Prison Trivia

September 8 2022

Is Shawshank Redemption a True Story?

Judy Ponio Prison Trivia where was shawshank redemption filmed, who wrote shawshank redemption

A person who had just been released from prison.

Published Sept. 8, 2022

The American prison drama film was released to positive reviews 27 years ago, but many are still wondering, is Shawshank Redemption a true story?

If you’re one of those people wondering about this, you’re on the right place on the web. In this post, we’ll discuss what inspired the Shawshank Redemption plot and everything you need to know about the movie.

Shawshank Redemption Overview

Story Plot

The Shawshank Redemption follows the story of Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), a banker who was convicted for the murder of his wife and her lover. He received two consecutive life sentences and was sent to Shawshank State Penitentiary. Andy, however, maintained that he is innocent. Unfortunately, nobody believed him.

So for the next 19 years, he planned his prison escape. Andy befriends fellow convict and contraband smuggler Ellis Redding, a.k.a. Red, (Morgan Freeman), the film’s narrator, who unintentionally helps the banker with the equipment necessary for his escape. He also became entangled in the money-laundering operation run by Samuel Norton (Bob Gunton), the prison’s warden.

One day, another inmate told Andy that he overheard a former cellmate at another prison claim responsibility for the crime he was convicted. He immediately informed the warden about it and used his knowledge of the money laundering operation as leverage. But Norton sent him to solitary confinement instead.

Upon going out of solitary confinement, Red learned that Andy asked another prisoner for a rope. The next day, the prison guards found Andy’s cell to be empty. They then found out that for the past 19 years, Andy had been digging a tunnel in his cell wall which connected to the prison’s sewage pipe. He also brought with him all the records containing the corruption at Shawshank State Penitentiary and mailed them to a local newspaper.

With details of his money-laundering business exposed, Norton committed suicide to avoid arrest. Andy, on the other hand, made it to Mexico where he was later joined by Red after the latter was released.

Critical Acclaim

Despite its initial box office flop, The Shawshank Redemption has now been hailed as one of cinema’s most appreciated films. Along with seven Academy Award nominations, Frank Darabont’s The Shawshank Redemption is the highest-rated film of all time on IMDb. In 2015, the Library of Congress (LC) selected the film for preservation in the National Film Registry (NFR).

So, Is Shawshank Redemption a True Story?

The short answer is no, the Shawshank Redemption is not a true story. It’s an adaptation of a Stephen King novella published in 1982. Originally titled “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption”, the story first appeared in Different Seasons, a compilation of four King stories based around the four seasons of the year.

In the early 1990s, Frank Darabont adapted King’s novella into a screenplay, cutting Rita Hayworth from the title to prevent confusion. The Shawshank Redemption marked Darabont’s theatrical debut as a filmmaker, although it was neither his first or last adaptation of King’s work.

Darabont’s first screenwriting and directing credit is for a 1983 short film adaptation of King’s story “The Woman in the Room,” which was published originally in the 1978 anthology Night Shift.

King charged the filmmaker merely a dollar for the rights to adapt “The Woman in the Room” into a short film, which allowed Darabont to return in 1987 for Rita Hayworth as well as Shawshank Redemption. King only received $5,000 from Darabont for the rights to adapt the prison drama into a feature film following his screenwriting credit on A Nightmare on Elm Street 3.

Darabont has partnered with King on numerous occasions since The Shawshank Redemption, most recently on another period prison drama, The Green Mile.

Why Do People Think Shawshank Redemption is a True Story?

Given that The Shawshank Redemption is not based on a real-life story, why do some people think it is?

It could be influenced by the similarities between Darabont’s film and a real-life escapee held in the same penitentiary. Although the story and the prison are located in Maine, The Shawshank Redemption was filmed in Mansfield at the Ohio State Reformatory.

Coincidentally, in 1959, Frank Freshwaters escaped from the Ohio State Reformatory after serving a 20-year term. While Freshwaters, like Dufresne, recognized the benefits of being friends with jail officials, he did not dig his way to freedom. Additionally, the criminal was caught 56 years after his escape, an event that would have significantly affected the finale of The Shawshank Redemption.

Is Shawshank State Penitentiary Real?

Just like the movie’s plot, Shawshank State Penitentiary does not exist in real life. Though the novel sets the story and the prison in Maine, there is no actual prison in that state named Shawshank.

Aside from King’s novella and the Shawshank Redemption movie, the fictional penitentiary also appeared in the Hulu original series Castle Rock. It’s also mentioned in King’s other works like Nona, Bag of Bones, and Later.

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Judy Ponio is a professional writer for GlobalTel

About The Author

Judy Ponio is a professional writer and SEO specialist. She works hard to ensure her work uses accurate facts by cross checking reputable sources. She is the lead author for several prominent websites covering a variety of topics including law, health, nutrition, and more.

August 17 2022

Death Penalty Statistics in the US: Are We a Barbaric Country?

Judy Ponio Prison News, Prison Trivia

Published August 17, 2022

Capital punishment or the death penalty is not new to the US, or to the world for that matter. Across the world and in different cultures, the death penalty had been used to punish criminal offenders since time immemorial. In the US, we’ve been executing people way before there ever was a United States.

