Know anything about prison?

jungleman · 28-09-2015 12:33AM

Getting jailed for non payment of fines?

Better get the library that €4.50 that I owe them. This has been a serious wake up call for me.

starling · 28-09-2015 12:39AM

Ellie2008 wrote: »

I think most people if you'd been in prison would ask what for, it's common knowledge that people go to prison for unpaid fines, I personally think it's ridiculous, prison to me is for people who have committed serious crimes against the person there are other ways of dealing with the rest like seizing assets etc.

To be fair, this isn't just "unpaid fines," the original offence involved crimes that have the potential to cause serious harm - drink driving particularly, but also driving with no insurance means that in the case of an accident OP wouldn't be able to make any kind of restitution. What I'm saying is that "unpaid fines" can make it sound like he didn't have a TV licence. No offence OP and fair play to you for changing that behaviour, but wouldn't you agree that it is your responsibility to deal with the consequences of that behaviour?

Now bearing in mind the young fella I mentioned up thread, believe me when I say I'm not trying to claim that you deserve to be beaten and raped or physically harmed in any way - I'm just talking about the notion that choices have consequences, you know what I mean I hope.

FortySeven · 28-09-2015 12:43AM

Mountjoy 93% full tonight. Daily figures here. I'd say with 90 days you have a good cvhance of being locked up.

http://www.irishprisons.ie/images/dailynumbers/25_september_2015.pdf

Ellie2008 · 28-09-2015 12:55AM

starling wrote: »

To be fair, this isn't just "unpaid fines," the original offence involved crimes that have the potential to cause serious harm - drink driving particularly, but also driving with no insurance means that in the case of an accident OP wouldn't be able to make any kind of restitution. What I'm saying is that "unpaid fines" can make it sound like he didn't have a TV licence. No offence OP and fair play to you for changing that behaviour, but wouldn't you agree that it is your responsibility to deal with the consequences of that behaviour?

Now bearing in mind the young fella I mentioned up thread, believe me when I say I'm not trying to claim that you deserve to be beaten and raped or physically harmed in any way - I'm just talking about the notion that choices have consequences, you know what I mean I hope.

Yes I don't agree with drink driving but our justice system takes the view that this offence merits a fine, the only reason he's going to prison is because he can't pay said fine.

ZeroThreat · 28-09-2015 01:04AM

Will you ever be able to leave Ireland again though?

Savage Tyrant · 28-09-2015 01:07AM

I went in for fines 3 times to Maghaberry prison in the north... 2x 7days and a 14 day.
The system there was to hand yourself in to the local barracks at about 10pm and spend the night in a cell there and that counted as a day. Following morning brought up. Few hours in the holding cells and then down to the committal wing where it was 23hr lockup. Meals in the cell and an hour in the yard. Then out in 3 days.
The 14 day one saw me processed through the committal wing and onto a main wing. That was an eye opener for sure. Shared a cell for 4 days there with a headbanger that was coming down off all sorts of ****. But he wasn't physically intimidating ... But he stank like a farmyard animal.
There was manslaughter inmates and other serious lads on that wing in their own single cells. Only really conversed with them in the que for the phone and on the last day I gave out what was left of my tuck shop which they seemed to appreciate.
The 7 day ones usually meant 1 night in the barracks and 2/3 in the prison... The 14 day one was 3 days in committal wing and 4 on the main.

I then did the same thing for fines down here.... Guard called out to the house... Asked me was tomorrow ok for me. I said yes...
Arrived at the local barracks at 8am... He told me he wasn't ready as the other guy I was going with was running late... Head on there and get a coffee and come back at 10am.... Back at 10 and into the car... Drove a couple of hours from wicklow to Portlaoise prison and had a grand chat.
Into the prison... Into a holding cell by 12.30 or so.... Little bit later, the worst meal of my life arrived... 4pm given conditional release papers and released with a travel voucher ... Walked down to the train station, got the train home and back in wicklow on my sofa for a late dinner.

boobar · 28-09-2015 01:13AM

Stick a poster of Rita Hayworth or Raquelle Welch up in your cell...

