Trip report/ask me about time in maximum (and minimum) security prison

[MyTurn2Raise]

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Great post MT2R.

I'm glad that you have taken this experience as rolling over a speed bump instead of running into a brick wall.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this thread.

As a current UofI student, I have not run into anyone using illegal drugs (besides weed, of course). I do not hang out in social circles that use drugs recreationally, so I'm not familiar with all of the different types of drugs, what the effects are, etc.

When you were here, did you notice a trend of hard-drug usage among certain groups of people (i.e. Greek houses or other campus organizations) or was it scattered randomly throughout campus? I've heard rumors of certain houses who incorporate hard drugs into initiations and the like.

Also, just for kicks, what APT. complex did you live in before and after your prison term?

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It is really random where drugs take hold on campus. If you aren't around the drug scene, you won't even notice most of it other than weed here and there and, possibly, ecstasy. Those that smoke and buy alot of weed will come across things. Some of it is in the frats. Some was in the student-athletes. Some was with the non-greeks. Some was with the townies. It really cut across all spectrums. One frat lost its charter at UofI over an event where they smoked 8-balls and got naked with some ladies on the quad. Another frat had a problem with using E at a pledge event. Hard drug use was really an individual or small group thing and not an institutional matter. Most drug use should be unseen, even though it's happening all over campus. It's not good to make yourself known. I personally never interacted with campus, champaign, or urbana police ever. Only my close friends knew of my use. When I was on G at a bar, most just assumed I was drunk. I confined other drug use to safe environs.
Let's see, pre-prison, I lived in the following places:
Hopkins Hall
48 E John (CPM apt complex at the corner of locust and john--this was where I lived when busted)
102(?) Gregory (Gabe's place apt building at the corner of first and gregory)

since:
Forbes Hall
a house on Wright just north of White--I forget the address
305 E Green (apt building by where Burger King used to be, across from Gully's)
48 E John (again)-much different vibe the second time around
806 W Oregon- house

I now live just off the corner of Lincoln and Oregon in a Gabe's Place apartment building

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(OT) What are your thoughts on Ron Zook? Prediction for next years football team? I've sat through 13 games in my 1.5 years here and well...it's mostly miserable (exception OSU this year).

Again, thanks for doing this. Great thread.

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I'm real excited about Illini football. Zook is a recruiting machine. It seems very likely they will be bringing in a marginal top10 recruiting class to Champaign this year. The young guys are going to get lots of experience on the field as they did this year. Experience on the field counts big time. With that talent getting playtime, Illinois will be a top20 team within 2 years.

Unfortunately, Zook isn't the greatest game coach. His clock management sucks. He is excellent at developing the defense (which is his baby). Locksley is a good OC and a great playcaller. I am concerned that Locksley will be on to either a head coaching job or pro coordinator job in the near future.

The Illini schedule gets tougher next year, which sucks. The crazy thing is Illinois should've been a bowl team this year. They outplayed Ohio, Indiana, Penn St, Wisconsin, and were in great shape verse Purdue. The fumble issues, inexperience, punting game, and weakness at left tackle really hurt. All of these things should improve. Hopefully, Zook will have a good kick returner back the whole year instead of just the last few games. With the number of big play potential guys the Illini are bringing in, the return game should be huge.

I expect a low bowl game next year and competing for the Big10 crown (but falling short) in two years. The future is bright and I think Zook is going to make it big at Illinois do to his recruiting and strength at developing the defense, despite his below average game coaching.

[MyTurn2Raise]

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FWIW, I respected your opinions, sports analysis, and ACL injury advice before this post. This post - solid stuff.

Have you considered writing a "How to survive prison guide" for people who made one stupid mistake and have to deal with the physical and mental anguish of prison life? I'd buy a copy just for a perspective read.

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thanks...
there isn't much to a guide, it boils down to this:
1. Keep your mouth shut
2. Keep your eyes open
3. have a support network from the outside (make sure it's a support network, bad vibes from outside don't help)

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Reading this makes me hate the [censored] criminal justice system even more. I was an advocate for drug law reform, lighter sentences for 1st time and light offenders, and much heavier sentences and capital punishment for those who truly threaten society. My position has just been bolstered.

[/ QUOTE ] I feel the same way

[oddjob]

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just wanted to say this is a really interesting thread and I have a lot of respect for how you handled all this.

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thank you. I'm pretty sure most reasonable people would have handled it the same way.

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I don't think so. I don't think I would have done as well as you did.

