Prison Trivia

two detectives conducting an investigation

October 10 2021

How To Find Out If The Police Are Investigating You

Published Oct 10, 2021

If you’ve ever watched a police procedural on television, you’ve seen investigators conduct criminal investigations. While real life differs significantly from fiction in numerous ways, criminal investigations occur on a daily basis. So, how to tell if the police are investigating you?

Criminal investigations take a variety of forms. However, if you see any of the following, you may need to consult a lawyer:

1. You have committed an offense

In general, investigators do not conduct investigations for the purpose of conducting investigations. If you have committed an unlawful act, such as embezzling funds from your company, your behavior may eventually be discovered. If someone alerts the authorities, you may almost certainly expect an investigator to initiate an investigation into your activities.

2. You have become aware of unusual activity

Oftentimes, investigators must amass a large amount of evidence in order to solve a crime. If you spot suspicious vehicles parked near your home, receive strange phone calls, or have unknown individuals contact you via social media, you may be the focus of a criminal investigation.

3. You have received an information request

When establishing a case, criminal investigators often comb through a range of records. Additionally, they may collaborate with banks, educational institutions, and employers to ascertain facts. If you receive an unusual request for information, an investigator may be attempting to bring criminal charges against you.

4. You are informed by an investigator

Finally, arguably the most obvious indication that you are under investigation is when an investigator notifies you. This, however, may take a variety of shapes. Officers may request that you submit to questioning. Alternatively, someone may pay a visit to your home or place of business and ask you questions. While the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects you against self-incrimination, you may become the subject of a criminal investigation if investigators communicate with you.

If you believe you are being investigated for a crime, you may experience a range of emotions. However, you should not let paranoia prevent you from taking the essential efforts to safeguard your legal rights and interests.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW WHEN YOU FOUND OUT THE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING YOU

Once you receive anything mentioned above, it’s essential to be cautious and know what to do next.

Here are some things you should know to help you on what you should do next when police are investigating you.

CREDIBILITY DOESN’T MATTER

Whether you have previous criminal records or not, it doesn’t matter. The prosecutors will still look at the evidence and see what they can prove. But, your credibility somehow affects how your case will be decided.

For instance, if you’re a law-abiding citizen, then your sentence will be more likely in minimum.

Your credibility won’t help to determine whether you’re guilty or innocent. However, it will affect how you will be treated once you’re found guilty.

DO NOT SPEAK TO THE POLICE WITHOUT A LAWYER

Talking to the police or with the feds without a lawyer is a big no. It would be best if you don’t do that. You have the right to remain silent, so use that to your advantage.

If police went to your house and ask you questions, odds are they don’t have strong evidence against you yet. Remember that, the grand jury only has strong evidence against you once you receive a target letter.

So if they want to arrest you, they would’ve done that already. But police can’t unless you’re proven guilty. They are only trying to get information out of you, which can be used later against you.

Therefore, it’s better to speak to a lawyer first and seek legal advice.

POLICE LIES

Yes. Police do lie. In fact, they’re allowed to. Police officers will often tell you lies to get information out of you.

For instance, they may tell that your partner in crime already confessed and is pointing out the crime to you. Which you might end up explaining that you’re only at the scene of the crime but did not do it. So there, the police got the information out of you.

a defendant being interrogated by a police

However, even if the police can lie during the prosecution, you, on the other hand, cannot. If you lie to the police, you can be charged for perjury or obstruction of justice.

It’s better if you remain silent and ask for a lawyer instead.

YOU’RE NOT OBLIGED TO MEET WITH A POLICE

When you receive a letter or an invitation from the police asking you to come over and talk, you can decline it if you want to. You are not obliged to meet with the police unless you receive a target letter.

You can talk to a lawyer first before talking to the police and cooperate with their investigation. Again, anything you say can be used against you, so it’s better to remain silent first.

These are a few things to keep in mind on how to tell if the police are investigating you. The main important thing here is that it’s better to speak to a lawyer first before you do anything else.

Krizzia Reyes is an author for GlobalTel.

About The Author

As a professional writer at many renowned websites Krizzia Paolyn has covered a wide range of topics in many industries. Her knack for uncovering important truths and conducting thorough research on each topic she writes about has helped thousands of people across the world.

A typical poster for prison movies on Netflix.

September 5 2021

5 Hard-Hitting Prison Movies on Netflix

Judy Ponio Prison Trivia 0

A person who had just been released from prison.

Published Sept 5, 2021

Since the pandemic started, we might have seen similarities in our life and prisoners. We probably think we’re also prisoners jailed in the comfort of our homes as we are also locked in and trapped in our houses. These prison movies can show us how different and hard life can be inside the jail. Obviously, prisoners are going through more than just being quarantined. Here are 5 hard-hitting prison movies on Netflix:

1. The Platform

The Platform is a Netflix prison movie that exhibits how the jails would look in the future if the prison would be vertical. In this movie, the prison has hundreds of floors in which two prisoners stay on each floor. The title of the film “The Platform” is from the platform in the film that goes up and down once a day to serve food. The platform starts to descend from the top and goes all the way to the last floor. They consider every floor as a stage.

Prisoners from the higher stages have access to a feast of different kinds of food. However, all that food can be enough for everyone if prisoners only eat enough food to survive. Sadly, the food on the platform doesn’t reach prisoners on the lower levels. Goreng, the main character of this film, volunteered to enter prison to make himself quit smoking. Witness while he tries to survive his cruel situation on the platform.

2. Inside The World’s Toughest Prisons

Have you ever wondered how dangerous things can get inside the world’s toughest prisons? This series on Netflix is a documentary that exposes the reality of prison in different jails. The hosts volunteered to be imprisoned in 19 prisons around the world.

Paul Connolly presented the first season of this series in which he spends his time in prison in countries like Honduras, Poland, Mexico, and the Philippines. However, the following seasons are hosted by Raphael Rowe. Inside The World’s Toughest Prisons gives us an up-close look at the different kinds of prison systems around the world.