In recent years, however, the death penalty had been getting a lot of flak for its barbaric nature. As a result, many countries have abolished it. Recent death penalty statistics also show that this form of punishment is on the way to becoming just another grim part of human history.

But what most people don’t realize is that the death penalty is still very much legal in the US. Though not as common as before, people are still getting legally killed for a crime they may or may have not committed. In fact, some states have rewritten their death penalty statutes leading to more executions.

To help shed light on how the US is faring against the world in terms of capital punishment, let’s look at the death penalty statistics locally and globally.

Capital Punishment Statistics Worldwide

Due to some countries’ secrecy laws, getting the exact numbers for capital punishment around the world can be difficult. Here are a few statistics that some organizations have managed to record:

As of 2021, 170 countries have abolished the death penalty or are no longer practicing it. (Source: United Nations Human Rights Commission)
At least 55 countries still impose the death penalty for ordinary crimes. (Source: Aljazeera)
In 2021 alone, Amnesty International recorded a total of 579 executions in 18 countries. Though these numbers tend to be understated due to secrecy laws in countries like North Korea, China, and even Vietnam. (Source: Amnesty International)
Most of the reported executions happened in China, Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Syria with China being the world’s leading executioner. (Source: Amnesty International)
As of May 2022, 90 countries have expressed commitment to the full abolition of the death penalty. (Source: penalreform.org)

Death Penalty Statistics in the US

Here are some of the statistics you need to know about capital punishment in the US:
- Since the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976 up until July 2022, there had been a total of 1,547 death row executions. That averages to about 33 executions per year. (Source: Death Penalty Information Center)
- A total of 27 states and the federal government (US Department of Justice and US Military) still have active death penalty laws. Although 13 of these states and the US military haven’t had any executions for the last ten years. (Source: Death Penalty Information Center)
- American opinions about the death penalty differ by religious affiliation. About 58% of Catholics support capital punishment along with 66% of Protestants. While 65% of atheists and 57% of agnostics are against it. (Source: PEW Research Center)
- In 2020 alone, there are a total of 2,469 death row inmates in both federal and state prisons. (Source: Bureau of Jail Statistics)
- California, Florida, and Texas held half of all the country’s death row inmates with California having the highest number of people on death row at 28%. (Source: Bureau of Jail Statistics)
- More than half of those executed (55.6%) are of Caucasian descent, 34.2% are African-American, and 8.3% are Latino. (Source: Death Penalty Information Center)
- Around 64% of US adults believe that the death penalty is justified for certain crimes like murder. (Source: PEW Research Center)
- White people also comprise more than 75% of the victims in death penalty cases. (Source: Death Penalty Information Center)
- Since 1983, more than 185 death row inmates have been exonerated after they were proven innocent of the crime they were sentenced to death with. (Source: Death Penalty Information Center)
- A total of 14 offenders in 7 states were sentenced to death in 2020 alone. (Source: Bureau of Jail Statistics)
- As of 2020, about 98% of inmates on death row are male. (Source: Bureau of Jail Statistics)
- About 66% of all juveniles sentenced to death were people of color while 35% of all executions in the past 40 years involved black inmates. (Source: NAACP Criminal Justice Project)
- 63% of US adults believe that the death penalty does not deter people from committing heinous crimes. While nearly 8 in 10 believe there’s a risk that an innocent person can get executed. (Source: PEW Research Center)
- A total of 16 women have been executed since the courts reinstated the death penalty. (Source: NAACP Criminal Justice Project)

US States with Active Death Penalty Laws

As of 2021, there are still 27 US states that enforce the death penalty. This includes:

Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Inidiana
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Wyoming

Methods Of Execution

So, how are the executions performed? Let’s take a look at how capital punishment was performed back then and how it evolved over the years.

Hanging / Firing by Squad – is the method of execution for the first 150 years of the country’s existence until the invention of the electric chair.
Electrocution – became the standard method of execution back in 1880 until 1982. Convicts were electrocuted in an electric chair before lethal injections were introduced.
Lethal Injection – Although some other states still use electrocution and hanging, lethal injection is still the most preferred method of execution today.

Life on Death Row

It’s not exactly a secret that the death row is one of the scariest places in prison. If those in the general population complain about expensive jail calls and lack of access to health and dental services, death row inmates have to worry about receiving their execution notice every single day.

According to the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC), most inmates who received a death sentence spend around 10 years on death row waiting for the courts to decide on their appeals or for their notice of execution to be issued.

During these years, they are isolated from the rest of the prison population. They can’t participate in the prison’s educational and employment programs. Plus, they typically spend 23 hours a day in their jail cells with very limited visitation and recreation time. Because of these conditions, many inmates on death row suffer from various physical and mental health issues.

Are We a Barbaric Country?

It depends, really. If we only consider the number of people being executed per year, it may seem like the US has a propensity for killing offenders. But if you look at the bigger picture, you’ll see that the situation has significantly improved.

Still, the US remains one of the world’s most prolific criminal executioners – a dubious honor for a country that has always prided itself on its democracy. In short, we are not barbaric but we still have a long way to go in terms of achieving a more humane criminal justice system for all Americans.

