This is what happens on your first day in prison

Skoop is babe.net’s prison correspondent. She’s currently incarcerated in SCI-Muncy, a maximum security women’s prison in Pennsylvania. She loves flirting, cooking and trap music. She’s also a writer – she sends her columns to us by letter. Her nickname, as she likes to say, is Skoop because she scoops up all the girls. She’s here talk about what her life on the inside is like — and if you’re smart, you’ll listen.

This week she revisits day one at Muncy.

Sometimes I'll sit and ponder on my first days at Muncy. When I think about it, I realize… Damn, I grew up in this bitch. What I can say is I am not a product of my environment. I refuse to be consumed by Muncy. My soul and spirit are outside these walls.

My first day at Muncy, I remember walking into this trailer called the admissions and records building. It was January 2010. Walking into the building, I was greeted by an older CO. Looking me up and down, she said "Oh, we got a gangsta." I smirked cause I laugh at everything. It's a nervous laugh, more like a defense mechanism for me. I was a little nervous because you don't know shit once you arrive. I wasn't scared, because I was a little mentally prepared for what was going to be thrown at me. After the intake process, which is pissing in a cup, stripping down naked, then answering a bunch of questions, I was out that building.

Due to my age, I was placed in the YAO (youth adult offender) program. Walking in the program of course it was all eyes on me – looking at the fresh meat/new girl/a prize (cause I'm eye candy lol). I did know a few people in there, so they gave me the run down – how and when they did the showers, phone calls, commissary, meals, etc. Just all the basic stuff you want to know on your first day. Everybody was real helpful. I had one girl I didn't even know give me a bar of soap. She had to sneak it to me because the program had its strict rules. One was no lending, trading, or borrowing.

At that time, I didn't give a fuck, I just wanted to wash my ass and not with no cheap ass 'Big House' soap they provided. I never washed up with it, but from the looks and smell of it, that was a yeast infection waiting to happen. I'm sure that girl knew it too, which I'm assuming is why she gave me a bar of soap. I was very grateful but taking that bar of soap opened a door… I really didn't know no better, I just assumed she was being nice. A few days later she gave me more soap along with lotion, toothpaste, and a note.

One girl giving me stuff turned into two girls. Shit, I wasn't going to say no, cause I needed it. So I played along. I would flirt with both of them, until I found out one of my friends in there told me one of them had a girlfriend. She quickly warned me not to get caught up in the drama, so I stopped taking from them and flirting with them.

The very next day, I remember going to medical. When I stepped out the door, I saw three older inmates sweeping the front hall. I knew they weren't in the YAO program. I asked the CO who those three inmates were. He told me death row. I was confused because, I didn't know they were allowed outside their cells. The building the program was in was also the RHU (restricted housing unit) but that's where they housed death row also. I was shocked to see them out. I didn't expect to see them, not up close in person. They were always very pleasant. In my head, I pictured the death row inmates to be handcuffed and shackled looking like some hardcore females who just gave zero fucks. I guess what I thought was death row wasn't it. They look like regular female inmates, just like myself. Today there is no one here at Muncy on death row. Each of them got their sentence overturned to life.

My first day at Muncy isn't and won't be like others. Well first, most inmates here were not juveniles like me so they are housed differently. Their experiences are different than mine. Talking to other inmates, I see that there are the naive ones who are easily played by the master manipulators. The ones who like to get over on people, who really don't know no better. You can try to warn a naive individual but they won't listen. Then you have the scared ones. Their first day, they'll just go with the flow. They'll ask questions, but they just stay to themselves until they come up with their own routine. You can see they're scared cause they don't know what to expect. Shelter kids are the scared ones. But here at Muncy, there is shit to be scared of.

You also have the 'I Don't Give A Fucks'. They don't care – some would say cause they're maxing out. Which would mean you don't have to worry about seeing parole so they just don't care. Most of those run wild and really don't care. Fighting, fucking, in and out the hole, just being a maniac. Just a few who come in with a small sentence like one-two or two-four will be those who don't care. Overall everyone comes in scoping the scenery out, observing and just watching how everything is run. After a few days, you will realize what you can and can't do.

When new people come to a unit I'm on and ask questions, I'll answer and be helpful. But I'm not overly nice or polite. You don't want to come off too strong cause people tend to get the wrong impressions. With a mentally ill person, or someone who has no support, I'll try to help them out here and there. Even if it's just asking "how are you doing?" I can't imagine how they deal with prison let alone their very first day.

Hearing stories and watching TV about first days is not the same. You have to live through it to tell it exactly how it is. Important things to remember are: Not everyone is trustworthy or truthful. You can't believe everything that you hear. I hear a lot of lies in here. It's important to remember not everyone or just anyone is your friend. It's hard to find a real true friend in a place like this. We are still inmates, some convicts, and some are some good ass con-artists. This isn't a place to be naive or scared. You have to keep your guard up at all times. It's just how shit works here. Never be messy! Don't repeat what you hear because it can escalate to drama and possibly a fight. If you don't want that, remember not to cause bullshit. My first day didn't faze me, but it depends on who you ask…

Ttys take care!

Skoop

More from Skoop

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• How do you celebrate your birthday when you’re locked up in prison?

• A Week In A Pennsylvania Maximum Security Prison On A 19 Cents An Hour Salary!