Dear Moderators:

Please forgive me if this is in the wrong forum, there were so many choices I didn't know where to put it....

-The_Wolverine

I would like to request to inverview somebody who was an X-con, or (if there aren't any around), somebody who has a loved one in prison. Or possibly one of each.

I'll be checking this thread all night, and asking somebody willing, to answer a variety of questions ranging from your personal experience, to your political views, religion, ect. After I am done with the interview I will be turning it into a paper.

The point of this class project is to meet somebody different from you, exchange ideas, and possibly learn from each other. Since I am interested on the prison system, interested in learning from somebody who is/has been in the prison system, and/or somebody who has a loved one in the system, I thought I would try here.... I'd be happy to send you a copy of the paper.


This is rather last minute, since I procrastinated on finding somebody, and I had really wanted to visit Jackson Prison, in MI, their visiting hours didn't meet up with my schedule, so I thought I'd try this as a second option. The paper is due tomorrow, so I need to get my interview(2) in. :eek:

Thank you....and I hope this is in the right place.

Hi and Welcome to PTO!

I'm the wife of a Michigan Inmate and a Super Moderator here on PTO. What do you want to know??

mrsd

Hi from me too! My boyfriend was locked up in Michigan two different times, and just returned home this year. I would be interested in hearing (like Mrs D) what kinds of things you would like to know!

My guy is at a level 1 prison in Jackson...what do you want to know?

First let me share a little bit about myself (since that's what wered to do for the paper)


I will plainly admit I am a staunch democrat. I am a believer in a woman's right to choose, gay rights, etc.... I mean, sometimes I think I can't get any more democratic.

My view of the prison system has always been a cynical one. I find the idea of locking somebody up for an extended time really conflicts with the idea the public tries to convince society, by saying that they will be "reformed citizens" when they come out. Being an extreme liberal, I also feel that the death penalty contradicts our government. They tell us not to kill, but if we do, they kill us.

So my first question(2) would be, as somebody trying to understand hands on is, what--if anything has the prison system done to make the people serving time "ready for society"...... or Do you think it is ineffective?

Rehabilitation is not what MDOC has in mind...the inmate himself/herself while there must do the rehabilitation themselves...learn from classes...learn from experience...learn what they need to do to not come back...inmates are not always ready to come back to society...

Another question that comes into my mind is, for those of you who have had your significant other in prison, and then they have come out, how do you feel society has accepted them? For example, what comes to mind is, when you have to check the little box on an application that says "have you been convicted", obviously you have to check "yes"....so since you have to, I was just wondering how this has effected finding work/jobs...ect....

Shame on you for procrastinating, wolverine! :) :) :) I just PM'd you my answers to your questions! Please don't hesitate to write me back!

These are coming up quite random.... I'm sorry if they sound stupid or obvious....

1) What were they sent to prison for? (you don't have to share if you don't want to)
2) What were some of the emotions you had, when you first found out they were being sent to prison.
3) Do you find it diffacult to discuss why your significant other is prison--or let alone tell others that they are in prison? Or how do you deal with it....


(more questions to come) lol

weee... lots of questions *feels like a geek* um.....

ok. But see I'm learning....even if it is procrastination lol....

This might be similar to the last three questions maybe it's worded better....

"As either an ex con or loved one in prison... what stereotypes or prejudices do you experience? Do you feel these are justified sterotypes?" (coming directly from the paper guidelines lol)

This is exactly quoted from the paper guidelines.... I probably should ask this too:

"What we would like you to do is to be able to first describe this person in terms of their basic personal and family demographics, and then begin to describe this person in terms of their social and political views. We want you to try to understand WHY this person believes what they believe and try to understand their views trying to objectively look at them from that person's perspective."

Another question I have, is:

I'm curious about what a typical visit would be, if you had to visit? What kinds of things to you have to go through? Do you ever feel nervous or get emotional? How long does a visit go....and do you get longer visits if the crime you committed was not as serious?

