First, let me say thank you for buying this book. You have either bought it for yourself, for a friend, or for someone you love. Either way, you made a smart move.
Let's be honest with each other. Nobody plans to go to jail or prison. It just happens. One day you are living your life, and the next day you are standing in front of a judge wondering how things got so far off the rails. It happens to good people every single day.
Going to jail or prison is like your first day at a brand new school. You don't know anyone. You don't know where to go. You don't know who to sit with, what the rules are, or who runs what. The difference is, in this school, the wrong move can get you hurt.
That is why I wrote this book. Not to scare you. To prepare you.
I write this assuming you have already hired a lawyer, fought your case, and are either about to be sentenced or already know you are going in. You are nervous and unsure about what is coming. That is perfectly normal. What you are about to go through is one of the hardest things a person can face.
But here is the truth: most people survive it. And the ones who do the best are the ones who were prepared.
My Story
You are probably wondering what makes me qualified to write this. Fair question.
I was a computer programmer. A good one. Good enough that people paid me very well to gather information electronically. What I did not know was that one of my jobs was a setup. I coded right through it. Next thing I knew, I was unable to post bail and sitting in a facility wondering what the hell just happened.
While I sat there, I started watching. I noticed two types of people coming through the doors. The new ones were either crying, staring at the floor, or completely frozen. The old-timers walked in like they owned the place. They got their paperwork, made their calls, and helped themselves to food from the guys who were too scared to eat.
The old-timers were not tougher. They just knew what to expect. They had been through it before. And that made all the difference.
Think about your favorite fast food restaurant. You walk in relaxed and confident because you know exactly how it works. You know where the line is, how to read the menu, where the napkins are. Now imagine walking into that same place blindfolded and panicked. Completely different experience, right?
This book is your map. By the time you finish it, you will know where the napkins are.
The Honest Truth About the System
The United States locks up more people than any other country on earth. We house about 25% of the world's prisoners, even though we are only about 4% of the world's population. We spend more money on locking people up than we do on educating them. That should tell you something.
Prisons are run by states, the federal government, and private corporations. All of them have one thing in common: a bottom line. They are not primarily in the business of turning your life around. They are in the business of housing bodies. Think of it like a storage facility. They get paid to keep you there.
Private, corporate-run prisons are a growing part of the system. In my opinion, they are the worst option for an inmate. When a company profits from keeping you locked up, there is very little incentive to help you get out or stay out. The longer you are there, the more money they make. Keep that in mind.
It costs taxpayers roughly $35,000 to $60,000 per year to house one inmate in the United States. Some states spend even more. Do the math. That is a lot of money flowing through a system that is not exactly focused on your well-being.
None of this is meant to make you angry. It is meant to help you understand the world you are entering so you can navigate it with your eyes open.
Your Rights as a Prisoner
Even though you are locked up, you are still a citizen of the United States. You still have rights. These cannot be taken from you. Know them.
- The right to be safe and secure while imprisoned
- The right to freedom of religion
- The right to proper clothing and nutrition
- The right to an education
- The right to legal materials and access to the courts
- The right to medical care
- The right to sue the prison system if any of these rights are violated
We will go deeper into your legal rights later in this book. For now, just know that the system cannot do whatever it wants to you. There are rules. Learn them.
How to Use This Book
This book is packed with tips and lessons. Pay close attention to the MAJOR TIP boxes. Those are the ones that can seriously affect your safety and your time. Every chapter also ends with a quick list of tips to review.
Read this whole book before you go in if you can. If you are already inside, read as much as you can as fast as you can. Every chapter has something useful for you.
Good luck. Let's begin.
- Pete
This excerpt covers 3 of 14 chapters. The full book has everything you need before, during, and after your sentence.
If you are reading this book, you probably did not read my first one - 'How Not to Go to Prison.' That is okay. It was not exactly a bestseller. But honestly, if you are holding this book right now, you are probably too far down the road for that version anyway.
