If you’re going to prison for the first time and you’re not an arch criminal or member of The Mob or some gang, I’m sure that you’re totally unaware of what awaits you. And we’re all fearful of the unknown.  So I want to share with you the following advice.  It will help get you through the first few weeks as this will be a crucial time for you. 

 All the men or women you first meet will be sizing you up and making their own opinion of you.  Are you a good guy or a rat?  Are you an easy mark that can be used or are you able to defend yourself?  Use this info as your compass through the choppy prison waters you face.  And remember, with the support of your family and friends you can do this! 

1. Respect is a big deal in prison.  It was the word I heard more than any other when I was in “the joint”.  So try to show it (even if you think the other guy is a jerk) as much as possible.  If you bump into someone, it’s best to say “Excuse me” or “Sorry” and keep walking  Most people won’t make a problem.  If a guy does,  don’t argue. Just keep moving.  If he persists, just remember this; you want every situation in prison to be a win-win situation.  But if it can’t be win-win, then you have to win!  Always retain your self-respect!  Being afraid is normal, but acting afraid invites trouble.  And if you don’t defend yourself, don’t expect other guys to stand up for you.
2. Besides showing respect to people, be sure you respect their property.  Nobody has much in prison, but everyone is very protective of what they do have.  So don’t touch their stuff, eg., books, pens, jackets, and never enter their cells or sit on their bunks unless invited.
3. Don’t be in a rush to make friends.  It’s natural for you to want to reach out to another inmate to help you when you first enter prison.  But fight the urge and hang back for a while.  You’ll find that many of the people interested in hangin’ with you are after something, so watch and listen and get a read on those around you.  Many of the people will be very different than what you’re used to on the outside.  Some will be GOODCONS like me who can give you useful information and advice.  On the other hand, the first ones who come up and want to make friends with you may be rats or predators or just idiots who nobody wants to be with, so they try to get the new guys to buddy up with them before they know any better.  Also, don’t be a joiner, because being a member of a group will make you enemies as well as friends.  Just take it slow and be pleasant with everyone.  Friendships will develop naturally between you and coworkers, teammates, members of your faith or guys in the bunks or cells around you.   In assessing people as friends, remember, “THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO WELL IN A HURRY IS MAKE A MISTAKE!”
4. Be careful when you want to change channels on the TV, make a phone call or use a piece of workout equipment.  Ask around first to see what the “protocol” is for taking turns so you don’t get somebody all “twisted”.
5. Unless you’re asked to join a conversation, don’t!  It’s better to start one up on your own or wait until someone asks you a question or your opinion.  And NEVER talk about your case to anyone you don’t know well.  Guys use that kind of information to spread rumors or extort money.  And besides, even GOODCONS don’t want to hear somebody whining about how bad his problems are!
6. At main line (the dining room of prison), don’t reach across other people’s trays. Guys hate that because stuff may fall off your sleeve or you can drop something in their food.  It also gives some guys a good excuse to put you down in public and show off to their friends, and you can’t argue because your wrong! 
7. Don’t be a rat!.  When you have to talk with correctional officers don’t even mention another prisoner because people will think you’re ratting.  And although some rats get preferential treatment from prison officials, many others end up hurt. 
8. Don’t borrow money, gamble, or accept any gifts from guys you don’t know.  All these things can make you indebted to someone, and you don’t want to owe anybody anything in prison.  You may have to repay it in ways that I don’t even want to talk about . . . let’s just say that debt could be hazardous to your health!
9. Maintain good hygiene habits.  Wash frequently.  If you sneeze, cover your mouth with your sleeve, not your hand.  Maintain a clean area around your bunk.  And in the bathroom, give frequent courtesy flushes so odors are kept to a minimum.  We always lived by the rule, “DROP ONE, FLUSH ONE”

10.  Finally, write and call often.  Your family and friends need to hear from you as much as you need to hear from them.  But don’t write or say anything that you wouldn’t want someone in the prison to know.  All calls are recorded and mail can be screened as well.  So save any important topics for the visiting room where you can discuss them privately, face to face.  And let visitation occur as much as possible.  Believe me, you need to be close to people who genuinely care about you and whom you can trust, and they need to see for themselves that you are doing alright.

Hey, you’ll do fine if you follow these rules . . . AND KEEP YOUR NOSE CLEAN.  You FEELIN’ ME?