Sorted

refusetolose · 28-09-2015 01:23AM

secondattempt wrote: »

A prison officer told me recently that rape etc doesn't happen in Irish prisons just beatings.

ask fran

Ellie2008 · 28-09-2015 01:24AM

refusetolose wrote: »

ask fran

Cuela boola

starling · 28-09-2015 01:34AM

Ellie2008 wrote: »

Yes I don't agree with drink driving but our justice system takes the view that this offence merits a fine, the only reason he's going to prison is because he won't pay said fine.

FYP.

He could pay it, he's choosing prison over debt. That's his choice to make and I'm not judging him for it, but he's still responsible for what he did and for how he chooses to deal with the consequences.

If an offence merits a fine, then there has to be some consequence when someone who doesn't pay the fine, wouldn't you agree?

Now personally I think it would be better if someone in OP's position could do community service instead of just sitting in prison. That has the potential to benefit both the OP and the community. He'd basically be paying the fine, but with his labour by "working it off" instead of getting into debt.

Another potential benefit would be that hypothetically if he did something like helping out at a hospital or something that put him in a position to become familiar with the potential effects of drink driving, it would be a much more effective deterrent in the future.

But that's neither here nor there because apparently the options for OP are prison or pay. The point is, there has to be some real consequences for a crime, and that in fairness, OP is a big boy and he did make a choice.

starling · 28-09-2015 02:18AM

ZeroThreat wrote: »

Will you ever be able to leave Ireland again though?

Yeah, course he will. It just depends on whether the country he's trying to enter will let him in. They can assess his case and make a decision based things like the nature of the convictions, how long it's been since they happened, what he's been doing since, the reason he's trying to enter the country, whether he looks shifty

and so on.

melissak · 28-09-2015 10:31AM

I think if you are in for fines they let you out in a couple of days at most and separate you from real criminals.

posturingpat wrote: »

Had a pal in Castlerea for a few months, got caught up oweing a few pound and ended up doing courier for a coke dealer and got caught with 10k worth. Did the time and has got back on the straight and narrow, says it was the scariest time of his life,nearly took heroin in there and there were lads in there when he was that went in for small misdemeanours and left as hardened criminals or junkies.

I'd advise paying all off and going nowhere near prison,money won't get you back the horrors you'll see in there if the stories my friend told me are to be believed.

melissak · 28-09-2015 10:33AM

I think this is in the works. Europe decided it is penalizing poverty to incafcerate people for fines. Yet to be implemented though.

starling wrote: »

FYP.

He could pay it, he's choosing prison over debt. That's his choice to make and I'm not judging him for it, but he's still responsible for what he did and for how he chooses to deal with the consequences.

If an offence merits a fine, then there has to be some consequence when someone who doesn't pay the fine, wouldn't you agree?

Now personally I think it would be better if someone in OP's position could do community service instead of just sitting in prison. That has the potential to benefit both the OP and the community. He'd basically be paying the fine, but with his labour by "working it off" instead of getting into debt.

Another potential benefit would be that hypothetically if he did something like helping out at a hospital or something that put him in a position to become familiar with the potential effects of drink driving, it would be a much more effective deterrent in the future.

But that's neither here nor there because apparently the options for OP are prison or pay. The point is, there has to be some real consequences for a crime, and that in fairness, OP is a big boy and he did make a choice.

VisibleGorilla · 28-09-2015 10:36AM

Of course it's a complete waste of time, money and resources.

Prison should ONLY be for violent offences where the offender is a clear risk to the public.

You send people in and they come out 10 times worse, look at the recidivism rates for Ireland - system clearly broken.

melissak · 28-09-2015 10:40AM

I absolutely agree with you. Also the idea of going to prison is often as bad or worse than the reality. It is scariest the first time so we remove this deterrant by jailing people for trifles.

VisibleGorilla wrote: »

Of course it's a complete waste of time, money and resources.

Prison should ONLY be for violent offences where the offender is a clear risk to the public.