This book is for people who are facing time. Maybe you are waiting on a sentence. Maybe you already have a date. Maybe a family member is about to go in and you want to understand what they are walking into. This book is for all of you.
The chapters ahead will help you stay safe, keep your head on straight, and get out in one piece. I am going to be straight with you the whole way through. Some of what I say will make you uncomfortable. That is fine. Uncomfortable now is better than blindsided later.
I learned a lot of what is in this book from an old con who took me under his wing when I first went in. I was at the right place at the right time to help him out, and he paid me back with knowledge that probably kept me out of even bigger trouble. There are a lot of ways to make a bad situation worse in prison. This book will help you avoid most of them.
What Prison Is Really About
Prison was designed to keep people who broke the law away from the rest of society. That is the simple version. The real version is a little more complicated.
Most prisons are run to cut costs and hit a budget number. Rehabilitation is not the top priority. Housing bodies is. The people running your facility are more focused on keeping things calm and keeping costs low than they are on helping you become a better person.
That does not mean your time has to be wasted. It means you have to take responsibility for your own growth. Nobody is going to hand it to you. We will talk more about this in later chapters.
For now, understand the environment you are entering. It can be dangerous. It can be boring. It can be demoralizing. But it is survivable. Millions of people have done it. You will too.
The Guard Is Not Your Enemy
MAJOR TIP
One of the most important lessons in this entire book: Respect the guards. They did not put you there. They are just doing a job. Treat them with basic respect and your life inside will be much easier. Do NOT try to buddy up to them either. Just be professional, be polite, and mind your business.
Sounds simple, right? You would be surprised how many people blow it on this one.
The guard controls your daily life more than anyone else in that building. They control when you eat, when you sleep, when you get yard time, and when you get visits. A guard who respects you can make your time manageable. A guard who does not can make every single day miserable.
You are not there to make friends with them. You are not there to impress them. You are there to do your time and get out. Keep it simple. Speak when spoken to. Say please and thank you. Stay out of drama. Be someone they do not have to worry about.
On the flip side - do not try to get cozy with guards either. Other inmates watch everything. If they think you are too friendly with staff, that creates problems of a different kind. Find the middle ground and stay there.
Tips Before You Go In
If you have any time before you report, use it wisely. These tips can make a huge difference in how your time goes - and how your life looks when you get out.
TIP #1
Make sure you understand everything about your case and your sentence. If something is unclear, ask your lawyer to explain it again. This is your life. You have every right to understand exactly what is happening to it. Your lawyer will move on to the next client the moment you walk out the door - make sure you get your questions answered first.
TIP #2
Be civil and respectful to everyone in the process - court clerks, intake officers, processing staff. These people did not do anything to you. Treating them badly will not help you and can actually hurt you. Bad paperwork, slow processing, and lost forms happen more often to people who act like jerks. Keep the waters calm.
TIP #3
Make peace with your family and friends before you go in. You are going to need their support. Whether it is money in your account, letters, visits, or just knowing someone on the outside cares - those connections matter more than you think. Patch things up before you go.
TIP #4
Get all your important paperwork in order. Make copies and have them notarized. Birth certificate, social security card, any legal documents related to your case. If originals get lost while you are away, you will have certified copies. This saves enormous headaches when you get out.
TIP #5
Find a notary before you go in. Start with your bank - most banks have a notary on staff and it is usually free for account holders. Your lawyer will also have one, though they may charge. Laws vary by state, so confirm with your bank first.
TIP #6
Renew your driver's license if it is close to expiring. Most states now offer licenses valid for 8 to 10 years. Renewing it before you go in means one less headache when you get out. Walking out of the gate with a valid ID and the ability to drive is a huge advantage on Day One of freedom.
TIP #7
Freeze your credit with all three bureaus. This is now FREE in all 50 states - that changed in 2018. A credit freeze stops anyone from opening new accounts in your name while you are away. Contact Equifax at equifax.com, TransUnion at transunion.com, and Experian at experian.com. Each will give you a PIN to unfreeze when you are ready. Do this before you go in.
