Prison party fashion...without the prison? [more inside]
posted by tejolote on Sep 29, 2009 - 24 answers

How do I send books or magazines to someone in jail? [more inside]
posted by electroboy on Apr 22, 2009 - 6 answers

Help me think of prison-themed presents for a Down by Law screening party. [more inside]
posted by lunalaguna on Feb 23, 2009 - 15 answers

What can someone expect when they go to jail for five days for a DUI? [more inside]
posted by nomad73 on Oct 28, 2008 - 10 answers

Any idea where to find a black-and-white horizontally-striped t-shirts reminiscent of old style prison outfits--like what Elvis had in Jailhouse Rock? I've found whole costumes (jumpers, etc.) but I just need t-shirts.
posted by sourwookie on Jun 19, 2008 - 8 answers

What would a person have to do in order to get a one year jail sentence in the California penal system. [more inside]
posted by SECONDHANDSMOTE on Feb 15, 2008 - 18 answers

Has anyone ever escaped from jail or prison using this novel method, either in fiction or in real life? [more inside]
posted by Tube on Jan 30, 2008 - 6 answers

According to these pages on the U.S. Bureau of Justice site, imprisonment for public order offenses suddenly fell by a third in 2002. Why?
posted by painquale on Jan 12, 2008 - 11 answers

I have heard that prisoners will use a trick involving sticking a bit of metal in electrical outlets to get a spark in a rather Macgyver-esque process of lighting a cigarette. Is this more urban legend than reality. [more inside]
posted by gbinal on Dec 26, 2007 - 14 answers

what fun, performance-related activities would you teach in a high-security prison? [more inside]
posted by twistofrhyme on Oct 22, 2007 - 12 answers

Has anyone ever done time in prison for harassing a whale? [more inside]
posted by jason's_planet on Jul 10, 2007 - 10 answers

Does anyone know the title of old Italian film - Partly set in a Venetian Jail? [more inside]
posted by Dub on Feb 8, 2007 - 7 answers

I have a friend who has served time for several DUI's, and is currently on parole. He is worried about failing a drug test, and being sent back to the slammer to complete his sentence. Are there any MeFis out there that have been on parole, failed a test for marijuana, and not been sent back to jail? [more inside]
posted by lester on Jul 7, 2006 - 11 answers

Name 5 US Celebrities to have gone to jail that aren't boxers or rap stars. [more inside]
posted by BigCalm on Jun 14, 2005 - 51 answers

"I want my phonecall!" In movies and on TV shows, the protagonist/antagonist always asks his jailers for his "one phonecall" to a lawyer. Do you really only get one phonecall? Do regular people really have a lawyer's number on them? How's this all work? (I'm not in trouble, promise)
posted by kahboom on Nov 24, 2004 - 13 answers

GoofyFactCheckFilter: do jail guards (specifically not prison guards) ever carry firearms? I published a short story online recently in which a guard in a county jail is carrying a gun and the person being held for questioning grabs it, chaos ensues, etc. I just received an email (from a guy I know slightly) insisting that "jail guards never carry firearms for the very reason you give -- high risk of someone grabbing it."

Now, I've never been to jail, but I've visited inmates in a maximum security prison (long story), and of course all the guards were carrying guns. So is there really some universal distinction between prison guards and jail guards regarding firearms, or was this person just being a know-it-all (and an ill-informed one at that)? I, of course, am only asking for the sake of accuracy, and not because I'm irritated.
posted by scody on Sep 3, 2004 - 8 answers

How does house arrest work? (more inside) [more inside]
posted by Zed_Lopez on Jul 16, 2004 - 14 answers