Anyone a Prison Visitor?

[Tyre Smoke]

Something I've considered for a while, but watching Time featuring Sean Bean has made me think about it more.

I've never been inside, never want to be inside. Only ever been arrested once when I was 19 for drink driving, but blew under back at the station. Put the fear of God into me, never ever took a drink (even one) and drove again.

So, anyone done it/doing it? I imagine it's both hard and challenging which I'd relish, but also could be incredibly rewarding.

[eldar]

Tyre Smoke said:

Something I've considered for a while, but watching Time featuring Sean Bean has made me think about it more.

I've never been inside, never want to be inside. Only ever been arrested once when I was 19 for drink driving, but blew under back at the station. Put the fear of God into me, never ever took a drink (even one) and drove again.

So, anyone done it/doing it? I imagine it's both hard and challenging which I'd relish, but also could be incredibly rewarding.

I did it briefly. A huge commitment, very eye opening. Much to my surprise, i hated it . I had spent the previous 8 years as an ICV, and loved it. Maybe try ICV to start, https://icva.org.uk/

[anonymous-user]

Used to be called lay observers. They're not very well received as they turn up demanding this, that and the other thinking they run the whole show.

[r159]

I’ve played rugby against prisoners numerous times, I guess security similar to being a visitor. Every time I went it reminded me about my life choices.

To be fair the lads we played against (and had on our side) were fine, I often found I was having to coach my opponent so he didn’t get hurt (played front row).

Edited by r159 on Saturday 12th June 20:16

[bristolracer]

flashbang said:

Used to be called lay observers. They're not very well received as they turn up demanding this, that and the other thinking they run the whole show.

I thought it was a Christian teaching?
Matthew 25:36 , and that many faiths encouraged visiting prisoners

[AndyB180]

My wife once did a production of Les Miserables in a prison as part of some scheme to help the inmates. They were part of the cast. She told me some very interesting things. When I went to watch we had to walk through a wing and the things the inmates shouted at me made me realise I wouldn’t last a week inside. I did buckle at one point and say “at least I’m going home tonight”!

[eldar]

bristolracer said:

flashbang said:

Used to be called lay observers. They're not very well received as they turn up demanding this, that and the other thinking they run the whole show.

I thought it was a Christian teaching?
Matthew 25:36 , and that many faiths encouraged visiting prisoners

No, lay was unaffiliated with the judiciary, nothing religious. At least in the past century.

[Neddy Sea Goon]

Spent quite a while as a contractor working in various establishments.

Generally the inmates were good as gold, and no real issues there.

BUT

I was always mightily relieved to get out at the end of each day. I would never go back inside on any basis voluntarily.

Th worst bit, even as a visitor, it was pretty dehumanizing. No phones, no keys, tools checked in and out. Then when you wanted to get out, for lunch, or to get something from the van, or just go home, it was an easy twenty minutes or so.

Surprising how not just being able to pick your stuff up and walk out can affect you. (Well it did me anyway)

[TheAlgarveCyclist]

A chap who used to work for a construction company with me in South Africa in the 90's used to occasionally spend weekends inside for fighting when drunk.

I got a call one day to go to the main prison before going to site. Got there, went through security, waited a bit and was then ushered into an open area where the Prisoners were separated from Visitors by bars, you basically looked on into their courtyard. Our chap eventually got to the bars whereupon I handed him some money, with permission from a Prison Guard who was standing next to me, who knew why I was there, who facilitated the transaction...

In SA prisons, one of the most fearsome gangs is the Numbers Gang. They accept payment to protect inmates, or the opposite. I was there to pay the bribe to keep our chap safe, his frequent visits to local cells had landed him in the main Prison that time and with no payment to the Gang, he would have been raped and beaten until he found a way to make the payment. Time was short, he wasn't expected to be in for long so the Gang had given him only a day to sort something out.

I knew another chap, friend of my best mate, actually, a former Pro cyclist, well-known in SA, got done for fraud involving medical equipment to Hospitals. His family made regular payments to the Gang to keep him healthy during his years inside.

[Tyre Smoke]

The security in and out doesn't bother me. When I worked for Securicor it was very much the same if you wanted to go into the ATM packing room or the vault for instance.

[Eyersey1234]

I've done prison visits, a very odd experience the first time you go in. All your stuff is put in a locker in the visitor centre where you check in at, all you are allowed to take is a bag of coins to buy drinks and food from the canteen.

Edited by Eyersey1234 on Sunday 13th June 15:39