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The lobby of one of the best prisons in the world.

June 2 2022

The 13 Best Prisons in the World

Judy Ponio Prison Trivia

Published June 3, 2022

When you think about prison, thoughts of steel bars, dark corridors, bad food, and total dismay fill your mind. However, you’ll be surprised to learn that not all prisons resemble this way. There are, in fact, institutions around the globe that, despite being genuine, are the complete opposite of what you imagined.

Here are 13 of the best prisons in the world, which have changed our view of correctional facilities.

1. HMP Addiewell, Scotland

Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP) Addiewell in southern Scotland, a designated learning prison, allots each resident 40 hours per week of skill development. The 700 prisoners at Addiewell are definitely in good hands since the facility focuses on facilitating a meaningful and purposeful transition back to a normal life.

2. Justice Center Leoben, Austria

The Justice Center prison, a pleasant European dwelling for non-violent offenders, provides each inmate with a single cell, private bathroom, kitchenette, and television. That, plus their fully outdoor recreation area-equipped gym, and basketball court, would make for a surprisingly comfortable sentence.

3. Champ-Dollon Prison, Switzerland

A newly refurbished dwelling in Champ-Dollon, which was once known for its overcrowding, now features triple occupancy cells with attached bathrooms. Inmates who have access to these kinds of amenities are less likely to see themselves as criminals and more likely to see themselves as college roommates working together for a common goal like rehabilitation.

4. Sollentuna Prison, Sweden

This correctional facility provides individual cells with comfortable mattresses and adjacent bathrooms for its inmates. In addition, the inmates have access to a state-of-the-art gym, an open kitchen, and a large recreation room with a television and a couch.

5. Cebu Prison, Philippines

Cebu Prison may not meet the best jail compared to the previously mentioned prisons, but it has championed inmate recreation and creativity. This correctional facility allows its inmates to sing and dance to a variety of musical songs. In addition to performing for public audiences, the inmates also sign autographs.

6. Pondok Bambu Prison, Indonesia

Pondok Bambu is a women’s facility providing everything from air conditioning systems, refrigerators, karaoke systems, and nail salons. However, the facility’s luxurious living comes at a price: corruption. In this prison filled with sculptures and gardens, recreational programs and body treatments would be unquestionably relaxing.

7. Suomenlinna Prison, Finland

Suomenlinna is one of the few “open jails” across the world, with no bars or locked doors. Instead, there are shared kitchens, showers, toilets, as well as saunas in the single-room, single-story dwelling. Large flat-screen televisions occupy the lounge, and a barbeque area is situated near a pond. In addition, inmates are allowed to work on building projects all across the island.

8. Bastoy Prison, Norway

Over 100 inmates are housed in Oslofjord’s Bastoy Island Prison, where they can partake in recreational activities like horseback riding, tennis, fishing, and sunbathing. With cottages to live in and farms to work on, the inmates at this minimum security facility likely forget they are imprisoned.

9. Otago Corrections Facility, New Zealand

While Otago’s security measures are strict, the facility offers its inmates comfortable dwellings and places importance on skill development as a means of self-transformation. In addition, Otago tries to effectively rehabilitate inmates by providing courses in dairy farming, light engineering, and cooking, among others.

10. Aranjuez Prison, Spain

This innovative institution addresses how correctional facilities tear families apart by allowing infants to spend their early years with their parents. In addition, this facility enables inmates to experience fatherhood despite their circumstances and be a parent to children who are too young to realize the realities of being imprisoned. Aranjuez has a children’s play room, cribs, and Disney figures on the walls.

11. JVA Fuhlsbüttel Prison, Germany

This Hamburg prison is home to a large number of long-serving inmates with spacious cells with beds, a couch, a separate shower and toilet, and plenty of natural light. In addition to its other facilities, JVA Fuhlsbüttel provides its inmates with laundry machines, a recreation room, as well as a conference room.

12. Halden Prison, Norway

Halden is deemed the world’s most humane prison for a reason: it is surrounded by rich greenery and natural light. In addition, the facility offers comfortable quarters, and considerable privacy is provided to all inmates. This prison is every long-serving inmate’s dream. It provides skill-building classes, a recreation area equipped with television programs, movies, and video games, a fully-equipped gym, and a fully-operational recording studio. This Nordic Prison may actually be the best prison in the world!

13. San Pedro Prison, Bolivia

San Pedro is on this list due to its one-of-a-kind prison community design, despite not being among the most luxurious prisons. With self-appointed leaders and entire neighborhoods filled with homes and families, as well as businesses and cafes, this place may be the unusually nicest prison in the world.

A More Holistic Approach

These 13 best prisons in the world demonstrate a holistic approach to incarceration that treats inmates as human beings. Moreover, they are examples of how correctional facilities with guarded security offer inmates second chances.

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Krizzia Paolyn is a professional writer for GlobalTel

About The Author

Krizzia Paolyn is an SEO Specialist with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Before launching a career in SEO, she started as a content writer for various digital magazines and renowned publications. It has always been her passion to share her voice, and at the same time, to encourage other people to speak up.

