I am quite thankful I met my fiance after he got out. He was lucky though because he was in a NOC pod and the guards really didn't mess with them because most everyone was sentenced and they didn't screw up as much. I do know there were the "social classes". He said there were only two incidents in his pod in the year and a half he was in. One really wasn't violent, it was more comical.

I can't imagine what these guys go through in general population, nor what the families must struggle with.

Very enlightening.

The main factor regarding the safety of sex offenders in prison is the security level of the prison at which they are incarcerated.

At a lower security level----minimum----nobody really cares about the crime for which an inmate is there for. Inmates at a minimum security prison---or low as it is called in federal----have shorter sentences, are usually non-violent, and are at the tail end of their sentences and about ready to be released. These types of inmates will not risk a write up or a misconduct by assaulting another inmate or causing any problems for anyone. Doing so would cause them to lose their good time credits, which would delay their release----and at this point, the main goal is to go home. Also they could get shipped to a higher security facility---a medium---where nobody wants to go.

At a medium security facility, the inmates are a totally different class of individuals. These are the harder convicts, doing more time---sometimes hundred of years or a life sentence----for violent crimes. Many have so much time to serve that they know they will never see the outside world again. As a result they have no incentive to behave or abide by the rules and have no problem assaulting or beating up an inmate they don't like----and they don't like sex offenders.

These harder convicts look at prison as their home and the last thing they want is a sex offender living in their "neighborhood." They usually run them off the yard and out of general population to either a PC unit or a Special Needs Yard situation where they place inmates----sex offenders, snitches, and gang member dropouts---who would have problems in GP.

The real danger lies in the medium security prisons.

rewdiazepam

Rew, I know you're just putting this on here for our information and to help, but it just makes me worry more. My son was told to give a fake story, but I don't know how good a liar he is, and if they can find out anyway, or ask for paperwork to find out the truth, then what good will it do? His lawyer told me he would be put in with other guys who have similar convictions, but I'm not real sure what that means. He's still basically in the first month of being in the state pen, so he's still in A & O and hasn't been assigned to a unit yet, and I haven't been able to visit yet either, so the not knowing is terrible. I did get one letter from him with paperwork to fill out for visitors, but that's it so far. I guess I'd really like to hear from others who might give some hope that not everyone is a target in prison when they have a SO conviction.

Reggie,

I am sorry if I made you more uneasy.

The truth is that many sex offenders do well in prison. I saw this with my own eyes. I did fine at a medium for several years and I am not a big, muscled up guy at all. I was a good athlete and agile, but only weighed about 165 pounds. Not big at all for prison.

It is more how an inmate carries himself than anything. I can think of several mothers here who I have spoken to that have sons in medium security prisons who are doing quite well. Why? It is because they have communication skills and know how to deal with others.

If a guy can win the respect and make the other inmates like him, then he will be fine. After all, human nature dictates that we don't hurt people we like.

Reggie, I will send you a PM later today. Look for it.

rewdiazepam

I know alot of people tend to think County can be worse than State, but in my hubby's case it was a blessing. 1) he was close and the kids could visit, 2) I could donate paperback books to his unit, and 3) he was somewhat insulated from trouble because he knew people in there and they would step for him if need be

Rew, I just came back from visiting and we were talking about this. As you've said before; it's not easy, but it is "doable". When he 1st went in it was rough in a med security facility. Others we asking for his "papers", which he didn't have any. Some were calling out slag names and trying to insight others. When he was at intake in a dorm it was the worst! Now that he's been in over a year it's more bearable. He's made a couple friends and keeps to himself. It breaks my heart that he's such an outdoors man and hasn't been outside in a long time time (NO yard), but he's keeping himself safe. I'm trying to coach him (he's autistic) to think well of and value his self. Sort of like telling him that dogs can smell fear. So, with your wisdom and this community's support we're making it. I know this is long, but I hope it helps others.

Do the COs know what our guys are in for? How secure are the records? I mean, will a cover story actually hold up over time?

Rew,

My son was in a medium private prison and will be going to a medium state prison. I am a bit worried now. Should I be? Is a private medium prison different from medium state prison?

HB

No, a cover story will not hold up forever, but what it does do is give an inmate time to build respect and trust---and time to make the other inmates like him. Then if and when they find out and they like and respect the inmate, the charges won't matter nearly as much.

If you hear something bad about someone you like, you will usually make excuses for them and not want to believe it all. You will minimize it and say, "I think there must be more to the story. I don't believe he would do that. Something is wrong here."

But if you hear something bad about an enemy, your reaction is, "I knew that SOB was like that!!! I knew there was a reason I did not like him, but I could never put a finger on it. That story does not surprise me at all."

Inmates do not beat up other inmates who are likeable or who have build up respect. That is just human nature.

I can almost guarantee you that if an inmate with sex charges goes into a medium security prison and immediately tells the other inmates his charges, he will be run off the yard. At that point they do not know the inmate from Adam or what he is like; he may be a weirdo and a serial child molester for all they know.

I have heard people say that you should reveal your charges from day one as the inmates will be really mad when and if they find out you have lied to them. I have never found that to be the case. If they find out---and they don't like you----they will cause you problems whether you lied about the charges or not. That is just stupid to reveal your charges right away.

Yes, the COs can find out the charges, but many don't care, so they never even look at the records.

Remember, this only happens in a medium security prison. At a minimum, it will not matter as much. Anybody can do time at a minimum.

rewdiazepam

Thanks Rew!