I’ve been told by a solicitor to expect some prison time. I’ve got a good career, no past offences and mitigating circumstances – so hopefully nothing too harsh. I’m obviously a little worried about prison, as I really don’t know what to expect, but I’m more worried how a conviction will impact my life in the long term (especially if I can’t get a decent job in future, or my savings fail to cover mortgage payments whilst I’m serving a sentence).
Any advice from ex-convicts with success stories?
Edit to clear up charge: “allegedly” inflicting GBH on a sexual predator who’d caused serious trauma to immediate family.
41 comments
It’s going to depend on what you’ve been found guilty for. If it’s some sort of fraud or sexual related crime then I imagine it would have a major impact on your future prospects but if it’s for handling salmon in suspicious circumstances then you might be ok outside of the fishing industry.
I only know one person who was done for a white-collar crime, & he went self-employed rather than try for employment elsewhere.
What industry/sector do you work in? What is the nature of the crime?
It will boil down to a lot of things really. I work with a charity that does some things with ex-cons that I get to talk to fairly regularly about things like this. Some have really struggled, others have been totally fine.
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Don’t borrow and don’t do drugs, you’ll be fine.
I don’t know the details (obviously) but prison for a first offence of assault seems a bit strong. It’s maybe on the cards, hence the warning from your solicitor. Unless the circumstances are something you aren’t sharing? Unless you’ve punched an old lady, I’d wager a suspended sentence.
I work in many prisons and can only advise that if you do get sent down, to engage with every programme offered, aim to get enhanced status, offer to be a buddy or listener and fully engage with the system. You will get better conditions and status and a higher chance of early release.
Certain offenses are classed as ‘spent’ after a given period (no longer shown on a basic CRB/DBS check). It would still show for certain jobs, as they require full disclosure.
First offence and previous good character is more likely to be a suspended sentance, particularly if a custodial sentance would have a disproportionate effect on your future life (not a solicitor, so dont take my opinion as legally binding).
Hey, a close friend of mine is going through exactly this (Same offence, similar circs) and I’ve been very very close to it, helping them navigate the system and attending all the court hearings.
I’ll just down some thoughts for you, mostly second hand, but we talk every day (which I’ll come to)
1. Your sentence will likely be a quarter of what you get in court. So when you hear the headline figure, take a deep breath. If it’s under 7 years, you’ll serve half and *WILL* be released at the half way point. However, it’s very likely you’ll be released on tag at the 1/4 mark.
2. The prison system is awful, but not for the reasons you think. Assaults, violence, drugs aren’t ‘rare’ as such, but if you don’t get involved, don’t start borrowing and lending money, you’ll be fine and will likely have zero issues with other prisoners. Obviously use your common sense, keep your head down, stay uncontroversial.
3. However, as I say – the system is shite. They don’t follow their own rules, they don’t give you information, there’s a huge turnover of staff, lots of new staff. Expect to be endlessly frustrated and shocked at how incompetent it is. I’m talking waiting weeks for basic things to be sorted.
4. You need to get somebody prepared on the outside to be your eyes and ears, they can look up rules and regs, and can send you money. You’ll likely have a phone in your cell so communication shouldn’t be an issue. Make sure to memorise a number to call.
5. Visits are about twice a month, but can also be a nightmare to get set up
6. Food is dire, to nobodies shock
As for coming out, unfortunately I’ve got a criminal record (no prison time), so i can offer you some thoughts:
1. The rehabilitation of offenders act is your “friend”, but it’ll be a long time before your conviction becomes spent – so in the meantime:
2. Violence isn’t great, but for many jobs it’s far better than dishonesty. Any job that runs any kind of CRB/DBS is going to find out, and it’s going to come down to their own policies whether they’re okay. It’s a serious offence, and there’s no getting around that I’m afraid
3. Ultimately, if they don’t do a DBS while the law says they can ask and you “should” answer honestly -let’s face it, how’re they gonna find out. If they wouldn’t give you the job in the first place, I’d just fucking lie
Just respond if you have any specific questions and I’ll do my best to answer. Like I say, it’s kind of second hand, but I am very close to this and have spoken to a lot of organisations
From what you’re saying, I think you’ve a good shot of getting a suspended sentence. Play ball at court and Hopefully your clean record should see you through. Good luck.
I know the guy who defrauded Barclays out of millions (fibre through the sewer scam) he has enjoyed jail (as much as you can) In fact he is in an open prison and comes home at weekends
Solicitors always tell you to expect prison so they look good when you get a fine or suspended sentence.
