Might have to spend some time in prison...

Animus

Hi all,

I am posting this because I may be given a custodial sentence in the new year for a drug offence. I don't really want this thread to turn into a debate on the social effects of drugs or drug dealers, but let me get some things out of the way.

-I am being charged with possession of cannabis resin with intent to supply, and possession of cocaine for personal use.
-I am not, nor do I associate with, the archetypal violent criminal type which the media would have you believe every drug dealer is.
-I have been drug-free for about 11 months. I had a pretty heavy cocaine habit, and was a heavy drinker before that.
-I have managed to pretty much turn my life around since the bust. Working full-time, attending counselling etc.


I have been told by a very experienced solicitor that I have about a 60-70% chance of being handed a suspended sentence.The odds are in my favour, but I feel it would be prudent to prepare for the worst.

So I was hoping to hear from anyone who has spent time in prison, or maybe has had a friend or loved one spend time incarcerated. I want to be able to do the time and not have it destroy all of the personal progress I have made in the last 11 months. For example, how hard is it to get on a training course ? I have no leaving cert, and may lose my current job if I get sent away. Any advice appreciated.

Thanks,

Animus.

tbh

check out this thread: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=302566&highlight=dublinshane

Animus

Thanks mate, had used search but it didn't turn up that one for some reason.

Animus.

Animus

Wow. Lot of opinions in that thread. Not so much advice.

Some of the advice that is there was quite helpful though, thanks to the posters concerned if they are reading this.

RedXIV

I'll give you one bit of advice that you may feel free to toss aside if you choose. But don't start brooding about something you have no control over. If you want to do something positive, start doing some volunteer work, it'll only stand to you in your case. Don't expect it to guarantee freedom, but as i say, it'll stand to you.

Also, if you do (fingers crossed you don't) end up in prison, take the time of no distractions to improve yourself. we're being flooded with stories these days of men saying prison changed them for the better, see if you can become one of those stories.

But like i said, best of luck

Jack Sheehan

Best of luck dude, you seem to have really turned it around, in all likelehood they'll see that.

Dinxminx

Good luck! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!

gogglebok

Good luck, and I'd second RedXIV's advice. The more you can show that you're doing good outside, the less chance you have of being banged up.

Well done on knocking the cocaine too. It really is a personality killer.

tbh

Animus wrote: »

Wow. Lot of opinions in that thread. Not so much advice.

Some of the advice that is there was quite helpful though, thanks to the posters concerned if they are reading this.

yeah sorry mate, lots of noise, but a little bit of signal too. Hope it works out well man, let us know.

Dudess

Well with an attitude like yours and such an excellent command of writing (without a leaving cert - amazing!) I really can't see how it would be difficult for you to get on a training course - if the worst comes to the worst.

Stay strong, you seem to be doing brilliantly...

Splendour

I imagine there are plenty of training opportunities in prison and if you have to do time,given you've already done this:

Animus wrote: »

-I have managed to pretty much turn my life around since the bust. Working full-time, attending counselling etc.

...you will grab that opportunity and keep your life going foward in the right direction....



Well done you and all the best

thebaldsoprano

Hmmm, there seems to be no ex inmates coming out of the woodwork, so I'll venture this... I was at 'The Joy' for all of three hours at a friend's art exhibition.

Was chatting to a few of the lads and they were dead sound. There are workshops and training courses available.

On the downside, there're plenty of not so nice people there aswell and a lot of drugs indeed, so that'd be one to watch.

You'd probably meet the sound dudes at workshops, training courses, and the gym cos they all liked to keep busy, so it might be worth trying to get yerself on a course before going in if you can.

Animus

RedXIV wrote: »

I'll give you one bit of advice that you may feel free to toss aside if you choose. But don't start brooding about something you have no control over. If you want to do something positive, start doing some volunteer work, it'll only stand to you in your case. Don't expect it to guarantee freedom, but as i say, it'll stand to you.

Also, if you do (fingers crossed you don't) end up in prison, take the time of no distractions to improve yourself. we're being flooded with stories these days of men saying prison changed them for the better, see if you can become one of those stories.

But like i said, best of luck

That is some sound advice, I have been through the 'brooding' stage and am in the process of accepting my situation. It can be difficult to prepare oneself for such an experience when so little real information is available about it. Volunteer work is an option down the road, but I have some hefty debts and legal fees to be addressed first. As for prison changing people for the better...I believe that this is possible for anybody with the right mental attitude, it's just that the right mental attitude can be more difficult to maintain depending on who you are sharing a cell with. Thank you for your thoughts.

Jack Sheehan wrote: »

Best of luck dude, you seem to have really turned it around, in all likelehood they'll see that.

I hope so mate, thanks.

Dinxminx wrote: »

Good luck! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!

