Anything you want to say, we want to hear! thanks for posting this.

I really enjoyed reading your your experiences in prison. Glad you are done and no parole...that is great!

I guess my question is kinda crazy but that's me...

Do you feel like the same person you where before your incarceration?

Did you ever tell your pen pals what you thought they wanted to hear instead of the real deal? Not saying you would lie, just curious if you felt you had to play a role, so to speak.

Thanks and feel free to think I've lost my mind!
coolchik - here is my honest answer.
yes. i have lied to pen pals, in the beginning. since i had no money in prison, i used the first few pen pals i got for money. i told them what they wanted to hear. i would sort of 'adapt' my personality to theirs, based on their first letter.

after 3 or 4 years, i got tired of the game. i wanted true friends, and i wasn't going to find any that way. so yes, i am a better person now that i am out.

in fact, jason thought i was using him at first, but he didn't care. do you know what he said to me? here, listen-
"sam, i know guys run schemes in prisons all the time. in fact, i have been used once before and I know how it works. I am not saying that you are using me, but if you are, i don't care. i will still send you money, and i will still be your friend, even if you want to just use me."

how could i fight that? i mean, God, i never had anyone say that to me. it really made me think.

i told you i'd be honest! and NO TOPIC is off limits!

coolchik - here is my honest answer.

yes. i have lied to pen pals, in the beginning. since i had no money in prison, i used the first few pen pals i got for money. i told them what they wanted to hear. i would sort of 'adapt' my personality to theirs, based on their first letter.

after 3 or 4 years, i got tired of the game. i wanted true friends, and i wasn't going to find any that way. so yes, i am a better person now that i am out.

in fact, jason thought i was using him at first, but he didn't care. do you know what he said to me? here, listen-
"sam, i know guys run schemes in prisons all the time. in fact, i have been used once before and I know how it works. I am not saying that you are using me, but if you are, i don't care. i will still send you money, and i will still be your friend, even if you want to just use me."

how could i fight that? i mean, God, i never had anyone say that to me. it really made me think.

i told you i'd be honest! and NO TOPIC is off limits!
Thank you Sam...I really appreciate your honesty. I want you to know my boyfriend said the same about his first few years. He "played a role" to get things he needed/ wanted, but after 4 years, he was tired of that game. He tells me of guys that tell there pen pals/girls anything to get money...like "send me some cash cause I owe *** some money, and I don't know what will happen to me". He is always telling me how much he has changed, or rather how different his view of life is now that he has me. He is always worried if I'm alright, and I am thinking "you are the one who is locked-up??".
I am really happy for you guys, and thankful you are willing to share your experience. Again, thanks!

Great thread Sam. I am glad you are done and can start to put this behind you and build a new life. I look forward to seeing more of your posts.

Thanks for sharing, Sam!!! You do a lot of good for so many when you post about your experiences. I look forward to hearing more from you real soon. Give Jay a hug for me...

Much Love,
Patty

Sam,I am so glad you joined us and are sharing your experiences with us :)

Sam,
I just wanted to thank you for sharing your experience with us.
For many of us that still have loved ones in or that have just recenlty come home, having your input and knowledge can be very helpful as far as understanding what they are going through.

I'm glad to hear you are home and hope Jay get's to feeling better really soon!
:)

I wonder what, if anything, you did to stop the other inmates from attacking you and giving you a hard time?

Sam: Can you tell me why you were attacked? Was it for protection, money, testing, for the hell of it? At what age did you first enter the justice system?

Sam: Can you tell me why you were attacked? Was it for protection, money, testing, for the hell of it? At what age did you first enter the justice system?
sure. i got attacked because i ran my mouth and didnt mind my own business at first. i am a joker by nature, and i carried that into prison with me. big mistake. at least at first. anyways, i was 17 when i entered the prison system for the first time.

Sam, you sound like you have matured and are becoming the person you want to be.

1. What did the prison take away from you other than years of your life?

2. Did any part of prison make you bitter? If so, how have your gotten past that bitterness, or what are you doing to put it past you?

3. How do you view yourself now, and what could you offer to another young person entering prison?

Thank you got getting back with your answers.

What(if anything) would have kept you from doing the things you did to get to jail?

Why do you think that you and not your sibilings started commiting crime?

Ok I dont get some thing... I have been to prison 2x myself . but had I EVER been raped while there I sure as hell would have not violated my parole and get sent back. I know that it does happen (even in womans prisons) (I did witness it once.) I am so glad that you have found your mate and I hope that all goes well with him as I just lost my sister to cancer 5 months ago. Life is a good thing and it is so bad that you went thru all that yet Im sure it was a leson well learned.
Good luck in all that you do and you really should write a book. People need to knmow what happends in the SYSTEM