How badly did you hurt the guy ? People don’t often go away for first offences.
Inflicting GBH, I’m an act of self defence? Or an act of revenge?
If you’re convicted of violent crime you might struggle to get a work permit or visa to enter certain countries. You’ll likely fail a criminal history check, so possibly working with children or vulnerable people could be a problem. But other than that I can’t think of anything that will greatly impact your life. Most people don’t really give a shit about peoples past.
There’s a good few places that will hire ex-offenders, my friend’s mum works for the local council despite having done prison time and my mum knows a guy who works at the gym who stabbed someone to death in a fight in his youth. There’ll certainly be things you’re limited from doing, but it’s not a life sentence.
‘Never a lender nor a borrower be’ whilst you’re in there, is the best possible advice I can give here.
Don’t borrow anything, don’t steal anything, don’t buy any drugs, and make sure you stay hygienic and keep your pad clean. Also if that’s what you’re going in for, you’ll most likely get some respect from the boys inside. Just keep ur head down n it should be fine
Dont get into debt. The first week or two will be tough if your a smoker/vaper but once your canteen order gets delivered you’ll be sorted. Borrow in the first week and you’ll constantly be playing catch up.
Work with the staff, be good to them and they’ll be good with you.
Most importantly, stay away from Spice
S.18 or 20? Realistically there’s going to be some jobs you’re barred from – probably working with vulnerable people and children, schools etc.
What does your current job say about it? There’s a chance you may not lose your job, or you may be able to start a similar one after release
I have been through what you are probably going through similar but different circumstances. Antidepressants (SSRIs) made me feel invincible on multiple occasions’. Long story short I have a blank bit of memory where I assaulted police and bit someone while they tried to restrain me. Solicitor told me same as you but got (on second similar offence) 18 weeks suspended and a metric boatload of community pay back hours. One of the reasons was good job. It does cause anxiety when changing jobs but it does fall off your basic record after 3 years (I think). You won’t be able to work in care or anything like that but if someone asks and the conviction is spent you don’t have to say anything.
Keep your head up and get a therapist the whole process will destroy your sanity. (Sorry for the wall of words I sent from my phone)
Someone I know got 18 months. 1 year after release they were a retail manager and a year after that they were in a career job and now 10 years later are earning £60k with the same Fortune 500 company in a global managerial role. Never say never. but things do get better.
I volunteer with a lot of ex cons and they say keep your head down and expect terrible food.
Can someone explain why you shouldn’t be a lender? A borrower I understand.
I am guessing some ugly fuck will just “borrow” something and never return it.
Its like being back at school, with bullies around. Stay clear of the bullies and if they fuck about, dont back down. If you keep your head down and make your own friends circle with similiar mindsets you will be fine. If you are with a group, similiar minds and interests you will be ok. Get a job when in there to pass your time and go to work. Dont get involved in the subculture. Keep your head down and the screws will treat you alright.
Set up a direct debit or get someone to send you money to your prison account. You can buy things with it inside prison. Book your family onto visits and you can receive emails from loved ones and reply to them with posted letters.
In terms of it affecting your life it depends what you want to do, once the conviction is spent, it should be treated as if its not even on your file but depends if its working with kids, vulnerable people and in this scenario even spent convictions will be looked at.
How long are you expecting? Reason I ask it two-fold. One, you mention mortgage and if you’re away for years, I hope you have some serious savings. Two the length of the sentence may make a difference as to what prison you’re sent to, I understand that some are worse than others in that way.
Every solicitor I’ve had has told told me to prepare for prison, they’re more than likely preparing you for the worst, not saying it’s not a possibility though. Just play ball with the court, and fgs know when to keep your mouth shut. If you do get sent down, keep your mouth shut and like others have said don’t get involved with drugs or lending/borrowing money. If you see something on the wing, YOU DIDNT SEE ANYTHING! Don’t instigate anything, but if you do get checked by another Inmate, DO NOT BACK DOWN! Stand your ground, and they’ll likely move on to the weaker guy coming in after you. Do not accept any favours from ANYONE. As long as you don’t cause problems and keep your head down, you should be fine. Also most screws don’t tend to like being called screws lol. Also if you’ve got someone on the outside sending you money, don’t tell anyone and do not flaunt your commissary. If you take anything in in the prison pocket, please don’t be stupid enough to tell anyone. Good on you for *allegedly* doing what you definitely didn’t do (😉) best of luck mate.
