Sex Offenders and Prison

Here's a list of the Co. Jails and State Prisons I have done time in due to a false accusation in 1985, my wrongful conviction in 1989, and my arrests for refusing to register as a sex offender:
- Anchorage Co. Jail, Alaska
- King Co. Jail, Seattle WA
- Marion Co. Jail, Oregon
- Coos Co. Jail, Oregon
- Oregon State Penitentiary
- Shutter Creek Correctional, Oregon
- Oregon State Correctional Institution
- Santa Clara Co. Main Jail, CA
- Santa Rita Jail, CA
- San Quentin State Prison
- Susanville State Prison
- Folsom State Prison
- Solodad State prison
- Avenal State Prison
- And  believe or not, there's more
   With all my years incarcerated I guess I could be considered an expert on being a "sex offender" in jail and prison. On all the above prison yards I always walked the Mainline. Check out my 1997 article, "How to Survive Prison as an Innocent Man Convicted of a Sex Crime", at http://www.ipt-forensics.com/journal/volume9/j9_3_6.htm . For more on sex offenders in prison, see this blog by a guy in Federal Prison called Joe the S.O. http://joetheso.blogspot.com/.

S.O. Survival Guide

How to Survive as an S.O. in Prison (a work in progress)

My editor has suggested that I write a survival guide for those headed to prison for a sex offense. I agree that this is a good idea, but I don't feel particularly qualified to write it. I am surviving, but just barely. I will, however, share what I've learned so far, mostly by trial-and-error.

1.  Be Mentally Prepared

Prison is NOTHING like the outside world. Inmates living in a prison have a radically different set of rules to live by. To help you get your head in the game, I would suggest watching a few prison documentaries before you lose your freedom. Most documentaries that you'll find will probably be of maximum security state prisons, but this does not matter. What you need to pay attention to is how prisoners speak to and relate to one another. Don't pay too much attention to all of the showcased violence (unless you ARE headed to a maximum security facility). Nothing can fully prepare you for incarceration, but a few good documentaries will help you get your feet wet.

2.  Meekness is Weakness

Most s.o.'s fall into the meek category as a prison newbie. Try to avoid this. A well-placed "f*** you" can sometimes go a long way in establishing you as just another inmate. Just be careful when and to whom you use your profane vocabulary. It's a precarious balancing act. Keep quiet, but don't let others push you around. Some inmates LOVE to harass and exploit people they think are weak.

3.  I'm a Sex Offender, But I'm Not a Chomo

The POLICE set me straight on this one. Gremlins don't care whether you molested a child, raped an adult, or downloaded child pornography from the Internet. A chomo is a chomo, plain and simple. Gremlins will hate you and call you a chomo no matter what your sex offense is, so don't give them any information about your case.

4.  Paperwork

If gremlins suspect you are a sex offender, and you just arrived at the prison, they might ask to see your "paperwork." Paperwork is any official document that has your name and offense on it. (Forging any government document is a criminal offense, so I wouldn't try that.) If pressed for paperwork, you might just want to get an attitude and say, "F*** you, man, I'm not showing you anything." It may not work, but that might be your only defense.

5.  Pick Your Poison

If you know you're headed to prison, don't let the government just put you wherever. I've talked to s.o.'s who were originally sent to Leavenworth, which is a death trap for anyone who is not a gremlin. I've heard of people being beaten within an inch of their lives, and they had been on the compound for less than a day. Don't let this happen to you.

Before you get sentenced, tell your attorney which institutions you prefer, and have him recommend them to your judge. The government doesn't have to honor your preferences, but it's better than nothing. What places should you ask for? Any place that has the Sex Offender Management Program (SOMP) is a start, since those prisons are bound to have a higher concentration of people with offenses similar to yours. Don't just suggest prisons that are closest to home because you want family visits. Seeing your relatives is nice and all, but they can't help you with the gremlins.

6.  Don't Be a Loner

Staying to yourself 100% of the time is a telling sign that something is wrong with you, and it can blow your cover if you are already suspected. Besides, everyone in prison needs a few friends. Use your best judgment and choose a few inmates to associate with.

7.  Find a Gremlin-Free Cell

I neglected to do this, and not doing so cost me a great deal of misery. When you arrive at a new prison, you get assigned to a random cell by the police. If your new cellmates start asking you a bunch of questions about your offense or ask for your paperwork, FIND A NEW CELL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Even if your cover story seems to be fooling them, you should move ASAP. Gremlins love to talk about their offenses, and they will want to hear your story constantly. Avoid this.

8.  Don't Drink or Gamble

You're headed for the hole if you get caught while engaged in these gremlin-heavy activities. I don't care how good you are at Texas Hold'em. Find another way to do your time.

9.  Keep Your Story Straight

I've seen an inmate give 3 or 4 different cover stories at the same prison. Of course, it took no time at all for people to compare notes and draw the obvious conclusion. Don't do this. And if you have to give a cover story, make sure it's plausible. Telling inmates that you're doing time in federal prison for a car theft (a state case) is an obvious lie. Do some research in the outside world before you go to prison and start fibbing.

10.  Know When to Hit the Panic Button

If you know that you're in danger, don't be afraid to check yourself into the hole. You'd much rather be locked up in a small room than be shanked in the gut. If the cops don't want to admit you, give them the magic words: "I refuse housing." They will have no choice but to let you in. You will be punished for doing this, but sometimes survival makes this necessary.

 Also be sure to check out Prison Legal News https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/ and Justice Denied http://justicedenied.org/