Prison Questions

[Paul26]

Getting sentenced in 2 weeks for GBH and expecting the worst. Am meeting brief later this week but some people on here seem to know alot about this stuff so might be able to answere questions I have

Is there a max distance they can send you away from home or can you end up in any prison?

If family member is really sick do they take that into account and can you get out to visit or for a funeral if that happens and do you get out on your own or with officers?

What stuff are you allowed bring in with you from the court?

Can you still smoke in prison with the ban?

[Paul26]

Cherry/Wizard

Thanks for the answers and the links - good to get info as this is all new for me. I've asked my brief some stuff but better to get the info from people who know what actually happens.

The funeral would be my old man as he is very sick right now and with the sentence I'm expecting it is likely to happen. When you say you just get to the service - do you man the church but not the grave? Seems very hard (I know some people will say I should have thought of that) but family is family and there is nothing more important than a funeral. Hard to imagine having to go through all that and being handcuffed and everybody being stressed out about it.

Wizrd - read both those links. Had already seen the HMP one - it all seems grand according to that but knew they'd be saying all the best stuff. Like you said with this being my first time (and only time) I get pretty wound up thinking about it sometimes. Think this is nearly as bad as being there. From what you say the worse things are the conditions and not having your own space and freedom. Did you see many arguments or people getting beat up? The other link makes out that the screws are pretty bad - did you find this or is it more if you cause trouble?

Like you said I think I just want to get on with things not stand out and get to do some courses if I can. Never thought I'd end up in this situation but no use in thinking like that now - just want to make the best of thinks and hope my girlfriend and my family stick by me.

[lajohn]

Paul26 - i hope you realise with you getting this conviction you will be sending your old man sooner to meet st. peter. poor man, he probably cannot wait to get to heaven and get away from all your troubles.