3. First and Last

First and Last is a 2018 documentation that took place in Gwinnett County Jail. This series features how inmates experience their first and last days in prison. A new beginning for every inmate may be another prisoner’s ending.

The first days of inmates can be full of intense drama and chaos, while the last days can be emotionally touching and heart-whelming. This series reveals what prison does to people and how much it changes them. First and Last shows us the different situations of inmates for us to gain perspective of the prison’s system.

A photo depicting a typical scene in prison movies.

4. Orange Is the New Black

Orange Is the New Black is a comedy and drama series based on Piper Kerman’s true experience in prison. Take note that this series takes place in a women’s prison. Piper Kerman was charged with felonious money-laundering activities and was sentenced to 15 months in prison. The plot is centered with Piper Chapman but later features great characters on the show. The series starts a day before Piper’s fiancee accompanies her to surrender to officials. Orange Is the New Black is 7 seasons long.

5. The Fear of 13

The Fear of 13 is a documentary of a man wrongly accused and convicted of murder named Nick Yarris. This documentary is a one-person show starring Nick himself. He spent 22 years of his life on death row in Pennsylvania. Imagine what being sentenced to death and waiting for your execution can do to an innocent person. After evidence of his innocence rose, he was released in 2004. The storytelling of this documentary until the final moments keeps the show’s intriguing mystery.

Conclusion

Unlike us, prisoners don’t have their families with them. Some prisoners are innocent but held captive for decades, while guilty ones enjoy their lives without problems. These prison movies to watch show how incompetent most justice systems are. Netflix offers the best prison movies available that show the reality of life inside prison. Have an emotional rollercoaster ride with these 5 hard-hitting prison movies on Netflix.

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About The Author

August 1 2021

Do You Really Have to Answer Police Questions?

Judy Ponio Prison Trivia 0

Published Aug 1, 2021

A frequently asked question is if you are required to speak with the officers if you are stopped. The Supreme Court has ruled that you must provide your name when requested, but there is no requirement to provide anything other than that. You can even say, “I don’t answer questions, police officer,” just to give them a hint that you are aware of your rights. There are several nuanced aspects to situational exchanges with officers, which we will discuss in greater detail below.

Remember Your Rights

You’ve probably seen this scene numerous times on television’s police procedural shows. A police officer is expected to inform a suspect of his or her rights, which include the right to stay silent and the right to hire a lawyer.

If you are ever stopped by the police, keep in mind that if you have not committed a crime at that exact time, you have the right to stay silent and not answer any of the officer’s questions other than your name. However, a police officer may approach you casually and invite you to come over and speak with them.

To discover whether you have committed a crime, all you need to say is, “pardon me, police officer, have I done anything wrong?” At this point, the police should explain why they stopped you, and you can determine whether or not you’re in any trouble. You can follow up with the query, “am I free to leave?” to point out that you do not want to talk to the police officer unless they have a search warrant.

Provide Only Basic Information

When providing information to a police officer, you should be brief and direct. Make no attempt to provide any information beyond what is requested. Any lie on your side (which the officer can verify) will result in you uttering falsifications and being arrested. Although you have the right to remain silent if you have not committed a crime, providing the police officer with some basic information can sometimes help a particular situation. This may involve the following:

Name
Address with details of your current living situation (you may include who you live with, for instance)
Reason for being out and where your destination is

Never Lie or Give False Information to Authorities

You can turn from an innocent person to a criminal in a single second by simply answering an officer’s questions. However, the most dangerous thing you can do when speaking with the authorities is to tell them a lie. If you are not truthful to a police officer, the act of lying implies that you have committed a crime, providing the officer with a justification to arrest you.

Ultimately, it is preferable that you remain silent rather than giving them a reason to arrest you. Take note that lying to a police officer is quite difficult. If you lie to a regular citizen, they will generally assume you are telling the truth and will not ask any follow-up inquiries to ascertain the authenticity of your statement. Lying to an officer is far more difficult due to their training in dealing with lies.

The police are often distrustful of people who claim to be telling the truth.
Occasionally, the police will have access to corroborating witnesses who can attest to the authenticity of your statements.
The police are authoritarian and unpleasant as a result of their training. Additionally, they will employ psychological tactics that you may overlook when interrogating you to elicit more information than you are willing to share.
They will occasionally intrude on your personal space, possibly even prodding you with a finger, in an attempt to emotionally scare you into thinking less clearly.
Lastly, the police have the time and resources necessary to verify anything you say. This could include your associates’ addresses and phone numbers, as well as your criminal record. They can also coerce people into lying by pressing them into running and physically resisting arrest. This is another method through which police officers can convert a citizen into a prisoner.

So do you really have to answer police officers’ questions?

No. You are never required to answer police questions about your movements, your previous whereabouts, what you’re doing, or what you’ve done, and it’s almost always dangerous to do this without first consulting a lawyer. Remember that they cannot arrest you by refusing to answer.

Understand your rights if you are pulled over by the police. If you are questioned by the authorities in the United States, you have the right to exercise your Fifth Amendment right to remain silent and Sixth Amendment right to counsel.

As a rule of thumb, if you are detained, you must provide a truthful identification, and the only acceptable response to a police question is: “I want my lawyer” or “I don’t answer questions, police officer.” While they may ask follow-up questions and make it look as though you are obligated to respond, you are not and, in most situations, should not. If you intend to exercise your right to silence, inform the officer aloud and then—do so!

About The Author

July 25 2021

How to Reduce a Shoplifting Fine

Judy Ponio Prison Trivia 0

Published July 25, 2021

While shoplifting incidents are relatively common, this does not mean they are not taken seriously. Every state’s penal (criminal) code contains rules relating to shoplifting (often grouped under the umbrella of theft or larceny statutes). Moreover, the shoplifting fine can be severe—especially when the product is expensive or the perpetrator has an existing criminal record.