Delete any social media and any public profiles off the internet before you go inside.
Mate ,sorry to hear this first of all ,
A good barrister will tell u what ur looking at realistically with a guilty plea and a not guilty plea u have to weigh that against what money u have if mortgages and bills are a factor,bear in mind u also need money to survive in jail should u go. It’s a fucking bleak place and a bit of money each week buys u a bit of creature comforts.
Hope this offers a small amount of help I’ve done multiple sentences and jails if u need any more info shout me (under 3 year sentences can be applied to be suspended) bear that in mind but get a decent barrister they make a massive difference
When you go inside keep your nut down and have your wits about you. Don’t borrow anything from anyone as you’ll be made to pay this back x3.
You beat up a sex offender, you will have respect for that. Go about your daily life and you’ll be fine. If it comes on top just be prepared to fight etc if needed.
Dont watch the TV show Time.
Seriously, dont watch it.
I work in a prison so not sure entirely of the sentencing rules, buy I had a gimpy come in once and he battered a junkie that had stolen his daughters phone. The junkie fell during the fracas and cut his face on a plate, the guy got 18months as a first time offender buy anything under 4 years you only do half, guilty plea will take tike off too. There are people who work in the jails that can help you with life afterwards etc. It’s employer dependant on how they look at your charges tbh.
I’m no legal but served time in Horfield, Bristol, don’t borrow, keep your head down and fwiw I read a lot of books to pass the time
They won’t send you to prison, they haven’t the room. I would problem say your get a tag and community service.
If you battered a pedo then the other inmates will likely have a crown and bottle of champaigne waiting for you.
In contrast, actual pedos and ex-cops have to be put on their own wing so that they don’t get killed. There’s a heirachy in the nick.
GBH means great bodily harm, in case anyone doesn’t understand. Basically you went ape shit on a child molester or rapist who “touched” your family.
Not from UK, but good on ya mate, fucking twat should have died, but then you’d be fucked.
I’ve read through a lot of your responses. Keep your head up. You know, at least you can say you’ve been through everything in life. You can rise like the phoenix after this.
I’ve been to prison. Here are a few tips:
Don’t get into debt, rule number 1. 99% of all fights in prison are due to debt. Don’t smoke or vape ANYTHING that people give to you. They will literally OD you on drugs just for a laugh. Engage with the staff but don’t be too friendly with them; other prisoners will start to hate you. Don’t be too quiet I.e. sit in your cell not talking to anyone. Go out on the landing and get talking to some people. Engage with every programme, work, course etc available it will look good when it comes to your parole/tag review.
Good luck!
I am going through something similar. There are groups for people who believe that they are going through a miscarriage of justice.
It is quite unlikely that you will get a custodial sentance. But the contention, in my case anyway was pleading guilty to a lesser charge which I still contest.
Courts want to make it easy for themselves. But I am now on probation for harassment for one evening ringing her (our flat) door bell 6 times in a row.
I have to go to the probation officer one a week for relationship counciling.
I didn’t even get to speak at my trial except give my name address and dob.
Didn’t help that my partner was a lawyer though. And her international law firm sent the heavies in.
I am now facing a custodial sentance for breach because I send her an email telling her my friend and mother died.
This is all true.
You can’t always win but you can get support.
So reach out
There is an awesome charity called Unlock, which campaigns for and supports people with criminal records. Everyone at the org, from the workers to the volunteers are all people with records, or been through the system https://unlock.org.uk/ loads of info to help you and you can speak with people there too. Good luck with everything.
Not a convict myself but work in an industry where these kind of things cause me problems occasionally so I’ve read up a bit on it over the years….
As a starting point this will give you an idea as to what to expect in terms of sentencing for GBH: [https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/offences/crown-court/item/causing-grievous-bodily-harm-with-intent-to-do-grievous-bodily-harm-wounding-with-intent-to-do-gbh-2/](https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/offences/crown-court/item/causing-grievous-bodily-harm-with-intent-to-do-grievous-bodily-harm-wounding-with-intent-to-do-gbh-2/)
In terms of post conviction, you will be ineligible for any kind of higher security clearances such as NPPV3 and SC clearance which will likely limit you ability to work in any high profile public service jobs or any jobs that require interacting with data from Emergency services, Government, or military. (source: just had to terminate a new employee because of an ABH conviction, a lower grade of crime than your “alleged” offence, denying him NPPV3 and SC clearance)
What you need to hope for is a conviction less than 4 years (even a suspended one) as they are the ones that are able to be spent. At which point they become invisible to most (but not all) employers.