A photo depicting on of San Quentin's famous inmates.

March 31 2022

10 Most Famous Inmates From San Quentin Prison

Judy Ponio Prison Trivia

Published April 1, 2022

San Quentin State Prison is a well-known correctional facility located in the San Francisco Bay Area. With famous past and present inmates and a huge facility capable of housing up to 5,000 inmates.

San Quentin is home to California’s death row and gas chamber. With an estimated worth of more than $100 million, it has developed a reputation as one of the most respected and feared state prisons on the West Coast. Below are the San Quentin famous inmates.

10 San Quentin Famous Inmates

A big portion of San Quentin Prison’s popularity comes from its inmates with notable, if not controversial reputations. Here are ten San Quentin famous inmates who became household names in the US:

1. Harvey Murray Glatman (12/10/1927 – 9/18/1959)

Harvey Glatman was a late 1950s American serial killer. He used many aliases and pretended to be a professional photographer in order to entice his victims, promising them a modeling career.

2. Mack Ray Edwards (10/17/1918 – 10/30/1971)

Edwards was a serial killer in the United States. Between 1953 and 1970, he was responsible for the murders of at least six children in L.A. County, California. Sentenced to death, Edwards hanged himself in his cell.

3. Richard Trenton Chase (5/23/1950 – 12/26/1980)

Richard Chase was a serial killer in the United States who murdered six people in Sacramento, California, over the course of a month. He was dubbed “The Vampire of Sacramento” since he drank the blood of his victims and cannibalized their bodies.

4. Scott Lee Peterson (10/24/1972 – Present)

Scott Peterson is a convicted American murderer who is currently serving a life sentence on death row at San Quentin State Prison. In 2004, he was convicted in Modesto, California, of the first-degree murder of his pregnant wife and second-degree murder of their unborn son. In 2005 he was sentenced to death by lethal injection. His case is currently pending an automatic appeal to the California Supreme Court.

5. Richard Allen Davis (06/02/1954 – Present)

Richard Allen Davis is a convicted murderer in the United States whose criminal record inspired support of the “three-strikes law.” He is currently incarcerated at the San Quentin State Prison’s Adjustment Center on death row. In 1996, he was convicted of the first-degree murder of 12-year-old Polly Klaas.

6. Merle Ronald Haggard (04/06/1937 – 04/06/2016)

His childhood was difficult following his father’s death, and he was arrested multiple times during his youth. However, he turned his life around following his release from San Quentin Prison in 1960, launching a successful music career.

7. Sirhan Bishara Sirhan (03/19/1994)

Sirhan is a Palestinian holding Jordanian citizenship who mortally wounded US Senator Robert F. Kennedy on June 5, 1968; Kennedy died the next day. Sirhan was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of murder.

8. Wallace Fard Muhammad (02/26/1877 – circa 1934)

Wallace Fard was the Nation of Islam’s founder. He arrived in Detroit in 1930 under an alias and preached an idiosyncratic brand of Islam to the city’s black population. Then, in 1934, he vanished from public view, and Elijah Muhammad became the Nation of Islam’s leader.

9. Stanley Tookie Williams III (12/29/1953 – 12/13/2005)

Stanley Williams was a gangster in the United States, well known as one of the Crip gang’s founders and leaders in Los Angeles, California. Williams was convicted and sentenced to death in 1979 for the murder of four individuals during two robberies.

10. Charles Milles Manson (11/12/1934 – 11/19/2017)

Last on the San Quentin famous inmates list, Charles Manson was a convicted criminal and cult leader in the United States. He founded the Manson Family in mid-1967. In July and August 1969, Manson’s followers conducted a sequence of nine murders in four locations. He was convicted in 1971 of murder and conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the deaths of seven people. Manson was initially sentenced to death but was reduced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 1972. He died in late 2017 at the age of 83 after serving his life sentence.

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March 17 2022

What You Should Say When Writing a Letter to a Judge

Judy Ponio Prison Trivia

Published March 18, 2022

If you’re a defendant in a trial, writing a letter to a judge might help you have a lighter sentence. However, you should know that communicating with a judge outside the court is against the court system.

There are instances that your lawyer might allow you to write a letter to a judge. But, it’s best to talk to your criminal defense lawyer first to know if there’s a chance that a letter will help your case.

If your criminal defense attorney permits you to do so, here are some tips on what you should say when writing a letter to a judge.

Write Professionally

When writing a letter to a judge, you should write in a business format. Use formal fonts and formal words. Remember that you are talking to a professional, not to a friend. You may check out a sample letter with a business format and time on the internet.

Address The Judge By Her Correct Name

The first step is to address the letter to the correct name of the judge. Not putting the appropriate name of the judge might show rudeness. You might also seem that you’re not sincere because you did not even put an effort to know the name of the judge.

Accept Responsibility And Show Regret

Your primary purpose when writing a letter to the judge is to ask for a lighter sentence. So, it’s best to admit that what you did was wrong and show remorse and regret about it.

For instance, you can write that you are guilty and not proud of what you’ve done to the victim.

