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Prison In England?

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Paul1982 | 13:45 Fri 17th Aug 2007 | Law
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I posted a question about what is likely to happen in court when I go there for being done for driving while on a ban and being over the limit. A few people mentioned that prison is a possibility. If it comes to that would it be an 'open' prison (Cat D) as it is not a violent crime? I've seen a bit about them and if it happens they don't seem so bad. It's still a pretty scary thought so I'm just trying to figure out what to expect?
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You will probarbly be sentenced to about 16 years in Walton Jail... dont worry thought. There arnt so many rats there as there used to be. Apparently The Answerbank is run from cell 532....
Can I just ask WHY, not only did you drive when you were banned, but were also over the limit?! Why why why why?!?

(you'll have to answer these questions in court anyway, so I s'pose the judge will want to know why you did it)

The punishment will depend on who's sentencing you, and what mood they're in, and whether they feel you'll offend again.
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i don't know why I did it. I stuck to the ban totally for the first while but then I started driving a few times when I really needed to. The night that I got caught I had a row with my gf and just needed to get out and wasn't thinking straight. I know I was stupid to do it and now I wish I didn't but I can't change it.
it depends on where you live in the country,that will determine what prison you will go to,but i doubt it would be a open prison as you would not receive a long enough sentence.
Take plenty of pillows to bite....
Paul I shall not judge you, but was it your car? Most cars would not easily start after a lenghty immobility or was it somebody'd elses?

Although, you must face the possibility of a custodial, it will probably be suspended, a heavy fine and a longer ban.

If the worse comes to the worse, it will be 2 months in a cushy pad with a pool table, gym and sky TV. Food is probably ok as well.
dont drop your soap in the showers
(Multi-part post):

When a person is sentenced to imprisonment, they're usually taken to a 'local prison'. These prisons usually have very limited facilities for education, recreation, etc. Theoretically, they just provide a short-term 'holding facility', until prisoners can be moved to a more appropriate prison. However, the reality is that prisoners serving short sentences often don't get moved and serve the whole of their sentence in the local prison where they first arrived. The majority of local prisons are 'Cat B'. (Occasionally, because of a shortage of space, someone serving a short sentence might be sent, initially, to a Cat A prison, such as Belmarsh. However, this is unusual and would definitely only be for a very short period until a Cat B place became available).

If someone with a drink-driving conviction was moved (from Cat B) before the end of their sentence, it's more likely that they'd be moved to a 'Cat C' prison, than a 'Cat D' one. This is because there aren't enough Cat D places available and they're usually reserved for prisoners getting ready for release after very long serving sentences.
The differences are basically as follows:
Cat A: Frequent searches. All mail (incoming and outgoing) read. Almost military style discipline. Prison clothing. Shared cells (except for some long-term prisoners who've achieved a high level of privileges).

Cat B: Fairly frequent searches. Mail might be read but isn't automatically. (Outgoing mail has to be left unsealed. Incoming mail is opened on arrival). Slightly more relaxed atmosphere than Cat A. Prison clothing. Shared cells.

Cat C: Infrequent searches. Outgoing mail can be sealed, as it won't be read. Incoming mail is opened in front of the prisoner, so that it can be checked for contraband, but is not read. Own clothing. Much more relaxed than Cat B with some freedom of movement. Shared cells for most. (Longer term prisoners can sometimes get single cells by earning privileges).

Cat D: As Cat C but with greater freedom of movement and the possibility of taking part in education or training (often unsupervised) away from the prison. Single cells for many, but not all, prisoners.
Remember that the actual sentence served is (for short sentences) only half of that imposed by the court. So if you get sentenced to 3 months, you'll only serve about 6� weeks. Any days where you spent some time at a police station, or in initial court hearings, count as 'police days' and are deducted from your sentence. Additionally, if your official release day is a Saturday or Sunday, you'll be released on the Friday morning. (So your actual time in prison, for a 3 month sentence, could be less than 6 weeks. You might even be offered a tagging scheme and get out even earlier).

In reply to your earlier question, someone unhelpfully wrote 'pack a toothbrush'. What you really need to pack is a radio, CD or MP3 player, CDs (if relevant), spare batteries, some books, writing paper, pens, envelopes, postage stamps and your address book. Put them in a bag and (most important) keep the bag with you. (If you hand the bag to a friend or relative, they won't be able to get it to you after you're 'sent down'. If you're not allowed to take the bag into the dock, hand it to a court official).

It would also be sensible to make sure that you've got some money in your pocket when you're sentenced. (Perhaps �50+?). Prisoners buy 'luxuries' (like tobacco or biscuits) from the money they earn from work or through attending education courses. However, it's unlikely that you'd be be there long enough to be allocated a job or a place on a course, so you'd only receive the 'unemployed' rate of pay. Any money in your pocket on arrival would be taken from you, but credited to your spending account, so that you could buy a few luxuries with it.

Chris
Some 12 years ago I was up for 3 drink-drivings, the last two when I was waiting court appearane for the first one.So it was pretty serious. I told the court I had no money (so if you fine me I won't be paying and will end up back here for you to give me a custodial) so they took the short cut - 28 days, no fine, no costs. Actually only did 11 because I was sentenced on a Monday - you do half (14 days) which lands on a Sunday - hence your'e released on the Friday before. The day your'e sentenced counts as a day too. But, yes you'll spend it in the nick local to you. It's no big deal - just boring. Don't forget re the other answers, radio books dosh etc.
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Shadowman - No it wasn't my car it was someone else's.

Chris - thanks for all the info. Gave me a better idea of how things go - pretty new to me right now. Wouldn't have known anything about what you can bring in or how you go about that and needing money too.

Davypops - good to hear it wasn't too bad where you were. Think I could manage 2 weeks!
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So you're still able to smoke in prison with the ban and all that?

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