A Day in Prison (An Insider's Guide to Life Behind Bars)

Twenty-four hours pass slowly in a prison. A Day in Prison will help new inmates understand what’s ahead of them, hour by hour, and how to deal with the many challenges. From doing laundry in “the hole” to surviving a fight, this book offers invaluable advice for both prisoners and their families, as well as plenty of first-hand stories.

Prison Coach John “Doc” Fuller illustrates what life is like behind bars from morning roll call to lights out, and a comprehensive description of the official prison rules and the inmates’ “real” rules. The prison culture, detailed here, is maintained by violence; Fuller teaches inmates how to interact with convicts, prison guards, and administrators in different situations, so as to avoid bodily harm as much as possible, insisting prisoners embrace their new life as a cog in a system they cannot change. Fuller also offers specific suggestions for filling the hours in ways that benefit inmates in their daily prison life, provides meaning, and even prepares them for release. Also included is updated contact information for resources and helpful organizations.

A Day in Prison is structured like an actual day in prison, tracking where in the building an inmate might be at any given point in a twenty-four hour period, what they should be doing at that time, and what to watch out for. This realistic, thorough guide is based on the author’s own time in a federal penitentiary and his years coaching people—from soccer moms to NBA stars—on how to survive on the inside.