This article discusses shoplifting in general, the types of acts that constitute shoplifting, how shoplifting is prosecuted, and when shoplifters can be sued under civil liability laws.

Understanding What Shoplifting Is

Usually, shoplifting is described as the act of taking items from a retailer without paying for them. However, successfully evading payment for products is not the only way of committing a shoplifting crime. In some instances, the plan to steal combined with an act to pursue that desire may result in criminal charges for stealing or retail fraud. A shoplifting-related action could involve the following:

price tag altering
removing (or even attempting to remove) anti-theft devices or security tags
concealing or hiding an item inside you while still in the store –– hiding things in your pocket or purse
removing an item from its packaging and keeping it in or among other products

Factors That Affects A Shoplifting Case

Your age can significantly affect your case. The judge can be more merciful to you if you’re younger.

Prior Convictions

Your criminal history will also affect the decision of the judge. If you have prior convictions, the chances are high that even a plea bargain deal won’t be offered to you.

The Item You Stole

The item that you stole can also interfere with the judge’s decision. In this instance, the judge might be more lenient if you were caught stealing food for your baby than taking cosmetics or anything just for fun.

The Value Of The Stolen Item

Your case may be treated differently depending on the value of the object that you stole. For instance, a $30 item has lower charges than stealing $500 worth of an item.

How Shoplifting Is Prosecuted and Penalized

In many places, shoplifting is prosecuted and penalized as a theft or larceny offense—typically as petty or misdemeanor theft, if the value of the item stolen, is less than a specified amount (for instance, $200). Other states distinguish between shoplifting and general theft for charging and sentencing purposes, and some penalize shoplifting less severely than other theft charges.

In Massachusetts, for example, a first or second offense of shoplifting items valued under $250 involves a monetary punishment only. However, the lowest category of larceny (theft) carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison for taking the same amount. (Massachusetts General Laws ch. 266, sections 30, 30A (2020).)

As the monetary worth of the stolen items increases, the severity of the criminal charge that will come from a shoplifting offense increases accordingly. Penalties may begin as infractions and progress to misdemeanors or felonies in some states. Each state utilizes a separate set of criteria (monetary values) to categorize offenses.

Defining Shoplifting “Sprees” and Retail Theft Rings

In many places, a person caught with shoplifting will be charged with a more serious crime (and/or face heavier penalties) if there is evidence that the conduct was part of a shoplifting “spree” or systematic sequence of thefts from retail outlets. These schemes are referred to in some states as “retail theft rings” or “organized retail theft,” mainly when they involve the illegal resale of stolen products. Generally, these are felonies.

Shoplifting Civil Liability

Along with any criminal penalties associated with stealing, each state has a civil law that allows someone who commits shoplifting to be held civilly liable to the store owner (or the owner of the product) for monetary damages resulting from the incident.

Additionally, in almost every state, the parents or legal guardians of minors who shoplift may be liable for monetary damages (although a few jurisdictions require that parents or guardians know or should have been aware of the minors’ tendency toward stealing). When parents or legal guardians are liable for damages, some states reduce the amount of the penalty that parents or minors must pay (compared to adult shoplifters). Certain states absolve foster parents of obligation.

A man gets arrested after caught shoplifting

What is the difference between Criminal and Civil courts?

Generally, a government prosecutor charges a suspect with a crime. The proceedings take place in a criminal court, and the punishments may include jail, fines, or a combination of the two. Generally, criminal defendants who cannot afford an attorney have a right to a public defender (or court-appointed attorney). Theft, assault, burglary, and murder are all examples of criminal charges.

In civil court, a dispute between two private parties is litigated. The party who has been wronged (plaintiff) files a lawsuit against the party who is alleged to be at fault (defendant). Moreover, there is no right to a public defender or court-appointed attorney. If the defendant loses the case, the successful party is typically awarded monetary damages. Civil court cases include claims for medical malpractice, breach of contract, and personal harm.

Numerous civil shoplifting laws require the store owner to issue a formal demand for payment prior to filing a civil complaint. Additionally, in most jurisdictions, a civil lawsuit may be pursued regardless of whether criminal charges are filed in connection with the shoplifting event.

While each state’s civil shoplifting law is unique, common financial liability for shoplifting includes the payment or repayment of the following:

the total retail value of the item stolen (if it is not in a sellable condition when returned)
the store owner’s other financial losses as a result of the theft
an additional civil penalty, typically based on a formula that includes the value of the product stolen, and
repayment of the store or product owner’s expenses (court and attorney fees)

Ways to Get Shoplifting Charges Dropped

Developing a shoplifting defense strategy is critical to obtaining a dismissal or reduction of your charge. The defenses that you may choose to assert will vary according to the facts of your case. However, some of the more prevalent defenses include the following:

The investigation and evidence presented are unreliable
One’s knowledge and mental state
Identity is mistaken for someone else
You were present when the crime happened, but you didn’t do it
Constitutional legal challenges, like Miranda Violations
Value of the stolen item
Diversion agreements
Misdemeanor compromise

It’s a fact that you can pay a shoplifting fine to get your ticket off of your criminal record. But, getting rid of it is much higher than pleading guilty and paying a fine.

However, a shoplifting conviction can’t be expunged from your criminal record. If you have a prior conviction, most likely, you will find it hard to get a decent job in the future. Even applying for a scholarship for your college might get you rejected.

The best thing to do is find a criminal defense lawyer that can help you lower your charges or totally dismiss your case. In some cases, a good lawyer will do all the work for you without you having to appear in court.

