We often hear about criminals reoffending once they are released from prison and that makes us believe that people don’t change. But prison is an environment that definitely changes people, whether it is for better or worse.
The inmates have to follow a lot of strict rules and they have a completely different lifestyle there. They might be locked up for several years or even decades, so they must get used to it and view it as normal. It would be interesting to know which of the habits inmates acquired in jail they continued to practice, whether willingly or not.
Conveniently, Reddit user youknowyoulick asked that question and the thread received nearly 4k comments. In this list, you will find the ones that people found most intriguing or surprising.
More info: Reddit
#1
My friends baby daddy was in jail, apparently learned how to give really good massages. Now owns his own massage therapy clinic and employs like 30 RMT’s
Image credits: Fluid-Imagination301
#2
When my dad came home from prison I remember him being very polite. He was careful not to bump anybody, and he always said excuse me if he were trying to pass somebody.
Image credits: kindalikeacoustic
#3
In jail I learned the very useful concept of “Program.”
Think of your normal life, all the things that you do in a day or week that fill up the time: hobbies, time with friends and family, the gym, cooking, shopping, a job, etc. All of these activities are what make up your life as you know it, your identity. Responsibilities and obligations are what get most people out of bed every morning. Now take all of that away. You now have tons of free time and nothing to fill it with. The human subconscious needs to be busy, its a holdover from our days as hunter-gatherers since being occupied was necessary for survival, and with absolutely nothing to do people go mad.
Program is how to fill that time in a responsible and productive way. In the simplest terms its making a schedule and sticking to it; deciding how to fill that empty day with activities that serve your goals. During my time inside I got in great shape, did a ton of reading, and learned a lot from various interesting people. When Covid Lockdowns began I wasn’t worried at all because I knew how to Program.
Image credits: SirKedyn
#4
I did 12 years in a state institution. The only really strange thing to me was answering the telephone. First off, you don’t receive calls. Second, once the call connects, you can hear them say hello and then a prompt plays letting them know the call is recorded and what not before you then say hello. For about a year people would answer when I call them and I would wait for the recording to play before responding.
Image credits: LHDC417
#5
Reading
Image credits: r00tk1ll3r
#6
My husband still makes “jail snacks”, he also turns meals into sandwiches because bread was cheap and filling. Spaghetti between bread slices is an example. If we go somewhere like a restaurant, he’s extremely uncomfortable if he doesn’t have his back against a wall so he can see the room and no one can be behind him. He’s very quick to anger/react if he feels disrespected.
I also know people who hide items they feel are valuable. Even if they live alone, they hide “commodities” like good snacks, Crest Whitestrips, etc.
Image credits: chut2906
#7
Former prison librarian. I learned to always look in window reflections to make sure my back was covered. I had to count inmates as they came into the library so that there weren’t too many people. I can look in a room full of people and give a really accurate estimate of how many bodies are in a room because of this.
Image credits: mindfulminx
#8
Mentally practicing music. I am a guitarist/bassist and wrote many songs without the use of a guitar.
Image credits: Formal_Cow_8084
#9
Made a habit of addressing something that could potentially become a problem. Harshly and immediately. Currently trying to drop the harsh part.
Image credits: Apart_Advantage6256
#10
My boyfriend was in jail quite some time ago and still holds onto his habits. He washes his clothes in the shower or bathroom sink, he sweeps every morning, he jumps out of bed as soon as he wakes up, he lives pretty minimally, he’s super fit and works out everyday, and (he didn’t learn this in jail but it serves as an example of fitness and self-sufficiency) he rides his bike everywhere. I sometimes have to remind him that he can indulge in luxuries like using the washing machine or sleeping in.
Image credits: twinkies_and_wine
#11
Save every extra sugar packet I come across in case I get hungry between meals
Image credits: cbauser
#12
Hypervigilant. Size up everyone everywhere I go. Especially public transport and public spaces.
Image credits: shep_ling
#13
My bedroom is basically set up like my old cell.
In my bedroom I have everything at arms length.
I sit with my back to the wall when I’m out.
I still pace back and forth in small spaces.
Image credits: ieatassfordays
#14
Being entertained doing absolutely nothing like staring at a wall I just don’t get bored anymore
Image credits: No-Improvement-6734
#15
Hey, it’s not just people who were in jail but people who worked there too. I haven’t worked in a jail in decades but I still use mirrors and reflections to look around corners everywhere.
Image credits: count_frightenstein
#16
If i dont have dice but want dice and have toilet paper and toothpaste. You make basically a macramé paste with them and put it into a window corner, rotate it while its drying to keep it level. Boom dice.
Image credits: alaskaguyindk
#17
I became a stoner and developed long term problems with food. I also started compulsively buying books because when I didn’t have a book in solitary it was hard to stay sane and calm. I’m far less talkative and social than I used to be.
Image credits: aryeh86
#18
is patience a habit?
Image credits: glitchmagnet93
#19
I eat with my plate tucked between my arms, huddled over it like a trough, shoveling it in as fast as possible.
Image credits: hungry_hat
#20
Mind my business
Image credits: avalonian422
#21
Never been but I saw this same Q on here and one take away I have is the shower squeegee.
After you shower you use your hands like a squeegee blade and it removes 75% of the water off you.
Now your towel isn’t wet at the end, its damp
Image credits: canehdian78
#22
I can play Spades a bit better now
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Image credits: HGMIV926
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