Being sent to prison is thankfully, an experience most of us will never have to go through.
But it remains the justice system’s most powerful deterrent, with thousands of criminals ending up behind bars every year.
So, for those that find themselves the wrong side of the law, what awaits them upon arrival at prison?
Former paratrooper Mark Lloyd, 33, was jailed for 20 weeks last August after fraudulently claiming thousands of pounds in disability benefits.
Mark Lloyd (Image: Andrew James)
The ex-soldier, from Pontypridd, denied the offence but was found guilty of dishonestly failing to disclose information to make a gain for himself following a trial, which heard he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and won a triathlon while on disability benefits.
He spent eight weeks in jail – serving his sentence in Swansea Prison, which earlier this month was heavily criticised in a damning report.
Inspectors found the jail had a “complacent and inexcusable” approach to the safety of vulnerable prisoners, reflecting concerns over suicides, violence and basic living conditions, writes WalesOnline.
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons uncovered high levels of suicide and self-harm among new prisoners and described how there had been “four self-inflicted deaths” since the last inspection in 2014 – all of which took place “within the first seven days of arrival at Swansea”. In addition, 134 incidents of self-harm were recorded.
According to Mark, your initial search when you arrive is not as thorough as you may imagine. “You walk in the door and you get strip-searched,” he said. 'It is devastating' - HMP Berwyn prisoners in the cold as heating goes off “It is not a proper search – there are no fingers inserted. I would almost welcome having my person invaded if it eradicated drugs from prison. “You hand over all your possessions. Then you fill in several documents that you don’t necessarily understand or have time to read. You sign all your kit away to them and get issued with your bedding.”
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/prison-jail-life-swansea-survive-14152576
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