You're The New Fish In Prison, page 2

The key in the US is to what "Kind" of prison you sent. Conditions vary widely, but broadly along the lines of what category you are assigned.

In an easy unit, you probably wont be hassled for real very much. A few posers may try to intimidate you, but they won't have support. their seconds are not willing to do hard-time just because their leader picks a fight. Just because 4 dudes are standing around you, doesn't mean all of them are willing to risk the penalties for fighting you.

SOME of the "I was raped" stories are just men trying to rationalize their behavior to family on the outside.

The fact is, if you have something to offer, someone will want to look after you. If you are literate, or have outside contacts or commisary, are a short-timer, or look big enough to defend yourself and maybe others, someone will want your friendship enough to ask politely. If all you are good for is party favors, you'll be treated accordingly.

That's what supposed to happen when you get surrounded by the way, you're supposed to tell them what you're worth, and then buy your own posterior with what you can offer: legal advice, a contact on the outside, a good lawyer, knowledge of an incoming drug shipment, etc. You really aren't supposed to get raped, and most don't. They make an offer, and it's usually accepted, unless things have gotten personal.

The fact remains that in many prisons, even the more serious ones, that gang activity is mainly a sport for young men would would be doing the same thing on the outside. You can minimize your contact with it, if you insist on not being involved. that means not helping someone else unless they are in your set. you can get sucked into a gang war by trying to defend someone who would not have defended you.

For the people who advise you to get into a gang, notice that most of the victims of violence are active gang members.

You'll be forced to "stick with" your own race; the system itself acknowledges racial gangs, and segregates prisoners that way to minimize the violence. Learn it, acknowledge that you cannot change it, and move on.

A short, thin man did 4 years in a southern state without ever being raped. He chose the "go crazy on the first person to proposition you, then do your time in solitary" route. But he says that, because he acted this way, everyone wanted him in their gang, and he was sent to the violent offender pod after fulfilling his time in solitary....

You should never fake something you are not, but if you are religious, then chapel is a place where you can meet some like minded men. Sometimes there is a group that refuses to call itself a gang, but is de facto a gang. They may have about 3-5 formal members, don't allow gays, and don't charge favors. But they would defend each other in a riot, and even take revenge if need be. They'd get left alone. They'd probably only exist until a couple of key members get out, then fade away.

Whoever wrote that about the chess players is right btw.

Spend time working out, but only with your set, because a lot of confrontations happen then.

Also, spend time in the legal library, working on your case. If you learn the law, you can help others who don't understand, and they will owe you. in prisons where you check out law books, some inmates just use them for weightlifting, so it takes forever, and favors, to get the books you'd need to look at.

The food is made so that you will lose 1 -5 lbs / month. If anyone on the outside can deposit money in the commisary for you, then you can trade smokes and candy for stuff you need, or just for a quiet night's sleep.