Thank you.

gogglebok wrote: »

Good luck, and I'd second RedXIV's advice. The more you can show that you're doing good outside, the less chance you have of being banged up.
Well done on knocking the cocaine too. It really is a personality killer.

Personality killer is right. Thanks for the well wishes.

tbh wrote: »

yeah sorry mate, lots of noise, but a little bit of signal too. Hope it works out well man, let us know.

No apologies necessary for signal-to-noise ratio. Thanks again.

Dudess wrote: »

Well with an attitude like yours and such an excellent command of writing (without a leaving cert - amazing!) I really can't see how it would be difficult for you to get on a training course - if the worst comes to the worst.

Stay strong, you seem to be doing brilliantly...

This post really means a lot for reasons I won't go into here...so I will just say...thank you.

Splendour wrote: »

I imagine there are plenty of training opportunities in prison and if you have to do time,given you've already done this:


...you will grab that opportunity and keep your life going foward in the right direction....



Well done you and all the best

I will grab any opportunity afforded me. Let's hope there are some. Thanks mate.

thebaldsoprano wrote: »

Hmmm, there seems to be no ex inmates coming out of the woodwork, so I'll venture this... I was at 'The Joy' for all of three hours at a friend's art exhibition.

Was chatting to a few of the lads and they were dead sound. There are workshops and training courses available.

On the downside, there're plenty of not so nice people there aswell and a lot of drugs indeed, so that'd be one to watch.

You'd probably meet the sound dudes at workshops, training courses, and the gym cos they all liked to keep busy, so it might be worth trying to get yerself on a course before going in if you can.

Staying off drugs won't be a problem for me. Your idea about getting myself on a course before I go in probably isn't a runner as I won't know until I'm sentenced where, or if I'll be locked up. If given a custodial sentence I will be transported to prison (probably Cork) that day as as far as I know.
Very good to know the lads you met were sound. Cheers.

Maddison

Hopefully you wont end up in prison but wishing you lots of luck in court. Hope the judge sees how much you have turned your life around.....You definately deserve a second chance.

Animus

Maddison wrote: »

Hopefully you wont end up in prison but wishing you lots of luck in court. Hope the judge sees how much you have turned your life around.....You definately deserve a second chance.

Thank you Maddison.

I have had some correspondence off the boards from people with experience of prison life as a result of this thread.

While some of it wasn't too nice to hear, it was good to get some first hand information and advice.

Thank you to everybody who took the time to do this.

Animus

sonners

OP if you are still off everything (and I dont doubt that you are) would you consider attending your local GP for drugs tests? Its a method of punishment thats enforced at times by our local courts for small time offenders who appear to have copped on. They're typically required once every 4-6 weeks. You can voluntarily do these tests with your local doctor and produce the results to the court.

Its not that I doubt your story its just that I'm sure many others go in and say 'Oh, I've givin it all up, I'm a good boy now' when its obviously not true. The tests will show an incentive on your part and remove any doubt regarding your sobriety. You could do them between now and your court date so it may also help with your anxiety regarding the outcome, ie You'll actively be doing something to avoid jailtime as opposed to sitting there waiting for it.

I hope this makes sense and is of some use to you. Well done on your turn around, its not easy and I'm sure you've lost a few 'friends' along the way. From personal experience I'll just say that the friends you have left are the best ones are you'll meet plenty more when all this is water under the bridge.

Animus

sonners wrote: »

OP if you are still off everything (and I dont doubt that you are) would you consider attending your local GP for drugs tests? Its a method of punishment thats enforced at times by our local courts for small time offenders who appear to have copped on. They're typically required once every 4-6 weeks. You can voluntarily do these tests with your local doctor and produce the results to the court.

Its not that I doubt your story its just that I'm sure many others go in and say 'Oh, I've givin it all up, I'm a good boy now' when its obviously not true. The tests will show an incentive on your part and remove any doubt regarding your sobriety. You could do them between now and your court date so it may also help with your anxiety regarding the outcome, ie You'll actively be doing something to avoid jailtime as opposed to sitting there waiting for it.

I hope this makes sense and is of some use to you. Well done on your turn around, its not easy and I'm sure you've lost a few 'friends' along the way. From personal experience I'll just say that the friends you have left are the best ones are you'll meet plenty more when all this is water under the bridge.

Already on it bud. Going for second blood test this week. Should have started earlier, but I will have a good six months of clean results by the time my case comes up.

On the subject of losing 'friends'...It sounds like you may have had some first hand experience of this, and you are right. I expected to lose touch with a few people, but not so many, and not so quickly. People can be incredibly self involved and fickle, but it's made me realise that I used to possess these traits also.

My sim card used to have 250 numbers on it. I now have less than 50, and a new phone number.

Onwards and upwards

Cheers,

Animus