About The Author

July 21 2021

5 Best Books About Prison and the Life Inside

Judy Ponio Prison Life, Prison News, Prison Trivia 0

Published July 12, 2021

Books about prison are frequently among the most popular reading choices for people incarcerated. Howard Marks, who died of illness, authored a genre classic with his book Mr Nice. It details Marks’ international drug smuggling activities and his seven years inside prison in the United States when it was first published in 1996. Mr Nice has now become one of the most frequently borrowed books from prison libraries. The following five below are among the most borrowed prison books:

1. Jack Henry Abbott’s In the Belly of the Beast: Letters from Prison

“We are all so guilty at the way we have allowed the world around us to become more ugly and tasteless every year that we surrender to terror and steep ourselves in it.”

― Norman Mailer, In the Belly of the Beast: Letters From Prison

“I would never say, to justify a lapse in principle, “I am only human”–as though that were some kind of justification for weakness, moral weakness. Flesh and blood is much, much stronger than fools believe.”

― Jack Henry Abbott, In the Belly of the Beast: Letters From Prison

“The only time they appear human is when you have a knife at their throats. The instant you remove it, they fall back into animality. Obscenity.”

― Jack Henry Abbott, In the Belly of the Beast: Letters From Prison

This book came about due to Abbott’s letter addressed to author Norman Mailer while Mailer was conducting research on serial killer Gary Gilmore. Abbott’s correspondence with Mailer constituted the basis for this book. His prose is hypnotic in its power.

Abbott’s life, from his upbringing in reformatory homes through his imprisonment for murder in 1965 at the age of 21, is transformed into a beautiful tragedy. It is exacerbated by the fact that he murdered again six weeks after his 1981 parole. His explanation of the prisoner hierarchy’s dynamics demonstrates how pervasive the repercussions of incarceration can be.

2. Michel Foucault’s Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison

“The ‘Enlightenment’, which discovered the liberties, also invented the disciplines.”

― Michel Foucault, Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison

“There is no power relation without the correlative constitution of a field of knowledge, nor any knowledge that does not presuppose and constitute at the same time power relations.”

― Michel Foucault, Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison

“Discipline ‘makes’ individuals; it is the specific technique of a power that regards individuals both as objects and as instruments of its exercise. It is not a triumphant power…it is a modest, suspicious power, which functions as a calculated, but permanent economy.”

― Michel Foucault, Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison

To better understand the philosophy underlying modern prisons, Discipline and Punish is recommended, a historical examination of the transition from corporal punishment and torture to today’s ostensibly more “enlightened” incarceration system.

Foucault challenges the notion that modern federal prisons are humane, arguing that reformers have instead constructed a “carceral network” that spreads to all spheres of society (including schools, corporations, and the military) and disempowers individuals while imposing social standards.

3. Naomi Murakawa’s The First Civil Right: How Liberals Built Prison America

“If the problem of the twentieth century was, in W. E. B. Du Bois’s famous words, “the problem of the color line,” then the problem of the twenty-first century is the problem of colorblindness, the refusal to acknowledge the causes and consequences of enduring racial stratification.”

― Naomi Murakawa, The First Civil Right: How Liberals Built Prison America

Naomi Murakawa challenges conventional wisdom in The First Civil Right, arguing that the expansion of the federal carceral state—a justice system that disproportionately imprisons blacks and Latinos—was actually rooted in the civil-rights liberalism of the 1940s and early 1960s, not in the period afterward.

Murakawa charts the evolution of the present American prison system throughout the course of several Republican and Democratic presidential administrations. In response to state and municipal appeals to stop anarchy and violence against blacks, the Truman administration enlarged the scope of what had previously been a weak federal system. Later governments, from Johnson to Clinton, increased the federal government’s footprint even further.

4. Alan Sillitoe’s The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner

“I’m a human being and I’ve got thoughts and secrets and bloody life inside me that he doesn’t know is there, and he’ll never know what’s there because he’s stupid. I suppose you’ll laugh at this, me saying the governor’s a stupid bastard when I know hardly how to write and he can read and write and add-up like a professor. But what I say is true right enough. He’s stupid, and I’m not, because I can see further into the likes of him than he can see into the likes of me.”

― Alan Sillitoe, The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner

“You should think about nobody and go your own way, not on a course marked out for you by people holding mugs of water and bottles of iodine in case you fall and cut yourself so that they can pick you up – even if you want to stay where you are – and get you moving again.”

― Alan Sillitoe, The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner

“Everything’s dead, but good, because it’s dead before coming alive, not dead after being alive. That’s how I look at it.”

― Alan Sillitoe, The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner

This collection of short stories involves a young kid named Smith who is sentenced to prison for robbing a bakery. There, he develops into an excellent cross-country runner – so outstanding, in fact, that he becomes the governor’s best hope for a public relations triumph when Smith is invited to compete against pupils from a nearby public school. He sprints ahead of the field only to come to a stop yard before the finish line in a magnificent act of defiance that demonstrates his mind’s and spirit’s emancipation from the bleak and restrictive borstal regime. Sillitoe recognized that while the body can be beyond bars, the mind will always remain free.

5. Wilbert Rideau’s In the Place of Justice

“You have a responsibility to act for others when you’re the only person in a position to do so. It’s how you handle it that separates the great from the mediocre.”

― Wilbert Rideau, In the Place of Justice: A Story of Punishment and Deliverance

Rideau was imprisoned for nearly 44 years until being released in 2005. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to die when he was 19 years old. However, when Louisiana temporarily suspended the death penalty in 1972, his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment.

Rideau served most of his sentence at Angola State Penitentiary (affectionately known as the Farm), where he began writing The Jungle, a column about prison life behind bars. He later became editor of the Angolite, the award-winning magazine published by the penitentiary. In 1998, he assisted in the production of The Farm, an Oscar-nominated documentary on Angola State. As told in one of the beautifully written books about prison, his life story demonstrates what may be accomplished in the most trying circumstances with only an optimistic attitude and a pen.

About The Author

June 27 2021

6 Famous Prison Food Recipes Invented by Inmates

Judy Ponio Prison Life, Prison Trivia 0

Published June 27, 2021

Prison food standards vary by country and have been a source of controversy for quite some time. While some prison foods aren’t all that bad and are quite tolerable, others serve pure garbage.