The letter should also be telling the judge that you are sincere and truthful. In this way, there’s a big chance that they will be swayed with your words and be more lenient with you.

A judge reading a letter from a defendant

State The Purpose Of Why You Are Writing

The judge should know why you are writing a letter in the first place. Do you want a lighter sentence? Do you want a lesser fine? You should include it in your letter.

For example, you can write that your family depends on you. Lengthier jail time will affect them emotionally and financially. It can also result in job loss and loss of income. All these can affect you, your family, and everyone around you.

Include Other Arrests Or Crimes

It’s to your advantage if this is your first offense. However, if you have previous convictions, you should convince the judge that you’ve already overcome the issue and you’re no longer a risk of re-offending.

State Example Of Your Good Deeds

Another thing that you can include in your letter is an example of your previous good deeds — this makes it like a character reference letter. If you’re a member of an organization or do charity work, then you can let the judge know through your letter.

This can help the judge have an impression of how capable you are of living as a good person.

Thank The Judge

Lastly, it would help to thank the judge for taking the time to read your letter. You can also include that you’re hoping for lenient sentencing and then sign the letter with your name.

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The welcome sign to the state of Indiana.

February 10 2022

How Many Prisons Are There in Indiana?

Judy Ponio Prison Trivia

Published February 11, 2022

From minimum-security to maximum-security, the state of Indiana has 18 prisons. Three primary factors are considered when assigning a security level to an adult offender: the offense committed, criminal history, and the length of the sentence. Inmates who follow prison rules, do their assigned tasks, and participate in rehabilitative programs may be transferred to a less restricted security prison.

Minimum Security Prisons

The South Bend Community Re-Entry Center is the state of Indiana’s oldest operating work release program. Offenders who participate in the program are allowed to leave the prison for outside jobs but must return evening. It was established in 1975 to accommodate selected criminals within 12 months of their release under the mentioned program, preparing them for their reintegration into society.

Established in 1991, the Edinburgh Correctional Facility holds 320 adult male offenders. It currently employs approximately 44 crews to support Camp Atterbury and other local and state authorities.

The two other minimum security prisons in Indiana are Madison Correctional Facility and Chain O’Lakes Correctional Facility.

Medium Security Prisons

Westville Correctional Facility started in 1949 as a state-run mental health facility named Beatty Memorial Hospital in honor of an Indianapolis doctor who devoted his life to mental health services. In 1974, prisoners in Indiana filed a lawsuit in a United States District Court, requiring the state to lessen prison overcrowding. This resulted in the hospital being transferred to the Department of Correction.

The 52-acre Rockville Correctional Facility was originally built in the early 1950s as a United States Air Force radar base. In 1970, it was converted into a juvenile male facility. After holding young juveniles, older juveniles, adolescent men, and adult females together, it was turned to an adult females-only facility in 1992.

The Putnamville Correctional Facility, formerly known as the Indiana State Farm, began in 1915 as a 3,500-acre minimum-security work camp. It was reclassified as medium security in 1977 and began accepting convicted felons. The Department of Natural Resource was given 917 acres in 2009. The facility has received several environmental awards, including the 2010 Organization of the Year for Green Initiatives from the Hoosier Environmental Council; and the 2011 Trees Inc. Recycling and Sustainability Award.

Other medium-security prisons in Indiana are Heritage Trail Correctional Facility, Plainfield Correctional Facility, Correctional Industrial Facility, New Castle Correctional Facility, and Branchville Correctional Facility.

A photo of the hall in one of the prisons in Indiana.

Maximum Security Prisons

Pendleton Correctional Facility, founded in 1923 and formerly known as Indiana Reformatory, is a level three maximum security adult male facility with a minimum-security dormitory attached to the main facility. It has an average population of 1,791.

Built in 1860, Indiana State Prison is the state’s oldest prison. It is a level four maximum security facility with 2,434 adult male offenders serving long sentences and/or those convicted of violent crimes.

The Indiana Women’s Prison facility holds the distinction of being the country’s oldest and first adult female prison. It was built in 1872 and has a daily population of approximately 600.

The Wabash Valley Correctional Facility and the Miami Correctional Facility are Indiana’s other two maximum-security prisons.

Intake Facilities

Indiana has two intake facilities that receive newly committed adult offenders. Offenders are evaluated using interviews, reports, and diagnostic tests during the intake process. The information gathered during the evaluation is used to determine an offender’s program assignment and facility. Female offenders are admitted to Rockville Correctional Facility, while male offenders are admitted to Reception Diagnostic Center.

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a felon getting arrested by two police officers

December 19 2021

What Are The Most Common Felonies In The US

Judy Ponio Prison Trivia

Published Dec 19, 2021

If you know someone charged with a felony crime or if you are only curious about the felony charges in the US, then you are in the right place. Below is the discussion about some of the common felonies in the US.

What is a Felony?

Felony crimes are more severe than misdemeanor charges. It can be both nonviolent or violent unlawful acts and are usually punishable by prison time and hefty fines.

These types of crimes always have a heavier sentence than a misdemeanor because felonies can have a massive impact on public safety. Let’s look at the most common felonies in the United States this 2021 as per Statista.