TIP #8
Consider selling your car, electronics, and appliances you will not need. Put that money in a savings account. By the time you get out, your car will need major work and your electronics will be outdated anyway. The cash will mean a lot more to you on the outside. Before selling any computer or phone, wipe the hard drive completely so your personal data does not walk out the door with it.
MAJOR TIP
Get in shape before you go in. You do not need to be a bodybuilder. But you need to not be weak. Start walking every day. Do pushups, sit-ups, anything to build your baseline fitness. A strong body helps your mind stay strong too. Consult your doctor before starting any new exercise program.
TIP #9
Donate your clothes or give them away. Your body will change inside - most people lose weight and gain muscle if they stay active. Clothes you own now probably will not fit when you get out. Donating also gives you a tax deduction if you itemize.
TIP #10
Assign a Power of Attorney before you go in. This is a trusted person - a spouse, parent, sibling, or close friend - who can sign documents, manage accounts, pay bills, and handle legal matters on your behalf while you are away. Choose this person very carefully. It should be someone with good judgment who will not take advantage of the access they have.
TIP #11
You still have to file taxes while you are in. Do not give the government another reason to come after you. Your Power of Attorney can handle this. The form they will need is IRS Form 2848 - Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative. Download it free at irs.gov.
TIP #12
Back up your photos, documents, and important files digitally. Upload everything to a cloud storage service like Google Drive or iCloud before you go in. This is safer than a USB drive, which can get lost or damaged. Your family will be able to access your files from anywhere, and you will not lose your memories while you are away.
TIP #13
If you have valuables you cannot trust anyone to hold, rent a safe deposit box at a bank. Jewelry, cash, important documents - lock them up. Rent the box for the length of your sentence. It will be exactly where you left it when you get out.
TIP #14
Open a simple, no-fee checking account before you go in. Checks may come in while you are away - tax refunds, gifts, government payments. Your Power of Attorney can manage this account for you. Banks require you to open accounts in person, so do this before your report date.
TIP #15
Write a will. It sounds morbid, but accidents happen. Do not leave it to the state to divide your belongings. Simple wills can be created online for free. Search for free will templates in your state, or ask your attorney to draft one.
TIP #16
If you already have your DOC number, look up your facility online. Once you know where you are going, you can send ahead notarized copies of your ID documents and give people the address so they can be added to your visitation and call list faster. The sooner that list is set up, the sooner you get visits and calls.
TIP #17
Keep your expenses low while inside. Every dollar you save is a dollar waiting for you on the outside. When you get out, you will need a place to live, transportation, food, and clothes. Having money in the bank on release day changes everything.
TIP #18
Think about your family back home. Your time is hard. Their time is hard too. They are worried, scared, and dealing with everything alone. Do not tell them every bad thing that happens inside - it will only make them panic and cause problems for you. Write letters and make calls that reassure them. Keep the relationship strong. You are going to need each other when this is over.
TIP #19
Learn your rights. Read the amendments section at the back of this book carefully. The Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendments are especially important for anyone in the criminal justice system. Knowledge of your rights is not just interesting - it can protect you.
There are 11 more chapters in the full book covering daily life inside, staying safe, your legal rights, and life after release.
This chapter is for anyone who has been charged, indicted, or has a warrant out for their arrest. It is also for anyone who has not been charged yet but suspects it is coming. If that is you, pay close attention. The decisions you make right now will affect everything that happens next.
The tips in this chapter apply whether you are about to turn yourself in or are already sitting in a holding cell. Read every one of them.
MAJOR TIP
SHUT UP. Do not talk about your case with anyone except your paid attorney. Not your best friend. Not your mother. Not your cellmate. Not the detective who says he wants to help you. Nobody. This is the single most important tip in this entire chapter.