In either case, who expects more from a prison meal? After all, prison is not supposed to be an awesome experience. And the situation continues to deteriorate, all the more so now that the majority of prisons prohibit visitors from bringing food to inmates. Moreover, families are no longer permitted to send money to inmates for the purpose of purchasing food at the prison canteen.

What do inmates eat if they are served an unpleasant prison meal? To be sure, the majority of prisoners prepare their own food while in jail. Here are famous examples of prison food recipes that prisoners cook that will astound – and perhaps shock you.

1. Prison Pad Thai

Pad Thai is a popular stir-fried rice noodle dish that originated in Thailand. It’s simple to prepare and doesn’t require a lot of equipment. And, given that ramen is a common (and reasonably priced) commissary item, it’s unsurprising to see a high number of prison recipes featuring this ingredient.

Ingredients:

1 package of ramen noodles
1/3 cup of peanut butter
1/4 cup of crushed peanuts
2 tsp hot sauce

Instruction:

Prepare ramen noodles according to package instruction
Mix everything in one bowl
Use crushed peanuts as garnish

2. Parole Day Cheesecake Inspired By Orange Is The New Black

This recipe is a no-bake cake with crushed cookies, Kool-Aid-based frosting, and other items from the commissary menu. When an inmate is granted parole, he or she will typically prepare this recipe. As with other no-bake recipes, this one utilizes crushed bread as the “sponge.”

Ingredients:

12 oz of cookies (any kind)
6 oz of cream cheese
2 tbsp of honey
1 packet of sugar
2 tbsp of french vanilla creamer
3/4 cup of Kool-Aid (any flavor)

Instruction:

Crush the cookies until they’re crumbs
Microwave the crushed cookies for at least 3-4 minutes, and then let them cool
In a bowl, mix the cream cheese, honey, sugar, french vanilla creamer, and Kool-Aid
Pour the mixture on top of the crushed cookie crust, then spread the frosting evenly
Refrigerate or keep in an ice-filled bucket for 4-5 hours or until the toppings are solid

3. Jailhouse Burrito

This burrito recipe incorporates flavorful ingredients from the commissary kitchen. It’s delectable, quick to prepare, and provides enough servings for two people. Plastic bags are used for cooking the ingredients in this recipe due to a lack of utensils inside the prison. Moreover, chip bags are recycled for cooking and mixing due to this concern.

Ingredients:

1 package of spicy ramen noodles
3/4 in 8 oz bag of Spicy Jalapeno ranch-flavored popcorn
1/4 cup of squeezable cheese
Any hot sauce (sriracha or tabasco sauce)
1/2 bag of Cheetos
Crushed cheese-flavored crackers
Spicy Takis
Tortilla

Instruction:

Crush the ramen noodles first before opening the pack
“Cook” the ramen noodles with hot water while inside the bag. Make sure to seal it tightly
While waiting for the ramen to cook, make the burrito stuffing, and then add the ramen seasoning to the Jalapeno popcorn
Next, add the crushed Takis, hot sauce, squeezable cheese, and crushed cheese crackers
Then put on the cooked ramen noodles and mix all the ingredients in the popcorn plastic bag
Get the tortilla and use the leftover cheese on it
Put your stuffing and wrap it up. Once done, slice the burrito for sharing

4. Prison Pizza

Who wouldn’t want a slice of pizza at the end of a long, stressful day? Pizza is currently the most popular comfort food in the United States, according to Food & Wine. It’s unsurprising that some people attempted to make an entire pizza using only what was available inside the prison. This recipe makes use of crackers as noodles and commissary items as toppings.

Ingredients:

2 sleeves of Saltine cracker
2 sleeves if Ritz cracker
Onions
Pickles
Tomato Paste
Pepperoni slices
1 pack of ramen noodles
1 stick of Slim Jim
Block cheese or Squeeze Cheese
Empty plastic bags (e.g., a Dorito bag)

Instruction:

Thinly slice the pickles, onions, block cheese, and slim jim
Inside the Dorito bag, crush two entire sleeves of Saltine crackers and two sleeves of Ritz crackers
Place the crushed ramen noodles inside the bag
Fill the bag halfway with hot water. Assure that the water level in the mixture is identical
For 15 minutes, mash the mixture together to incorporate the ingredients and cook the noodles
Once the mixture resembles dough, carefully cut the side of the bag and flatten it. Distribute the dough evenly with another chip bag and a round material such as a rolling pin
Microwave the dough for 4-5 minutes
Spread the tomato paste evenly and top with the remaining ingredients
Cook the pizza in the microwave for five minutes

5. Prison Tamales

Tamales are a delectable yet simple Mexican dish. Because of this, some inmates who were bored with chips and ramen noodles invented Prison Tamales. It requires only hot water and a strong plastic bag.

Ingredients:

1 large bag of corn chips
1/3 cup of processed cheese food or cheese curls
1 1oz beef jerky sausage or meat stick
1/2 cup of warm water

Instruction:

Combine corn chips and cheese in a single chip bag
Finely crush the contents
Chop the meat stick into small pieces, and add it to the mixture
Add just enough water to the mixture to enable it to be shaped into a tamale
Tightly seal the bag and run it under hot water to cook
Remove the bag from the freezer and enjoy your tamales

6. Prison Chi Chi

Chi-Chi is one of the popular prison food recipes that many inmates prepare using commissary items. The cook may incorporate whatever ingredients he or she wishes into the mixture, which explains why there are so many prison recipes variations for this dish. Ramen noodles, cheese, meat snacks, chips, and sugar are frequently used materials.