The Most Common Felonies in the US

Property crime – 6,452,038
Larceny-theft – 4,606,324
Violent crime – 1,313,105
Burglary – 1,035,314
Aggravated assault – 921,505
Motor vehicle theft – 810,400
Robbery – 243,600
Rape – 126,430
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter – 21,570

Different Classifications of Felony Charges

Class 1 Felony:

This is the most serious charge that has a penalty that ranges from a minimum of life prison and a maximum of a death sentence.

Class 2 Felony:

Has a penalty of twenty years minimum of imprisonment and a maximum of life in prison.

Class 3 Felony:

Has a penalty of five to twenty years of imprisonment.

Class 4 Felony:

Has a penalty of two to ten years of imprisonment.

Class 5 Felony:

Has a penalty of one to ten years of imprisonment.

These are the general punishment of felony charges. However, the state can impose additional jail time and fines, or sometimes, both.

What To Do With A Felony Charge

When charged with a felony crime, it’s best to seek help from a criminal defense lawyer. Felony charges can keep you from getting a job, can result in jail time, and, if serious enough, it can cost you your life.

Note: Property crime was the most common sort of crime committed in the United States in 2020, accounting for 6.45 million reported incidents. During the same year, 1.31 million incidents of violent crime occurred, including 921,505 instances of aggravated assault.

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November 28 2021

Difference Between a Jail and a Prison

Judy Ponio Prison Life, Prison News, Prison Trivia

Published Nov 28, 2021

While the terms “jail” and “prison” are frequently used interchangeably, they serve distinct purposes. The key difference between jail and prison is that jails are designed for short sentences and temporary confinement, whereas prisons are intended for felony sentences exceeding one year.

Understanding What Jails Are

County governments generally operate jails under the jurisdiction of the county sheriff. They are designed for shorter stays and serve a smaller population than prisons. Additionally, smaller detention facilities are still classified as jails and are operated by municipal governments. These facilities are used to detain individuals for a few hours or days before transferring to a larger jail.

Prisons house two distinct populations at any given time. The first category includes individuals convicted of relatively minor offenses such as misdemeanors or probation violations. The second group consists of innocent individuals. A sizable proportion of those imprisoned are in the pre-trial stage and have been either denied bail or are unable to pay. These individuals may have no prior convictions, depending on the severity of their charge.

Since the 1980s, the proportion of pre-trial detainees in the jail population has increased. The proportion used to be around 50% but has since grown to approximately 75%.

Understanding What Prisons Are

Prisons are for those who have been convicted of felonies. Although a jail sentence is possible for more minor felonies, a prison sentence is a norm. Prisons are typically much larger than jails and are run by the state or federal government. Certain prisons are privately run. Arizona has sixteen prisons, six of which are privately owned.

While prisons are not pleasant places, they provide additional services to their residents. They offer a range of educational opportunities, including GED classes. Although it may seem counterintuitive, inmates have greater freedom of movement within prisons. They are assigned tasks and allotted time in a large, outdoor yard.

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A solitary confinement where unruly inmates are being sent to

Difference Between Jail and Prison

Prison is defined as “a place of confinement reserved for lawbreakers,” while jail is defined as “a place of confinement reserved for persons held in lawful custody.” Many people believe that each of these terms has a distinct meaning and should never be used interchangeably.

Issues with Jails

Since jails are designed for shorter stays, they typically have fewer services than a standard prison. Inmates have complained about insufficient medical care, a lack of nutritional food, and inappropriate movement restrictions, such as a lack of access to exercise. Individuals with a criminal history or those who anticipate conviction may be compelled to accept a plea in order to avoid being sentenced to prison. This desire to exit jail as quickly as possible may result in an inmate accepting a plea deal that is less than favorable to him or her.

Another serious issue with jails and their conditions is that they detain innocent people. While it may be necessary to detain someone before conviction in certain circumstances, the presumption of innocence means that they cannot be punished until their guilt is established. The inhumane conditions in jail act as a form of punishment. This is one of the reasons why having an attorney present at a bond hearing can be so beneficial. It can mean the difference between being released before trial and being forced to serve months in jail.

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A screenshot of the AfterPrisonShow by Joe Guerrero on Youtube.

November 21 2021

Joe Guerrero: From Prison to YouTube Sensation

Judy Ponio Prison Life, Prison Trivia

Published Nov 21, 2021

When we think about the prisoners, we often assume that no more opportunity will knock on their doors once they get out of prison. Most people believe that there’s a lot of chance that former inmates will go back to jail.

To be honest, that is somehow true. Many surveys and studies show that the rate of recidivism in the US is high. But not all former inmates have the same fate.

Joe Guerrero, the creator of the “AfterPrisonShow” on YouTube, used to be a prisoner for more than seven years. He was charged with non-violent drug offenses and arrested on December 20th of 1998.

He didn’t care what would happen to him; he didn’t even care if he died. He was caught with drugs and illegal firearms. For him, he was already a lost cause.

Until he realized that nobody cared if he would die. This is what Joe has to say when he finally came to his senses:

“Wouldn’t it be the worst damn thing in the world, if people thought this was the best for me… for someone who had been nothing… except a burden, and a constant failure.”