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yah, i'm pretty sure i'd be someone's bitch.

i've read all the posts so far, but i can't recall seeing anything about this. if you handn't gotten in the fight with cali, would you have stayed at the same prison your whole sentence?

[MyTurn2Raise]

TylerD
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Great TR. One of the best threads I've read on 2+2


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Corpsebean
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Awesome thread man, really best read I've ever had on this forum.


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bigt439
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This is the best thread I have ever read on 2p2. Thank you very much for taking the time to write this all out. Reading this scared the hell out of me because although I am not really into drugs I have a bunch of friends who easily could have ended up in your situation. I would be extremely upset if that happened to them and am very sorry it had to happen to you. Best of luck.


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CrayZee
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Awesome trip report. I enjoyed that.


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donkeylove
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great read...thanks for writing.....my 2nd favorite of all time next to degens thailand thread for obvious reasons


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GambleAllNight
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greatest thread i've ever read on 2p2 as far as im concerned (edging "stabbed by poker" and "sup bro"). good hand sir.


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wow....just a random sampling on this page. Sorry to not respond to everyone who has given similar sentiments. I'm glad so many have enjoyed this thread. I feel a little silly about not posting it for so long now. I just didn't think it was that interesting. I have to disagree with it being one of the best on 2p2 ever, let alone this week. I'm still blown away by Sup Bro, How Many 5 year olds?, chuddo/Olivia, banging chicks on myspace, MSPaint, etc as far as non-strategy. This thread isn't even in the same ballpark IMO.
But, I'm very happy that many of you have gotten alot out of it.

[MyTurn2Raise]

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just wanted to say this is a really interesting thread and I have a lot of respect for how you handled all this.

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thank you. I'm pretty sure most reasonable people would have handled it the same way.

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I don't think so. I don't think I would have done as well as you did.

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yah, i'm pretty sure i'd be someone's bitch.

i've read all the posts so far, but i can't recall seeing anything about this. if you handn't gotten in the fight with cali, would you have stayed at the same prison your whole sentence?

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yes, I most likely would've stayed at Joliet the whole time. I had sent in numerous requests to move and the consulors were not up for signing off. They thought I was better off in Joliet. Like most public officials, they were underpaid and overworked so mistakes happen.

[MyTurn2Raise]

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I actually met some guys a few nights ago who know you in Champaign. I don't think I got their names, but one of them had a twin and was a little chubby with black hair. He could've been Italian.

How would a Persian like me be treated in prison?? My skin tone is lighter than most white people. Technically, I am Caucasian.

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really? people who know me? Not ringing a bell, but a definite possibilty. I don't get around town much anymore.

About the only people that know me are guys who shoot pool at Jillian's, some PhD students, and people that give me the odd look because I'm the guy watching the portable DVD player while doing cardio workouts at CIRCE.

If your skin tone is faint enough, you'd just fit in with the white guys.

[oddjob]

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just wanted to say this is a really interesting thread and I have a lot of respect for how you handled all this.

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thank you. I'm pretty sure most reasonable people would have handled it the same way.

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I don't think so. I don't think I would have done as well as you did.

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yah, i'm pretty sure i'd be someone's bitch.

i've read all the posts so far, but i can't recall seeing anything about this. if you handn't gotten in the fight with cali, would you have stayed at the same prison your whole sentence?

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yes, I most likely would've stayed at Joliet the whole time. I had sent in numerous requests to move and the consulors were not up for signing off. They thought I was better off in Joliet. Like most public officials, they were underpaid and overworked so mistakes happen.

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man, who'd of thought catching a beating would be one of the luckiest things that happened to you in this year or two.

[punkass]

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If you went to prison for simple possession of GHB, dont get caught playing poker for a living, you might get the death penalty


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Now you're obviously just trolling.

[mmcd]

Just out of curiosity, where did your lawyer put your chances of going to trial and getting found not guilty. It seems like the cops [censored] up pretty good at the scene. Were you the one that rented the hotel room? How many people were in the room partying? Did you admit the GHB was yours when you were questioned by them? Did they fingerprint the bottle? When the cops go into a hotel room filled with a bunch of guys partying, and end up just taking names and leaving, it seems like it would be really hard to come back 3 months later and prove beyond a reasonable doubt that one particular person out of the group had possesion of a bottle that was under the bed or in a dresser drawer or whatever.

It also looks like there might have been some 4th Amendment issues with the search since (I assume) the GHB wasn't in plain sight.

[raze]

Excellent story, thanks for sharing