How do I get information about a turn-of-the-century criminal? He was my great-grandfather.
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 12, 2013 -
6 answers
My little brother is currently in jail, and will likely be staying there or in a similar facility for quite a while. He is only allowed to receive postcards, and softcover books mailed from Amazon or B&N. If either of these items violate the byzantine regulations (details contained within), they will not reach him. What are some creative things
that are basically just pieces of paper (no paint, stickers, double layers, etc) I can send as postcards? What are some books
that won’t be taken away for sex, drug, gang, etc content you’d recommend for a 23 year old male who never really read for pleasure, recently earned his GED, and likes Hunter S. Thompson?
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posted by Juliet Banana
on Jun 28, 2012 -
100 answers
How realistic is the portrayal of the media's coverage of the prison on
Oz? (No spoilers in the question, potential for some in the answers.)
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posted by SpiffyRob
on Jun 20, 2012 -
5 answers
I'm doing a research and policy project on DC prisoners. I'm looking for information and personal stories on what the situation is like for DC prisoners serving time in the federal system. I'm also interested in information on conditions in the former DC Prison at Lorton. I'd like to compare conditions before and after the closure of Lorton and make some recommendations for how to improve outcomes for DC inmates, both during their sentences and after release.
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posted by Amy Phillips
on May 19, 2012 -
4 answers
My sweet boyfriend's dearest friend has been diagnosed with Hodgikn's Lymphoma. Last time we saw him he was complaining about a lump in this throat, and saying they didn't know what it was but not to worry, he was probably just getting over an infection. Typical blase doctors, oh yeah forgot to mention, he is five years into a ten year prison sentence for some youthful foolishness.
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posted by stormygrey
on Jan 13, 2012 -
11 answers
There was a website I saw within the last few months (I believe on MeFi) that hosted stories from people in prison in a blog format. I was foolish enough to not bookmark it, and now I cannot find it again. I keep thinking it was called Behind the Bars or something like that, but all of my searches are ending in vain. Does this sound familiar to anyone else?
Thanks
posted by daboo
on Dec 17, 2010 -
3 answers
I just found out my friend got arrested two months ago for flying into the US with (allegedly) child pornography on his laptop. Nobody's heard from him since. How do I find out what's happening without getting dragged into it?
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posted by jgt246
on Jul 24, 2010 -
9 answers
How many juveniles were incarcerated in 2009?
posted by dtpollitt
on Apr 1, 2010 -
5 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
Has anyone ever escaped from jail or prison using this novel method, either in fiction or in real life?
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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.
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posted by gbinal
on Dec 26, 2007 -
14 answers
Does anyone know the title of old Italian film - Partly set in a Venetian Jail?
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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?
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posted by lester
on Jul 7, 2006 -
11 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