Tips for Turning Yourself In
TIP #1
If there is no warrant for your arrest yet, do not ask the police to check for you. Go online to your local court's website instead. Most courts list active warrants publicly. If you cannot find anything online, have your attorney check for you. The less contact you have with law enforcement before you need to, the better.
TIP #2
Talk to NO ONE about your case except your lawyer. Not your girlfriend. Not your parents. Not your coworkers. People you trust today can become witnesses against you tomorrow. Some will do it on purpose. Some will do it without meaning to. Either way, you lose. Keep your mouth shut and let your attorney do the talking.
TIP #3
Hire a lawyer you trust before you do anything else. You do not have to go with the first one you meet. Shop around. Interview a few. Find someone who makes you feel like they are in your corner. And whatever you do, do NOT tell your lawyer whether you actually committed the crime. That information goes with you to the grave.
TIP #4
Find a reputable bail bondsman before you need one. Do not wait until you are sitting in a holding cell. Research bonding companies in your area now. When you talk to a bondsman, do not discuss the details of your case. It is none of their business, and they can be called as witnesses. All they need to know is the charge and the bond amount.
TIP #5
If there is a warrant out for your arrest, turn yourself in. Do not make them come looking for you. Showing up on your own tells the judge you are not a flight risk. That alone can lower your bond amount or even get it waived. Running only makes everything worse and adds charges on top of whatever you are already facing.
TIP #6
Turning yourself in gives you some control over how it happens. If you are surrendering to a busy city jail, bring your bondsman with you or have them meet you there. Processing can take many hours. Having someone on the outside ready to post bond immediately can shorten your time inside significantly.
TIP #7
If you are on prescription medication, bring it with you when you turn yourself in. Bring a letter from your doctor explaining what you take and why. County lockups will usually allow your medication. If you think there will be a delay in getting your meds once inside, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about taking your dose right before you go in.
MAJOR TIP
THIS IS CRITICAL: Once you are in custody, you only have to give them your name, date of birth, and address. That is it. Do NOT answer any other questions. If an officer starts asking you questions about the crime, ask clearly: 'Am I under arrest?' If yes, ask for the charges and ask to be Mirandized. Then say only this: 'I wish to remain silent and speak with my attorney.' After that, not one more word.
TIP #10
Your Miranda rights matter. When an officer reads you your rights, they are telling you that anything you say can and will be used against you in court. They mean it. Do not try to explain yourself. Do not try to clear things up. What cooperation does is give the prosecution more ammunition. Your lawyer will tell you the exact same thing the moment they arrive.
TIP #11
You have the right to make a phone call. Use it wisely. Call your attorney first. If you cannot reach your attorney, call your co-signer or a family member who can contact your bondsman. Do not call anyone and start talking about what happened. Phone calls from jail are recorded. Every single one.
TIP #12
Do not talk to the media. Not one word. If a reporter calls, do not answer. If a news crew shows up outside your house, walk past them and say nothing. The media does not care if you are innocent. They care about a story. Look up what happened to the Duke Lacrosse players in 2006. They were completely innocent. The media destroyed them anyway. Not one outlet apologized.
How the System Works for a Misdemeanor
Understanding how the legal process works can take a lot of the fear out of it. Here is a plain-language breakdown of what happens in a misdemeanor case from start to finish.
Arraignment: Your first appearance in court. Always plead not guilty at arraignment, even if you plan to take a deal later. This keeps your options open.
Pre-Trial Conference: A meeting between your lawyer and the prosecutor. They discuss plea deals, the strength of the case, and your background. This is where a lot of deals get made. Your attorney does the talking here.
Sentencing: If you plead or are found guilty, the judge decides your punishment. Be calm, respectful, and remorseful. The judge is human. How you carry yourself matters.
Plea Bargaining and How It Works
Here is something most people do not know: about 95% of all criminal cases in the United States end in a plea deal. Not a trial. A deal.