You send people in and they come out 10 times worse, look at the recidivism rates for Ireland - system clearly broken.

28-09-2015 10:46AM

This has taught me everything I'll ever need to know about prison.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7RoP1LKMeM

Ignatius in bloom · 28-09-2015 10:49AM

I know its very confining.

rondog · 28-09-2015 11:15AM

Don't bring anything of value.No watches ,jewellery etc.Any junkie or other crim will try to take it from you if he considers you weak so he can use it as a bartering tool in prison for tobacco,drugs etc.

Tell your parents.I thought I was going in to court before for a fine and ended up on remand.Had to tell my mother on the phone and as I had kept the whole court thing a secret from my family she was completely shocked to find out as she thought I was going to the shops to do the lotto:(.

Its true what they say,if you are approached,dont be a bitch.Stand up to someone if they get in your face as you may very well be tested when on remand.

Keep your head down in there.Dont take anything off anyone cos they may say 'ah gowan have that' but I saw lads being approached in the following days for payment and payment was a lot more then you would pay onteh outside ir for use of an illegal phone might cost over a hundred quid.Once youre in debt,youre in debt and you will have to pay back somehow and you can imagine what they might ask.

melissak · 28-09-2015 12:37PM

Is this true or are you just freaking op out?

rondog wrote: »

Don't bring anything of value.No watches ,jewellery etc.Any junkie or other crim will try to take it from you if he considers you weak so he can use it as a bartering tool in prison for tobacco,drugs etc.

Tell your parents.I thought I was going in to court before for a fine and ended up on remand.Had to tell my mother on the phone and as I had kept the whole court thing a secret from my family she was completely shocked to find out as she thought I was going to the shops to do the lotto:(.

Its true what they say,if you are approached,dont be a bitch.Stand up to someone if they get in your face as you may very well be tested when on remand.

Keep your head down in there.Dont take anything off anyone cos they may say 'ah gowan have that' but I saw lads being approached in the following days for payment and payment was a lot more then you would pay onteh outside ir for use of an illegal phone might cost over a hundred quid.Once youre in debt,youre in debt and you will have to pay back somehow and you can imagine what they might ask.

melissak · 28-09-2015 12:37PM

Is this true or are you just freaking op out?

rondog wrote: »

Don't bring anything of value.No watches ,jewellery etc.Any junkie or other crim will try to take it from you if he considers you weak so he can use it as a bartering tool in prison for tobacco,drugs etc.

Tell your parents.I thought I was going in to court before for a fine and ended up on remand.Had to tell my mother on the phone and as I had kept the whole court thing a secret from my family she was completely shocked to find out as she thought I was going to the shops to do the lotto:(.

Its true what they say,if you are approached,dont be a bitch.Stand up to someone if they get in your face as you may very well be tested when on remand.

Keep your head down in there.Dont take anything off anyone cos they may say 'ah gowan have that' but I saw lads being approached in the following days for payment and payment was a lot more then you would pay onteh outside ir for use of an illegal phone might cost over a hundred quid.Once youre in debt,youre in debt and you will have to pay back somehow and you can imagine what they might ask.

rondog · 28-09-2015 12:48PM

This is completely true based on my experience.

When you are on remand you are held in a cell in the court,downstairs,before you are put in the paddywagon.In these cells could be about 10+ other on remand or convicted prisoners waiting to be escorted to prison.

If you know you may be going to prison I wouldn't take jewellery or an ything that advertises you have anything valuable.

When you get to prison,if you know someone locked up you can ask to be put in with them.If not you will go to a holding cell until you are given somewhere to stay or if you are put on protection you will go to relevant cell.

Stamp on any matresses too that you get when you get there if that's the case.Junkies have been known to hide syringes in the mattresses.

Oasis1974 · 28-09-2015 12:48PM

rondog wrote: »

Don't bring anything of value.No watches ,jewellery etc.Any junkie or other crim will try to take it from you if he considers you weak so he can use it as a bartering tool in prison for tobacco,drugs etc.