Ingredients:

Butter
Hot Sauce
Salt and Pepper
Onion and Garlic powder
Cayenne pepper
A pack of Ramen noodles
Canned sausages
Precooked can/package of chili

Instruction:

In a bowl, bring water to a boil. Using hot water, cook the ramen noodles
Melt a small amount of butter
In the melted butter, combine the hot sauce, salt, pepper, onion and garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Combine thoroughly
Cut the canned sausages into slices and combine them with the pre-cooked chili
Combine the butter mixture previously made with the chili and sausage mixture in a microwave-safe bowl and reheat the entire mixture
Combine the ramen noodles and the sauce in a large mixing bowl

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The supposedly inescapable prison of Alcatraz.

June 16 2021

Escape From Alcatraz: The Story Of Three Prisoners’ Great Escape

Judy Ponio Prison Life, Prison Trivia 0

Published June 16th, 2021

Did they really manage to escape from Alcatraz?

It’s been 42 years since the movie came out (and even longer for the 1963 book in which it was based on), but people are still wondering if those three men managed to pull off the impossible.

Escape from Alcatraz is based on the events that happened on June 11, 1962, when a trio of dangerous criminals made a harrowing escape out of the infamous prison.

Now before we get too far ahead in this article, make no mistake that these men were dangerous criminals. Thanks to Clint Eastwood’s portrayal of the lead character, this movie feels like an overcoming of impossible odds that seems worthy of emulating, that’s not really the case.

These men were imprisoned for their crimes and were deemed unfit to be housed in any other penitentiary save for Alcatraz.

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, here’s the real story behind the movie Escape from Alcatraz.

Criminal Minds Come Together

The story begins when Frank Morris (Clint Eastwood’s character) arrives at Alcatraz after getting deemed too difficult for other prisons. He was a high IQ criminal with plenty of recorded escape attempts from other facilities. Once he gets on The Rock, he meets Charlie Butts and the Anglin brothers, John and Clarence.

Note: Charlie Butts is the representation of Allen West, the real life fourth inmate who conspired with Morris and the Anglin brothers.

The quartet become fast friends and eventually start to trade escape methods they’ve employed in other facilities. Putting their heads together, they managed to come up with a plan to abscond from Alcatraz.

The quartet lost no time in devising crude shovels from spoons. They then carefully perforated the area surrounding the air grilles in their cells to create a hole from which they can escape from. This is a long, arduous process as the four have to work in secrecy and carefully cover their progress with makeshift grilles.

At the same time, they also fashioned fake heads out of papier mache and a life raft from prison jackets they collected.

They manage to escape a few near misses before the night of the fateful escape arrives.

Quickly working through their plan, the four manage to get out of their cell and work their way through the passageway up to the roof. Charlie Butts loses his nerve and decides to go back to his cell leaving Morris and the Anglin brothers to soldier on.

What happens next is a heart pounding series of events where the trio find their way to the roof, slide down the pipe, avoid the search light’s beam, go over a barbed wire fence and carry their life raft to the shore.

They quickly inflate their life raft and head into the water. This is the last we’ll see of the three.

The following morning, the guards discover the fake heads and a search is conducted.

No sign of the three were ever found.

So Did They Survive?

As far as a realistic depiction of historic facts, the last few scenes of the movie stayed true to what actually happened that night.

It’s been nearly 60 years and everyone’s still wondering if the three managed to make it to Angel Island. Scientists have conducted experiments trying to uncover what exactly happened on that night. Some say the three drifted off course, suffered from hypothermia, and drowned.

There have also been reports of sightings where the Anglin brothers were in a Mexican bar having a good laugh. That’s still up for debate.

There was a postcard sent to the FBI where the three wrote a simple “Haha” on it to taunt the agents pursuing them. Whether this was sent by the trio or just a prank sent by someone else is also debatable.

What’s true though is that if they did survive, Frank Morris would be 95 years old and John and Clarence Anglin would be 90 and 91 years old, respectively.

Has Anyone Ever Managed To Escape from Alcatraz Successfully?

There have been numerous attempts to escape Alcatraz. These have happened before and after the infamous 1962 escape of Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers.

Has anyone managed to succeed?

The funny thing is, although the trio’s escape is the most well-known escape from Alcatraz, this isn’t considered a real success. There was one convict who managed to escape from Alcatraz alive and ended up under the Golden Bridge but suffered shock and hypothermia.

His name was John Paul Scott. As soon as he was well enough, he got sent back to Alcatraz where he served the rest of his sentence until the prison closed down.

So What Do You Think?

If John Paul Scott was able to escape from Alcatraz alive, do you think Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers managed to do the same thing as well?

Here’s something to think about, John Paul Scott (along with Darl Lee Parker, who was recaptured immediately), escaped in December by swimming unassisted. These meant he faced tougher odds than the three men who escaped before him.

Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers had a raft, the luxury of time, the cover of darkness, and teamwork available to them. They also escaped in June which is far warmer than December. Is it possible they did manage to reach land in better shape than John Paul Scott?

We’d like to hear your thoughts on that one.

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About The Author

Chester Canonigo left the corporate world to pursue writing as a career. Ten years in the industry and he still hasn’t looked back.

A white-collar worker languishing in prison.

May 23 2021

Life Inside a White Collar Prison

Judy Ponio Prison Life, Prison Trivia 0

Published May 23, 2021

If you’ve followed the whole debacles concerning famous names like Michael Cohen and Paul Manafort, the term white-collar prison would be familiar to you. It’s where white-collar criminals like them are usually sent to spend their sentences. Most people also know it as “Club Fed” and for a good reason.

If we are to believe the rumors, a white-collar prison is where big-ticket criminals continue to live in luxury. It’s almost like they never went to prison at all. There are even claims that those white-collar criminals live out some sort of hedonistic fantasies inside it.

But what is a white-collar prison, really?

In reality, there are no white collar prisons. At least, in the eyes of the law. The term was invented by people to refer to posh prison facilities where society’s who’s who are kept. But it certainly is not the country club time out everyone thinks.

US prisons are classified based on the security level of the inmates inside them. There are four types of prisons in the country: juvenile, minimum security, medium security, and high security.

