I'd do something to land me in solitary confinment.
You don't even have to do anything... it's called Protective Custody. But believe me, you don't want to go into protective custoder. Solitary confinement is ok for the first couple of weeks, but if it drags on months, it can literally drive you insane. And once you're in PC, you're marked for life. Word seems to travel in prison quite fast and permanently whether you've been in PC or not... only people that check into PC are people that owe others money, rapists/childmolesters, and people that has ratted others out.
Unless you KNOW your life is going to be endangered, go into general population. If you then feel you can't handle it, then go into PC.
but really if your not "hooked up" with an orginazation that has a presence in prison then you better join up quick or beat the S**t out of the biggest guy you can find.
Yeah, this is very true. Easiest way to make to do time is to hook up with a group. Those that don't are normally the ones that are targetted by the other inmates, and are the ones that do their time lonely.
Anyone who says they can make it in jail, but posts here, is a liar. It would break you.
Jail and prison are two totally different things. Jail is what they throw you into at the county police station.... completely different from the expereinces of prison, where you have organized people that have been there for decades.
And no, it didn't break me. I did a year in Millhaven J-Unit (SHU - Super Handling Unit) and 2 years in Collins Bay Institution (med/max... also known as Gladiator School).
depends on where you live, there is a reason why most western countries consider us prison a violation of basic human rights
BS, they're not for human rights violation. I don't like the US system, because it overly punishes people rather than rehabilitate them, but the reason why certain nations would refuse an extradition is because of sentencing problems... either too much time, or the death penalty, which they may not support. But find me a single link or instance where somebody was refused extradition because of the US human rights violation.
what would be your genius idea?
Maybe actual rehab? In Canada, the recidvidism rate is only 1/5. Why's that? Because Canada focuses on rehab. You go through drug programs if you're an addict, get an education if you don't have one, learn a trade skill if you have no means to get a job, etc. My best friend earned his MCSE in there, i myself got a job teaching ESL and math in there.
I've read sooo many articles that gives suggestions on what you should do to make it through prison, and the fact is, most are entirely wrong and dangerous. No, don't kill or beat up the biggest motherfcker that you see. Unless you can get away from that prison (such as getting sent to the SHU like me) or he gets sent away, you're going to be living within a few feet from him for the next few years... and people dont' forget things in there, especially if it has to do with 'face'. That's all anybody has in there, is their word, and their image (normally of a tough guy). You break either of those two, i suggest you leave that prison somehow... especially if you're new, because the other guy is going to be quite established with a lot of friends.
Best thing you can do is lay low, but put a strong front up. Don't whimper when they talk to you, don't hide yourself in a corner. If they see somebody that is weak, they WILL prey on you. At the best, they will just play mindgames on you (this is VERY popular, especially on first time inmates... consider it like their past times)... at the worst, they really will try to take advantage of your weakness. Using fear to intimidate you into doing things you normally wouldn't.
So if you do get sent in, act normal. Talk to people, play games with them (cards, ball, etc), watch tv, etc. Even if you don't smokes, buy whatever smokes you can... they really are the currency in there (cartons of cigarettes that is... bails are worth crap). Hook up with a group if you can. If your indian, hook up with the Native Brotherhood. If you're black, hook up with the various gangs. If you're white, hook up with the skin heads, bikers, Christians, etc. If you're Muslim, hook up with the Muslims. And if your Asian, you really shouldn't have a problem... Asians treat other Asians awesome in there. I remember when i first got sent from the SHU to Collins Bay, they didn't have room for me, so they stuck me in the hole. Within hours, word had gotten around there that another Chinese guy arrived, and everybody had taken up a collection of stuff and sent a care package down to me... full of smokes (they forgot freaking matches though), canned foods, books, etc.
Anyways you can definitely do time without getting into trouble. Took me a couple of years to figure that out, but once i did, i just did my own time. That's what they call it, just 'do your own time'. Don't mind anybody else. Don't get into all the BS that goes on in there, gambling, drugs, violence, etc.