That’s when he started changing his life. He wants to live a new life once he goes out of jail. That’s why after his release, all he did was try several things that he thought could change his fate.

Before his fame, he tried applying for several jobs where he never got hired because of his records.

He said that this is the main reason why other ex-convicts return to committing a crime again. But for him, this is not a reason to give up. Quitting is not an option anymore.

He tried to shoot videos of himself whenever he went out to apply for a job. He aimed to show how hard life can be once a prisoner returns to society.

All the videos he uploaded weren’t noticed until he uploaded a tutorial video about making a jail-house tattoo gun.

He didn’t expect that that video would blow up. At first, it started as 2,000 views only within the first week of uploading the video. Then it began to grow, and now he already has millions of subscribers to his channel.

When he started to have lots of viewers, he then created the AfterPrisonShow, in which he details what it’s like inside a prison.

He now has 700 videos on his channel, and most of its purpose is to help those struggling with incarceration.

He wanted others not to lose hope, the same thing he didn’t do. He wanted to let everyone know how he, a former inmate, once lost, juggled his way up to rise and change his fate.

How Joe Guerrero Found Success On YouTube

YouTube is an excellent chance for people of many backgrounds, as YouTuber Joe Guerrero discovered. Guerrero was in the terrible but not uncommon position of being free but unemployed following a seven-year sentence, but he had a purpose when he was released. He desired to recount his life as a cautionary tale.

Here are some of the reasons why his show, After Prison Show, gained popularity.

1. He is unapologetically honest

Guerrero’s life behind bars is anything but idyllic. However, the challenges and hardships he endured while serving his term shaped him as a person, and he does not attempt to disguise this fact.

While each story he recounts is fascinating, they are all true. Not all stories portray him positively, but that only adds to their value and makes him easier to trust.

2. He possesses a sense of humor

While telling jokes during his vlog is not always suitable, when it is, he bombards the viewer with his brand of dark comedy. It lightens the tone in videos that could otherwise be tedious to binge on.

He obviously possesses the ability to do so, as evidenced by the contrast between his lighter videos and his heavier ones.

3. He never runs out of topics to discuss

When someone has had a life similar to Guerrero’s, marked by difficulty and low points, the bright side is that they frequently have many experiences worth sharing. He uploads a video practically daily, and each one is distinct yet familiar.

He primarily discusses his time behind the prison, but it’s fascinating when he discusses his current life and the problems he continues to face.

4. He is very informative

Another silver lining to his ordeal is that he has a wealth of knowledge about prison culture and standards to impart. In addition, he moved between institutions and has a unique viewpoint on the system that is beneficial to anyone who has a family member or friend who is incarcerated or is simply curious about the justice system.

He is critical and opinionated, but he clearly distinguishes between this and the facts about how things work, which perhaps makes his channel informative.

Overall

Guerrero provides what people desire: a unique perspective. He attracts an audience with his wit and candor. Sometimes, all it takes to succeed on YouTube is to be open and candid about your life.

An inmate holding on to the prison bars.

Before his fame, he tried applying for several jobs where he never got hired because of his records.

He said that this is the main reason why other ex-convicts return to committing a crime again. But for him, this is not a reason to give up. Quitting is not an option anymore.

He tried to shoot videos of himself whenever he went out to apply for a job. He aimed to show how hard life can be once a prisoner returns to society.

All the videos that he uploaded weren’t noticed until he uploaded a tutorial video about making a jail-house tattoo gun.

He didn’t expect that that video would blow up. At first, it started as 2,000 views only within the first week from uploading the video. Then it started to grow and now he already has millions of subscribers to his channel.

When he started to have lots of viewers, he then created the AfterPrisonShow, in which he details what it’s like inside a prison. (Related: How to Survive Prison: Survival Tips From Former Inmates)

He now has 700 videos in his channel, and most of its purpose is to help those people who are struggling with incarceration.

He wants others not to lose hope, the same thing he didn’t do. He wants to let everyone know how he, a former inmate, once lost, juggled his way up to rise and changed his fate. (Related: How a Convicted Felon Became a Triathlon Champion)

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The ruins of an abandoned prison in the US.

November 15 2021

Abandoned Prisons in the US You Can Visit

Judy Ponio Prison Life, Prison Trivia

Published Nov 15, 2021

Inmates come and go, and apparently, so do prisons. Through the years, many facilities have gone out of use and been replaced by new ones.

There are a lot of reasons why a prison facility would be closed. Some prisons were closed for their inhumane treatment of inmates. Others were simply too old and unsafe for human habitation.

Going through the halls of these prisons can be a surreal experience. But, though they’ve become museums, you can still find some trinkets that remind you of all the lives altered inside them. The hopes, the dreams, and the lives that perished within its walls. They also give you an idea of how incarceration in the country has changed over the years.

Here are seven abandoned prisons in the US that you definitely need to visit:

1. ALCATRAZ FEDERAL PENITENTIARY

Built on an island off the coast of California, this facility is dubbed to be inescapable. Yet, in June 1962, three inmates escaped the island by sailing in a makeshift raft. Whether they safely made it to land is still unknown to this day.