Some prisons, regardless of security classification, have better amenities than others. This makes them a magnet for convicted high-flyers who are looking to do their jail time in less “hostile” environments. But white-collar criminals are not the only ones housed in these prisons. Drug pushers, thieves, and other non-violent criminals walk its halls too.

With these backgrounds, it’s not surprising that there’s a rising curiosity about what goes on inside its walls. What is life really like inside a white-collar prison? To get as accurate a picture as possible, we turn to former white-collar criminals for answers.

Amenities

Since most white-collar criminals are considered non-violent, they’re mostly sent to minimum-security prisons typically run by the federal government. This type of facility usually has a “campus type” setting which makes it more like a prison camp than an actual prison. Inmates sleep in dormitories with bunk-like settings. Depending on the prison population, they can be crowded and extremely noisy.

Some federal prison camps also have facilities for physical activities. There’s an open ground where inmates can run around or do some stretching in the morning. Then there are sports amenities like tennis, volleyball and basketball courts. Some even have softball fields.

Inmates also get to watch their favorite shows in the TV room. In FCI Otisville, Florida, inmates can use the library to read legal books and even open their emails. Some inmates even get to write and maintain their own blogs while inside.

White-collar criminals who are sentenced from 25 years to life are sent to maximum-security prisons. Amenities in these parts are far less appealing than minimum security prisons. For one, inmates are kept in individual cells. They don’t get to do any sports as all they see the whole day are the walls and the high fences.

Routine

Inmates typically start their day very early, whether by choice or lack thereof. The counting would start just before breakfast which is around 6:00. Those who want to do a morning jog would have to get up earlier than that.

After breakfast, they’ll have to go to their individual jobs or their studies if they are on a study program. Some inmates who are in for the long haul can choose to continue their studies to prepare them for eventual release. Then it’s lunchtime and then back to their jobs then dinner. Weekends are theirs to do whatever they like.

Commissary

Commissary is one of those things inside the prison that gives inmates a sense of normalcy. They can buy instant ramen packs, chocolates, shampoo, toothpaste, and the likes. Though most white-collar inmates can afford to splurge on commissary items, they aren’t legally allowed to do so. All inmates have to abide by the monthly spending limit. There’s also a limit on how much of a certain item they can buy. So prisoners would trade stuff with each other.

Calling Home

Most white-collar crimes are federal offenses thus most white-collar criminals are sent to federal prisons. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), inmates are only allowed up to 300 minutes of call time per month. Each call can only last for 15 minutes and inmates have to wait for an hour before they can make another one.

Prison calls are, in itself, extremely expensive. It becomes even more expensive when inmates make a call to a different state or outside the US. Companies like GlobalTel offer a way for these inmates to make cheap jail calls. It provides them with a special number they can call at local rates then connect the call to the person they’re calling.

Medical Care

One more proof that white-collar prison is leagues away from a country club is the medical care inmates receive. Due to a tight budget and a general lack of concern for their welfare, a lot of inmates suffer from various health complications. They are misdiagnosed and are thus given the wrong medications.

That’s why most of them are extra careful when doing sports. A simple injury can leave them permanently crippled. Dental checks are a joke and you can see a lot of prisoners walking around with missing teeth.

Some white-collar criminals may have better prison experience than others. But it certainly is not a walk in the park. Prison is prison and no amount of romanticization can change that. They lose their freedom and live with a criminal record their whole life. Just like everybody else who went in.

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About The Author

Judy Ponio is a firm believer in the power of sharing knowledge. Having extensive experience in the prison industry, she wants to share what she knows with the world. Judy also loves to write about political and legal topics.

A man illegally recording someone without their consent.

March 9 2021

Is It Illegal To Record Someone Without Their Consent?

Judy Ponio Prison Trivia 0

Published March 9, 2021

These days, most people rely on their gadgets and technology so much that they feel the need to continually report what they see in real life on their social media accounts. The topic of consent has been a sensitive issue for a long time. Until today, some people just can’t seem to understand the idea of it. The battle between whether or not it is illegal to record someone without their consent is one of the many issues revolving around the topic. Is it illegal to record someone without gaining their consent? Or is recording someone only unlawful when the situation does not necessarily call for it? Let’s discuss the law and logic behind all of this.

The Law Against Intercepting Communications

The Federal Wiretap Act is a law protecting an individual’s human rights when it comes to the privacy of their communication with others. Wiretapping is somewhat similar to having a third party listen in on a private conversation. There is a violation of people’s human rights once their privacy is disturbed, and they should take legal action to make things right. The law states that the act of using any content from a non-consented recording is considered illegal. The person committing such a crime would be held punishable and face the consequences that the law carries. There are only a total of two situations that are an exception to this law.

Who Does This Law Exempt?

Phone Service Providers

Service providers of telephones and mobile phones have the right to record conversations. Phone service companies record calls to monitor incoming and outgoing messages of their clients. However, this is only applicable provided that the service company has a valid court order. Recording calls is also legal for phone service companies when the call addresses technical issues from customers who need assistance. Service providers may also wiretap into their client’s conversation to protect their company’s rights.

Suspicious Activities

In situations that a person is a suspect of unlawful acts, officials are allowed to interfere with that person’s communications, given that one side of the communication gives consent to it. Some other laws require both/all sides of the communication to consent to law enforcement’s wiretapping. The scenario wherein federal officials need compliance from individuals to record their calls is called “intentional wiretapping.” Neglecting to abide by the request to consent may be taken as a defense and used against that person.

A man peeks at his binoculars wondering if it is illegal to cord someone without their consent.

State and Federal Laws

Federal law officials take over in handling legal actions when protective state laws can not ensure people’s accordance with the Wiretap Act. In other words, the state law that fails to protect the privacy of communicating parties and instead allows the recording of their exchange would be made void by the federal law. If the situation appears to be the opposite of that scenario, where the state law protects citizen’s privacy, the state law would not be void and remain as it is. The states included in the discussion of recording with consent, with every party present, are New Hampshire, California, Michigan, Connecticut, Florida, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Massachusetts, Illinois, Montana, Washington, and Maryland.