A plea deal gives you a known outcome. You agree to plead guilty to a charge, usually a lesser one, in exchange for a set sentence. If you go to trial and lose, the judge may hit you much harder because of the time and money the system spent on your case.
That does not mean you should always take the first deal offered. Sometimes the offer is bad and trial is the right move. Your attorney will know the difference. Listen to them.
Understanding the Bail Process
Bail is a set amount of money the court uses to make sure you show up for your court dates. When a judge sets bail, they are thinking about two things: are you a danger to the community, and how likely are you to run?
- Cash Bail - You pay the full bail amount yourself. You get it back when all court appearances are complete.
- Release On Your Own Recognizance - The judge releases you based on your word that you will show up. No money required.
- Surety Bond - A bail bondsman agrees to pay the court if you do not show up. You pay the bondsman a non-refundable fee.
- Property Bond - The court places a lien on property you own as security for the bail amount.
MAJOR TIP
Watch the calendar. If your case is scheduled close to an election, your attorney may be able to delay the trial until after the election. A prosecutor who is running for office does not want your case on their record either way. Timing matters more than most people realize. Talk to your attorney about this.
Chapter Two Summary
- Shut your mouth. Talk only to your attorney.
- Turn yourself in rather than making them come for you.
- Understand the process so nothing surprises you.
- Plead not guilty at arraignment, no matter what.
- Know your bail options before you need them.
- Phone calls from jail are recorded. Every single one.
- The media is not your friend. Never speak to them.
The full book covers everything after sentencing too - daily survival, legal rights, and life after release.
Sentencing day is one of the worst days of your life. There is no way around that. The only day that comes close is the day you were arrested. On this day you sit in a courtroom and wait for a stranger in a robe to decide how many years of your life you are going to lose.
Here is something important to understand. The judge is a human being. They have good days and bad days just like everyone else. They have opinions, moods, and personal feelings about certain kinds of crimes. The law gives them guidelines, but within those guidelines there is often a range. Where you land in that range can depend a lot on how you present yourself.
Even if you took a plea deal, the judge can still sentence you more harshly if they feel you are not truly sorry for what happened. Talk to your attorney about how to present yourself correctly on this day.
What Happens at Sentencing
Sentencing day is when you find out the actual length of your sentence - how many months or years you will serve, how much probation you will have afterward, when you may be eligible for parole, if at all.
After the sentence is handed down, one of two things happens. Either you are taken into custody right then and there. Or, in rarer cases, you are given time to get your affairs in order before you have to report. If you are lucky enough to get that extra time, do not waste a single day of it.
Reporting to a Federal Facility
In most federal situations, you are allowed to report to the nearest reception facility on your own rather than being immediately taken into custody at the courthouse. This gives you extra time - usually 15 to 30 days or more - to finish getting your affairs in order.
- Take almost nothing with you. Anything you bring will be taken, inventoried, and either stored or shipped home.
- Bring a money order for around $300 made out to yourself or the facility. This goes into your trust account for commissary. Use a United States Postal Service money order only.
- Wear clothes you do not care about. Everything you are wearing will be boxed up and shipped to whatever address you provided.
- Bring only your driver's license and social security card. Leave your wallet at home.
- Leave all jewelry behind. No watches worth more than a few dollars. No rings, chains, or anything that could make you a target.
MAJOR TIP
While you are being transferred or moved between facilities, make contact with your family every chance you get. A quick phone call or message goes a long way. They are sitting at home imagining the worst. Let them know you are okay. That communication keeps both of you stronger.
The Pre-Sentence Investigation Report (PSI)
Before you are sentenced, a probation officer will compile a report about you called the Pre-Sentence Investigation Report, or PSI. It is one of the most important documents in your entire case and most people do not take it seriously enough.
This report tells the judge who you are as a person. It covers your background, your history, your family, and the circumstances of your crime. A good PSI can mean the difference between the low end and the high end of your sentencing range.
Do NOT lie on this report. If they catch you in a lie, and they often do, your sentence can get worse. Be honest, be humble, and present yourself as someone who takes responsibility and is ready to do better.
