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Being arrested and spending time in prison will always be tough to handle. It’s considerably worse, however, when you’re arrested for the first time. You’ve no experience of being behind bars and the entire situation is terrifying. Worst of all, nobody prepares you for this situation - why would they? Preparing for prison is almost an admission that you intend to be arrested someday!
Nevertheless, you can be arrested for all sorts of things - possibly for a crime you didn’t commit, or a crime you accidentally committed. That’s why we think it’s important to learn about trying to survive in prison as a first-time offender. Knowing what will happen and how to respond to the situation makes it far easier to cope with.
Consider If Prison Time Is Necessary
Before worrying about trying to survive in prison as a first-time offender, consider if spending time behind bars is necessary. When you’re arrested in California, you have the option to bail yourself out of jail. The court will set bail relating to your crime and if you pay it, you’ll be released.
This means you don’t have to spend days or weeks in prison as you wait for your trial to begin. You can stay at home, attend all the court dates, and possibly miss out on jail time altogether. It’s extremely common for people arrested for misdemeanors to get them brought down to infractions with a plea bargain from an attorney. This will result in a fine rather than a prison sentence.
Of course, if you’re found not guilty of the crime, you can avoid jail as well. So, it’s always worth posting bail to get out of prison. In the worst-case scenario, you buy extra time to prepare for an extended sentence. In the best case, you don’t have to go to prison at all. If you can’t afford bail on your own, working with a bail bond agency will ensure you get the money needed to remove yourself from custody.
Mentally Prepare Yourself For What’s To Come
In cases when prison can’t be avoided and you’ve been sentenced to jail, the first step in surviving your sentence is being mentally prepared for it.
Take some time to process what’s happening and what will happen when you go to jail. Talking to people who’ve already been to prison can help with this; they’ll provide general advice and guidance, which helps you go into things with a bit more confidence and less naivety.
Maintaining a positive mental attitude will also be essential:
- Accept that you’re going to jail and stop looking for ways out
- Keep your sentence end date in mind as something to look forward to
- Treat this as a chance to improve yourself as a person and learn more about who you truly are
- Think about the people on the outside you care about - they’ll help you get through this
If you approach jail with a negative mindset, it will feel like hell. Being positive doesn’t mean you’re strutting around the place with a big smile on your face - it means internally you’re still looking on the bright side and maintaining good vibes.
Don’t Be Afraid To Make Friends
There will be people in prison who seem unfriendly and scary. That’s the nature of the place - but consider one crucial thing. Most of the very bad inmates who’ve committed terrible crimes will be in high-security prisons. If you’ve been arrested for something non-violent or serious, you’re likely going to be in a prison with similar individuals. Sure, there will still be scary people in there, but a lot of the inmates will be just like you.
Don’t be afraid to make friends with people - just be sure you’re forming positive relationships. A good rule of thumb is to embrace those who reach out to you. If someone offers advice or tells you how things are done on the inside, listen to them. They’re reaching out because they’ve been in your shoes and know how hard it is during those first few days, weeks, and months.
Avoid shying away from everyone and isolating yourself. It will be terrible for your mental health and make your journey much harder to get through. Time will go a lot quicker if you have friends on the inside to talk to and hang out with.
Partake In Any Prison Programs Available
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation provides “In Prison Programs” to help rehabilitate incarcerated individuals. You may find lots of educational programs or activity groups at the prison you’re in. It’s always worth taking part in these programs for three main reasons:
- It helps with your continued development as a person
- It’s a great chance to meet and make friends in prison
- It helps to pass the time
Programs give you a sense of purpose so there’s meaning to your days. This helps massively from a mental standpoint and time will go a lot quicker as you’re physically and mentally doing something.
Stay In Touch With People On The Outside
Maintain contact with family & friends as much as possible. If you’re allowed to write letters and make phone calls, do this whenever you can. It keeps you connected to the outside world while ensuring you don’t miss any key family developments. It’s helpful for them too; they’re struggling without you in their way, so it’s important to show you’re okay and they have nothing to worry about.
Family visits are a must for surviving prison. Getting the chance to see your family as often as you can will prevent homesickness. You also have time to talk to them about things and receive support back. This brightens your mood and makes you stay positive and hopeful!
Trying to survive in prison as a first-time offender is daunting. You’re rightfully scared and nervous, but these tips will help you prepare for what’s to come. As noted earlier, you can get out of prison on bail, which may prevent you from ever needing to serve time after being arrested. It depends on the result of your trial after - but contact Future Bail Bonds today and we’ll help you get out of jail and back to your family. At the very least, you have more time to prepare for an upcoming sentence.