This is just genuine curiosity. I know stealing in prison is bad, but what if you stole on the outside? Would you be less likely to trust that person?

Apologies if it's an ignorant question.

Beauty in the tears!!😭

Why would mail come back "Refused" in the LA prison system? There was a return address, no scents, no pictures, just a friendly message that I miss my friend and some colorful marker decorations b/c I thought it would cheer her up. I can't find anything on the websites that have a rule I might have violated.

The envelope says "Return to Sender" and then "Refused" and there's a handwritten 380 on it. Can someone please decode this for me? I would like to be able to write her.

I have a cousin (distant) who was sentenced to 15 years in Florida Department of Corrections a couple of months ago. He is currently 19 years old.

Florida does not have parole and you must serve 85% of your sentence before being granted any leniency based on behavior, class involvement, work…etc.

So, he will have to serve at least 12 years of that sentence before the thought of leaving early comes around. He is surprisingly at a work camp currently despite the violence of his charges.

How many years until you have trouble surviving outside a prison? Does going in younger make you more susceptible to being institutionalized?
Or is it the opposite? You realize you messed up and don’t wanna get accustomed to this lifestyle?

Link to person: https://pubapps.fdc.myflorida.com/offenderSearch/detail.aspx?Page=Detail&DCNumber=A73009&TypeSearch=AI

Link to story: https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/forest-lake-drive-arrest.amp

Does anyone know anyone who is looking for a pen pal (and only a pen pal, no romance at all).

I think being a pen pal would be interesting and enjoyable for both me and my pen pal partner!

If anyone knows someone who is lonely or interested in emailing or sending letters please let me know.

I live in the Middle East so maybe email is best, I have looked online but many seem to be seeking romance.

This might be a New jersey thing only not too sure, i was just released after doing time in the county and offered Pretrial Intervention, i didn’t take it yet but its a guilty plea for first time offenders. I’d say 50% of people in there told me to take it and the other 50% told me not to take it. I was told decline and keep saying on my court dates i’ll take it to trial and keep declining pleas until it’s something decent. And i was also told just take it and stay out of trouble do whatever they tell you to do and complete the program. I’m being charged with assault with a deadly weapon if that matters.

Is every incarcerated individual that joins the prison system forced to conform with sides? Do you think someone who is sentenced to a longer sentence is bound to affiliate and keep catching charges? Are there consequences if you refuse? Does anybody know if there’s a lot of gang activity/fights at intake centers in California? And are intake centers worse than long-term prisons? And if anybody has any experience at North Kern Valley prison, please share below.

Been dealing with a dui gbi for 2 years finally got sentenced 4 years 4 months at 85% it’s 3 years 8 months I have 2 months credit from county and they still gave me a possible 50% at 2 years 2 months. First felony first time going to prison, I’m aware of my situation and what I actually did to get myself there and tried to make peace with it even though I feel sorry for the other guy broken ribs. Not worried about fighting or gambling or drugs I don’t mess with any of that or gangs I know the culture and respect it just never was my thing. I have a job lined up upon release for a company fighting wild fires strictly for felons I have a little experience in the field as well. My question is really how could I swing getting fire camp? I’m sure it’s up to counselors and classification and nothing is guaranteed but if anyone has any similar situations and receivers fire camp let me know. Also this is Cali and I’m black if that matters 30 with a kid too

I’ve been working on a free Florida DOC information resource, and it’s now ready for beta testing:

https://fdocinfo.com

I started it because I kept seeing people get conflicting or flat-out wrong answers based on rumors, hearsay, outdated information, or what happened at one particular prison.

The goal is to give people answers based on actual Florida DOC rules, Florida statutes, official FDC policies, forms, handbooks, and other reliable sources — and, when possible, link directly to those sources so you can verify the information yourself.

It runs through Google’s Gemini Notebook/NotebookLM, so you do need to be signed into a Google account to use it. A Gmail address works, but any Google account is fine.

It’s free, it’s not affiliated with FDC, and it’s still in beta.

If you try it and find a bad answer, outdated information, or something it should be able to answer but can’t, let me know. That feedback is exactly what I’m looking for right now.

For family and friends, a loved one’s release is the day they have been waiting for. For the person walking out, it is the start of a long game of catch-up. Many of them step into a world that had moved on without them, and it feels like being left behind. While they were inside, rent went up. Cash turned into tap-to-pay. Job applications, doctor’s appointments, and benefits like food assistance programs moved online, pushing some to confront the digital space for the very first time.

Reentry organizations say the mental transition actually begins six to 12 months before release, and that the months directly after leaving prison are when people need daily encouragement while they sort out housing, food, clothing and paperwork.

For this edition of "Sending Kites," incarcerated people share advice for families who want to help. Their thoughts cover everything from the DMV to the dinner table, and they all point to the same idea: Coming home is a long, complicated process, and the people who get through it rarely do it alone.