Tell your parents.I thought I was going in to court before for a fine and ended up on remand.Had to tell my mother on the phone and as I had kept the whole court thing a secret from my family she was completely shocked to find out as she thought I was going to the shops to do the lotto:(.

Its true what they say,if you are approached,dont be a bitch.Stand up to someone if they get in your face as you may very well be tested when on remand.

Keep your head down in there.Dont take anything off anyone cos they may say 'ah gowan have that' but I saw lads being approached in the following days for payment and payment was a lot more then you would pay onteh outside ir for use of an illegal phone might cost over a hundred quid.Once youre in debt,youre in debt and you will have to pay back somehow and you can imagine what they might ask.

So your telling me you walk in with a Rolex and gold chains and an i6 straight into you cell? But better not because they might get nicked?

rondog · 28-09-2015 12:52PM

Oasis1974 wrote: »

So your telling me you walk in with a Rolex and gold chains and an i6 straight into you cell? But better not because they might get nicked?

Depends on the prison but a certain Dublin prison im referring to.

You don't have anything taken from you until you are registered in the prison ie when they take your details about religion,any gang affiliations you have so you aren't mixed with the wrong crowd etc.

From the holding cell in the court to the prison anything can be taken.You are in the holding cell in court with no guards just other prisoners.

Don't want to scare anyone and in 99% of cases im sure everything is fine.

donegaLroad · 28-09-2015 01:13PM

sean2591 wrote: »

Looking like I will be going there. Only for unpaid fines for driving stuff. They add up to alot and I don't want to end up in debt so going to do the time instead. I already have the convictions so it won't change my record but I will save on the fines. Added together it's about 30 days but the guard I was talking to said I would probably only do a few days at most and that some people with fines only do a few hours. The guard was sound and gave me a few days to get things to get sorted.

So just wondering if anybody knows what it's like inside? Do people in for fines be kept apart from the regular prisoners? If you are in Dublin do you go to Mountjoy?

have a word with your local TDs, they should be able to put in a word for you.

Morgan Freeman · 28-09-2015 02:47PM

I've spent time in a prison for sure.

In fact, I spent most of the mid 20th century there, I did.

I remember the musty smell of the linen; the echoes of polished shoes on polished linoleum, the guards of course.

Yes sir, I remember those long sombre August evenings, out in the yard, smoking cigarettes and dreaming of life beyond the confines.

It was always the same, the yells, the laughs, the tears on the faces of the new inmates. All innocent of course, weren't we all?

I was discharged and headed down to Mexico, met up with an ol' acquaintance of mine. That was about the happiest day of my life as a free man, seeing that smiling face, shaking that hand and starting on the road ahead.

I wish you luck, my friend, for life inside is as you make it, and make it as you will.

Your pal,
R

uck51js9zml2yt · 28-09-2015 07:38PM

I knew it..boards is full of criminals and conspiracy theorists

starling · 28-09-2015 07:49PM

Camron Prickly Labyrinth wrote: »

I knew it..boards is full of criminals and conspiracy theorists

You know too much.....you're a problem now..just stay where you are, someone will be out to you shortly :cool:

Into The Blue · 28-09-2015 07:50PM

You'll be very surprised at how nice the guards and po's are to you. They know scum from normal people and will try to make it as easy on you as possible.

Saying that though, nothing can prepare you for when the door closes behind you and you can't get out.

Spend those first few (hardest) minutes planning a weekend away or similar. You'll be on the bus home before you know it.

posturingpat · 28-09-2015 08:25PM

2800 quid or jail :eek: Surely you've some friends that could help you out with that kind of money

. People spend that on a holiday.

pablo128 · 28-09-2015 08:35PM

posturingpat wrote: »

2800 quid or jail :eek: Surely you've some friends that could help you out with that kind of money . People spend that on a holiday.

2800 is 2 months wages if you were on the minimum wage. Now if you are not working, doing 2 days at most in the clink is a rather appealing option. If nothing else, it will be an experience. And who knows? The next time he is tempted to get behind the wheel uninsured or whatever, it might make him think twice.

If I was in the same position, I'd take the jail time.

Know anything about prison?

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