The RDAP Program - How to Cut Years Off Your Sentence
This section could be worth 12 months off your sentence. Read it carefully and talk to your attorney about it.
If you are heading to a federal facility and have any history with drugs or alcohol, this is one of the most important things in this entire book.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons offers a program called RDAP - the Residential Drug Abuse Program. If you qualify and successfully complete the program, you can receive up to 12 months off your sentence.
- You must be a non-violent offender to qualify for the sentence reduction.
- You must have a documented history of drug or alcohol abuse or dependence.
- The program runs for about 500 hours over roughly 9 months.
- Upon successful completion, you can receive up to 12 months off your sentence.
This is not a trick. It is federal law and it works. But you have to qualify, apply, and complete the program without screwing up. Talk to your attorney about RDAP before you are sentenced. Getting it noted in your PSI helps.
MAJOR TIP
Do not borrow and do not lend. This was solid advice 500 years ago and it is solid advice inside. If you borrow something you cannot pay back, you owe someone. If you lend something you cannot afford to lose, you will lose it. Debt in prison is dangerous. Stay out of it from day one.
Tips for Surviving Your First Few Days
The first few days are the hardest. Everything is new, everything is loud, and everyone is watching you. Here is how to get through them.
TIP #1
Be civil and respectful to guards and staff from the very first moment. Guards want a boring, uneventful shift. Be the most boring inmate in the building. That is a compliment in here.
TIP #2
Travel light. Bring almost nothing in with you except your clothes and your money order. No cash. No jewelry. No valuables of any kind. People watch what you put into your personal property bag. If they see cash or anything worth taking, you become a target immediately.
TIP #3
Keep your commissary situation to yourself. Do not tell anyone how much money you have or do not have. Play broke. Keep only what you need in your account. If other inmates know you have money, some of them will try to get it from you one way or another.
MAJOR TIP
If any inmate offers you something for free when you first arrive - cigarettes, food, a candy bar, anything - turn it down. There is no such thing as a free gift in prison. Gifts that appear out of nowhere are debts waiting to happen. Once you accept it, you owe. And what they ask for in return is never worth what they gave you.
TIP #4
Do not accept anything from anyone when you first arrive. Not cigarettes, not food, not protection, not company. Nothing is free. Respectfully decline everything. If they push, push back firmly. You cannot appear weak.
TIP #5
Before you go in, try to prepare your mind for what confinement feels like. Spend a few hours in a small room by yourself with no phone and no distractions. Your cell is going to be roughly 8 feet by 5 feet. That is smaller than most bathrooms. Getting mentally ready for that kind of small space before you are in it makes a real difference.
TIP #6
Do not talk to anyone in depth until you know who they are and what they are in for. The person next to you at the first meal might be a former cop, someone targeted by a gang, or someone whose crime is going to create problems for anyone associated with them. Keep conversations short and surface level until you know the landscape.
TIP #7
Before you report, mail yourself a copy of important documents to the facility address - your visitors list, notarized ID documents, anything that will help get people approved for your call and visitor lists faster. The sooner those lists are set up, the sooner you have outside contact. Outside contact keeps you sane.
Chapter Three Summary
- Present yourself with respect and humility at sentencing.
- Take your PSI interview seriously - it directly affects your sentence.
- Ask your attorney about the RDAP program if you have any substance history.
- Report to your facility with almost nothing - travel light.
- Stay calm during in-processing. Keep your head down and get through it.
- Do not accept gifts from anyone in your first days inside.
- Keep your financial situation completely private.
- Contact your family at every opportunity to reassure them and yourself.
The first week is the hardest. After that, you will start to understand the rhythm of the place and things will feel slightly less impossible. Hang in there.
You just read 3 of 14 chapters.
The full book covers daily survival, staying safe, your legal rights inside, early release strategies, and everything you need for life after release. Written by someone who has been there.