The 4-7 years (7 years for any sentence over 2.5 years, 4 years for any sentence over 6 months) after your sentence is served, that conviction will be on your record and it will be challenging to find employment as companies can and will discriminate. Some industries will not care, others really will and it can be fairly random on a company to company basis. General rule of thumb, be up front to potential employers, don’t let them find out when they do their checks, and give them the opportunity to ask questions if they want. it helps to put them at ease.
I went in ’06 so things might have changed quite a lot. I was also in a women’s prison, so had a single cell etc.
You’ll likely be taken to the nearest prison to the court on the day you go in, ring them, ask what you can take with you. I took in a bag with a couple of changes of clothes, a book, a notepad, a see through pen, a set of stamps and a tenner. That was immediately put on my canteen sheet so I had money to buy a phone card with straight away. Just dont take anything overly worth stealing or being targeted for.
If you have skills, use them, I did a few people’s numeracy and literacy tests for them, cos education pays worse than a job, so that earned me a bit of good will.
It will mainly be boring, with occasional moments of weird scary shit. Make the most of what you can. Use the library and the gym if you get chance.
The system is a nightmare, when you find out if you can be released on tag, you need someone on the outside hassling the shit out of people until they deal with your case just to shut them up. It can take ages.
Make yourself a routine, map out your day, it goes quicker like that.
You’re gonna see stuff and hear stuff you probably wont ever forget, but if you keep your head down you’ll be fine.
Career wise, it will affect it, some sentences won’t ever be spent, and even if they are, they’ll be on an enhanced check forever. Use the resources available, places like Nacro etc.
Your prison number will be useful for passwords for years to come.
Best of luck.
A lot of these people are guessing so I’ll add my guess, you will get a suspended sentence op. Just blag that your remorseful, get some good character references from work, doctors and include any instances that point to you being of good character. Through gritted teeth proclaim that you are appalled with your lack of self restraint but insist that you now know how to deal with any instances when you are feeling frustrated and are implementing methods of destressing by exercising, walking, breathing techniques and look into signing up for anger management courses.your g.p will help finding these and this will look good on your doctors notes if you do it off your own back. Most of all just show remorse and show the sad face to the ones that are sentencing you. It’s a common ploy of solicitors to tell you the worse case scenario coz it covers their back and doesn’t raise your hopes but in all likelihood if this is your first offence and you show remorse then by locking you up will be detrimental in their eyes so they will act like you are lucky to be getting off but give you the benefit of doubt and slap you with a suspended sentence. Although I’m no solicitor and this is only my opinion,You will get an 18 month suspended sentence and 120 hours community service with 12 month probation. Keep your chin up, your going nowhere. Fingers crossed for you op and let me know the outcome please.
Wave goodbye to any job that requires an advanced CRB check.
Bud I got 5 years for drug offences, first time being caught. Clean record.
I was shitting it about prison but the worst thing about it is that you miss your family and friends like crazy, you start getting fear of missing out because everyday is the same day and when you speak to friends they’re going about their lives. You have the same routine day in day out that it feels like ground hog day. Boredom is the main thing that really gets to you, so I suggest read as many books as you can and try and get yourself an in cell hobby.
They’ll send you to big boy prison first to shit you up. (cat B local). You’ll have 23 hour bang up and 1 hour a day to ring home, shower or put in the paperwork that you want doing. My advice is put your transfer papers in to the closet cat C to you on your first couple of days. The first 3 weeks you’ll be doing nothing but sitting around waiting for a job. Again as soon as you hit cat C (about a week to two) put in your job application papers. Then just ride it out mate, you’ll get into a rhythm and time will pass. Get your loved ones to send money into the prison so you have spending money so you buy credit for the blue phones.
Always remember.. Time waits for no man and no matter what sort of mountain you’re facing it passes bro.
Now for outside life.. Job hunting was crazy for me man no one would touch me with a 6ft barge pole. Even macdonalds and KFC wouldn’t touch me even though they’re ‘equal opportunity employer’ and I was a head chef before hand. (I got released in lockdown) so I retrained go become an electrician and I’m now pretty much fully qualified and in a much better position.
Prison is a piece of piss, keep your head down, stand up for yourself and you’ll be fine. It’s the waiting that kills you. Outside is going to hard but it’s not the end.
Good luck bro.