Thank you for sending the PMs, I will check them all, this computer is being horribly slow.... gah... another few questions, if I haven't annoyed all of you...lol


Sometimes I have wierd moments, where I think "if my boyfriend was in prison, I know I'd still stay with him and support him, because I love him...." What does it take to cope with somebody who is in prison besides love? Or is love enough?


Another question that comes to mind is, I know, just from the friends I have, that if I ever was found dating or married to a prisoner, they probably wouldn't talk to me, or would try to tell me to find another person. Have you lost friends or had family disassociate with you because of your significant other's imprisonment? Or had people tell you there are pleanty of "good" guys that you can date, why date a prisoner?

Also, for visiting, are you allowed to bring gifts? For say, holidays or birthdays or anniversary's or just because?

Sometimes I ge like Martha Stewart get put into a fancy, minimum security "nice" prison, because it gives me the impression that where you go is dependent on your class status.... if you are rich and famous and you commit a crime, you are less likely to go to a "worse" prison, then somebody who is middle class or poor.

What are your reactions/feelings when you see how this so called prison system is basically allowing people with loads of money to live not quite as miserable a life or live in note quite a bad prison? Do you find it justified or unfair?


Another question I have, is what are your concerns for how your significant other is treated in prison. Such as potention to be hurt my another imate, and/or abuse from prison guards. I feel if I were in your position, I would be always worried about that...or would you say safety is pretty good?

Another question, along visiting lines. I...for reasons d to visit a prisoner. I think that they can offer us perspectives on the things we take for grantite like freedom and what not, and I think society makes prisoners out to be the "evil bad guys that we shouldn't associate with."

How long are typical visiting rule? Half hour? Hour?
Is it only on weekends, or any day?
Do you have to call ahead, or make some other special plans?

More questions....lol

If you have children, is it hard to explain to them the situation that your husband/boyfriend is in jail? Do you avoid it? People will probably ask your children about their father? From some very very helpful PMs, I'm getting the sense that it's better just not to talk about it. I would find it very diffacult to discuss.


I seem to also of a pre-concieved notion about what prison is like, even though I've never visited, and this might be based on myths or what society has portrayed, so for those of you who HAVE visited prison, how accurate are my assumptions based on what I have gotten from society:

Prisoners don't get the help they need.
They live in small confined areas.
They have to wear a certain uniform?
Do they share a cell with somebody?
What is a typical cell like? Toliet, bed, and that's it? or more?
How much exercise time do they have? or does it vary depending on what level security they are on?
Are some prisoners denied visitation rights if they have committed a violent crime?

(sorry that's a lot)


Another question I have is: Through the experience of having somebody you love or know be imprisoned, how has this transformed you as a person? What have you learned about this experience? Has it made you stronger? Do you feel more confident or just the opposite? And how could you let the outside world know what you're going through and that they shouldn't be so judgemental? :)

I need to organize the great responses I've been getting, but I will be coming back possibly with more questions, early tomorrow afternoon.

One last question is: what are your emotions when you hear the phrases "jail bait" or "Jail bird." I never really liked the sound of him, it's always so negative sounding.



Lastly, thank you for your help tonight, if you want to send more PM's to me, I'll definetly be checking, I just need to organize some of this stuff so that it can get ready for paper form....i'll be back early tomorrow to ask more questions if your on!

Thanks and talk to you all soon! :)

(one more question popped into my head) (i "was" going lol...but one more question...)


I'm wondering how the prison system deals with prisoners who have medical issues. For example, if they're diabetic, are they properply treated with medication (insulin, insulin shots, etc)....how well does the prison system deal with these chronic conditions?

Hey Wolverine;
I'm an ex-con here. I'd be glad to help with your paper, but not sure what exactly you need? Let me know if you need some help - be glad to.
danny

Hi Wolverine. I am an Australian ex-prisoner. I have done 18 years in the land down under for armed robbery and prison escapes. I am now a journalist. I have written heaps of stuff about prison life and re-entry etc. Can I be of any help? cheers Oz ex-prisoner