Is Videotaping Others in Public Considered Illegal?

State laws addressing issues regarding videotaping are applicable depending on the situation. The Federal Wiretap Act does not cover problems regarding such matters. It is still appropriate for people to record others in public, considering that the person being recorded is not too obsessed with keeping to themselves in that setting. The federal act against wiretapping protects every person’s perception of privacy. It considers individual’s different concepts of privacy. What people do in public is not what they do in their own time, so there is no big reason to avoid being recorded.

If a person just so happens to let go of some important or confidential information and someone was recording it, it may be used against the recorded person as evidence in the court. Unconsented recordings can either come in the form of a video or a voice/audiotape. Each form varies in how heavy the punishment will be on the person who took the recording. A video with audio makes a huge difference from a video without one as it is more compelling as evidence.

Public spaces or infrastructures that discourage the use of cameras, phones, or other recording devices have the right to take legal action against individuals who refuse to follow their regulations. Federal laws are also against taking a video or picture of people engaging in sexual activity or whose body is exposed in a public area. These would include public cubicles or any other area with a certain level of expectation in privacy despite being open to most people. Failure to abide by this so-called federal Video Voyeurism Prevention Act will face punishment in prison or through monetary fines.

Punishment For Recording Without Consent

Like any other official republic acts, violations of federal and state laws on recording without consent will result in a series of consequences. Penalties may come in the form of paying a fee or serving time in prison. Recording another person without their knowledge and approval is considered a blatant act of transgression. A person who commits this crime can have a lawsuit filed against them as they have interfered with another person’s privacy and human rights. Punishment from federal law officials has a more severe infliction. The consequences of neglecting the Wiretap Act may range from a five-year prison sentence, a large fee, or worse, both.

CONCLUSION

The only reasonable scenario in which a person is allowed to record you without asking for approval is when the setting is in a public area where the standards of privacy are low. However, being in a situation that requires higher expectations of privacy, such as changing in locker rooms or taking a shower in the common shower room at a gym, does not apply to this.

In such places, when a person still records you without your consent during intimate situations, legal actions can be taken as privacy rights are then violated. People who did the act will be held criminally liable and may be reported to authorities. Always make sure that you are informed about what is appropriate and what is not to avoid your rights from being violated. Also, to avoid being held liable for the crime, always ponder the question: Is it illegal to record someone, and does the situation call for a recording in the first place?

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Crime scenes like this often tell the difference between murder and manslaughter.

March 9 2021

What’s The Difference Between Murder and Manslaughter?

Judy Ponio Prison Trivia 0

Published March 9, 2021

You may have heard of the terms ‘murder’ and ‘manslaughter’ a few times before, either from a TV series, a news report, or a movie about police work and such. While the two are widely similar to each other in some ways, they differ in several aspects. Let’s clarify the difference between murder and manslaughter to address the confusion.

Murder and Manslaughter as Homicide

The term ‘Homicide’ refers to the act of a person killing another person. The term is used in several topics relating to a crime, but different types of actions classify as a homicide. Most homicide acts, or the more commonly known homicide, are the ones that are committed against the law. There is no doubt that killing another human being is unlawful. Nonetheless, there are types of homicide that do not consider illegal but still have punishments. The two types of homicide are murder and manslaughter.

Murder

The first type of homicide is called murder. Murder is the illegal act of killing another individual. Murder is formally described as the circumstance when one person intentionally kills or causes another person’s death. A murder is considered a vicious act when a person desires to inflict pain on someone else purposely. A person can commit three types of murder. There is first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and capital murder.

Capital Murder

Capital murder is a kind of first-degree murder as it is also punishable by a life sentence to prison, or in worse cases, death. This type of murder is the most vulgar as it is a mix of first-degree murder and another felony, such as murdering a person while conducting rape or assault.

First-Degree

The punishment for first-degree murder includes a sentence to prison ranging from 25 years to a lifetime. First-degree murder is the type you see in movies where the villain (murderer) plans another person’s execution. Overall, this degree of murder is when people take time to plan ahead and organize how things will go down.

Second-Degree Murder

Second-degree murder is the type that was not thought of ahead or not planned. This murder is when a person with malice suddenly commits the act without prior preparations. A second-degree murder will result in a sentence in prison from 15 years to life.

Manslaughter

The second type of homicide is manslaughter. Manslaughter is when someone kills another individual unintentionally. Manslaughter is considered a less alarming kind of homicide, although it can be regarded as a voluntary act as well. What is the difference between involuntary and voluntary manslaughter?

Voluntary

Manslaughter is considered voluntary when the person kills another without any prior intentions to do so. Let’s say you wanted to harm another person or cause them physical pain, but instead, you ended up killing them. That is when the act is considered voluntary manslaughter. It is similar to second-degree murder, but the difference is that the motives were different, despite both involving a person’s death. A person guilty of committing voluntary manslaughter may face up to 11 years in prison.

Involuntary

Involuntary manslaughter is when a person causes another’s death due to their disregard for safety and risks of violating the law. This act is committed when a person is killed after neglecting the law, even if the intention to kill was never present. Involuntary manslaughter may include four years of jail time as punishment.

Vehicular

Vehicular manslaughter is when a person driving a vehicle causes an accident that results in another’s death. These cases are usually caused by reckless driving, driving under the influence, and such.

CONCLUSION

Before making accusatory claims of someone committing murder or manslaughter, be sure to know the difference between the two first. A simple mistake of accusing someone of manslaughter when they’ve committed murder may lead to complications and giving the person the wrong type of punishment. People may be sent to jail or face the death penalty for allegedly committing capital murder when they should instead be facing four years in prison for vehicular manslaughter. It is helpful to know the difference between murder and manslaughter to avoid false claims and accusations in the future.

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