During its heyday, Alcatraz was known to be the world’s most notorious prison. Well-known prisoners like Al Kapone and Mickey Cohen had once roamed its walls. It operated for 29 years, eventually closing on March 21, 1963, due to a combination of high maintenance costs and poor reputation.

2. EASTERN STATE PENITENTIARY

If you’re an avid fan of horror documentaries, then this prison would be familiar to you. Built in 1829, the Eastern State Penitentiary is famous for its solitary confinement. Inmates were kept in solitude at all times. Even when they had to leave their cells, the guard would put a cover over their heads. Because of overcrowding and reports of inhumane treatments, it was abandoned in 1971. Since then, various reports of paranormal activities inside it have also emerged. (Related: 10 Most Haunted Prisons and Jails in the US)

3. OHIO STATE REFORMATORY

Opening in 1986, the prison was closed 90 years later due to a class-action lawsuit filed by prisoners citing brutal and inhuman conditions. Most of the movie Shawshank Redemption scenes were filmed here, which made it a famous tourist destination. Like most prison museums, it holds various tourism events throughout the year.

4. OLD IDAHO PENITENTIARY

Built by inmates in 1872, this historical prison, considered one of the abandoned prisons in the US, remained operational for 101 years. Idaho was not yet a state when it was first opened. During its more than a decade of operation, it has hosted 13,000 inmates, 215 of them were women, including Lyda Southard. She is best known as Lady Bluebeard, a serial killer famous for murdering her five husbands to collect on their life insurance.

Several serious riots took place inside it in the early part of the ’70s over poor living conditions. This led to the prison’s closure in 1973. They then transferred the remaining inmates to the new Idaho State Correctional Institution. The site is now a museum, and a botanical garden flocked by tourists wanting to learn more about the state’s incarceration history.

The front facade of Old Idaho State Penitentiary, one of the abandoned prisons in the US you can visit.

Image Source: Wikimedia

5. YUMA TERRITORIAL PRISON

Even though it only operated for 33 years, the Yuma Territorial Prison is one of Arizona’s most notable tourist sites. Opening in 1876 (well before Arizona became a state), it has housed up to 3,069 prisoners until 1909. Some of its most notable inmates were Mexican revolutionary Ricardo Flores Magon and train robber Burt Alvord. The museum has appeared in various movies and TV shows as well as books and plays.

6. WYOMING FRONTIER PRISON

When the Wyoming Frontier Prison, one of the abandoned prisons in the US you can visit, first opened in 1901, it only had 104 cells with no running water or heating system. Considering Wyoming’s weather, inmates surely had a hard time. Like most of its contemporaries, the facility has a dungeon for erring inmates. The most prominent feature of which is the “whipping pole,” where prisoners are handcuffed and whipped with rubber hoses.

The prison also had its own share of gruesome history. It used to have a “death house” for inmates on death row. Apart from the gallows, the prison also added a gas chamber to its methods of execution. A total of nine inmates were hanged, while five others lost their lives in the gas chamber.

After more than 80 years of housing inmates, it closed in 1987 due to structural damages after a low-budget movie was filmed on location. It is now listed in the National Registry of Historic Places and receives about 15,000 visitors annually.

7. WEST VIRGINIA PENITENTIARY

An imposing stone structure built in the Gothic architectural style, West Virginia Penitentiary looks more like a castle than a prison. Equally interesting is its 119-year history of housing accused and convicted criminals.

At some point during its operation, it was listed as one of the Top Ten Most Violent Correctional Facilities in the US. The facility has also executed 94 inmates throughout its history. Eighty-five were hanged while the rest were electrocuted. The original electric chair is still on display and included during official tours.

8. MISSOURI STATE PENITENTIARY

Missouri’s infamous maximum-security prison, characterized by Time magazine as “the bloodiest 47 acres in America,” was the state’s oldest continuously operational jail west of the Mississippi. Between 1836 and 2004, when the prison was ultimately decommissioned, there were riots, escapes, brutal attacks, and executions. In 1937, the state enacted a measure authorizing deadly gas executions. Until capital punishment detainees were relocated to a new jail, a total of 40 men and women were executed in the gas chamber here.

9. POTTAWATTAMIE SQUIRREL CAGE JAIL

Once known as Pottawattamie County Jail (a newer, still-operational facility currently stands in its place), this historic Iowa prison is one of the few remaining instances of a ‘squirrel cage’ jail — so nicknamed for its archaic revolving jail cells shaped like a turntable. The innovative design enabled a jailer to spin the three-story block with a hand crank, shifting the pie-shaped cells and occupants.

10. WYOMING TERRITORIAL PRISON

Butch Cassidy, the notorious outlaw, was one of the ‘wild west’ offenders imprisoned within the stone walls of Wyoming Territorial Prison, which started as a federal facility in 1872 and became the state penitentiary in 1890. It was dubbed ‘the big house across the river,’ even though individuals who lived there were not exactly made to feel at home due to the harsh surroundings. Striped-uniformed detainees were obliged to remain silent at all times and perform hard labor.

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