Blog - Prison Insight

Why Does An Inmate Need Money?

As Liza Minelli told us in Cabaret, money makes the world go round. And, even though that movie reference tells you way too much about my age and geeky interests, it is a universal truth, both in the free world and inside of a prison. Money is everything in prison. It can transform your experience […]

Can You Wear Jewelry In Prison?

Jewelry is a reflection of personal style, and even if it isn’t expensive, some pieces have sentimental value that can’t be measured. From necklaces to ankle bracelets, you wear jewelry for a reason, and it is an important accessory when you are dressing up. Of course, things change when you are in prison. The Department […]

Inmate Commissary 101 – Everything You Want to Know

I love to go shopping. As a teenager, I lived for the days I could go to the mall and explore all of the cool stores. As an adult, I can get lost in Amazon for hours. Finding yourself a little something special to spend your money on is a lot of fun, no matter […]

Can You Have A TV In Your Prison Cell?

Binge watching a good TV show is one of my favorite things to do. I have been known to burn an entire weekend thanks to a couple of seasons of everything from Schitt’s Creek to Better Call Saul. I know I’m not alone. With so much good TV available these days, how does anyone leave […]

Can You Volunteer In A Prison?

Inmates and prison life have become a popular form of entertainment in recent years thanks to reality shows, true crime docu-series, and scripted television shows. But, even though you might have seen every episode of MSNBC’s Lock Up, it doesn’t mean you understand what life is really like behind bars, what truly causes many people […]

Can You Tour A Prison?

In recent years, the popularity surrounding scripted shows like Orange Is the New Black and Wentworth, reality shows like 60 Days In, Locked Up Abroad, and Girls Incarcerated, and true crime docs like Making A Murderer, has skyrocketed interest in the justice system and prisons. People are curious to know what life is really like […]

Can You Drink In Prison?

Drinking in prison seems to be a popular topic among people who are interested in prison life and what it’s really like to live behind electric fences and locked doors. Any movie or TV show that is about prison always seems to have at least one character who knows how to provide the rest of […]

Can You Study In Prison?

One of the things people are most curious about when it comes to prison is how inmates spend their time. How do you get through each day when you know you can’t step outside of the prison walls? When your freedom is taken away, how does that affect how you live your life? Can you […]

Can You Marry In Prison?

If you think relationships are tough in the free world, you don’t want to know what it’s like when you are in prison. Incarceration takes a huge toll on your relationships – not just those with spouses, girlfriends, and boyfriends, but also with family and friends. Your life is essentially on pause when you are […]

Can You Sleep In Prison?

As a former inmate, I often get questions about the sleeping situation in prison. The common belief seems to be that prisoners sleep their time away, and get out of bed just to eat and go to the bathroom. The images most people seem to have in their mind are of prisoners locked inside a […]