Russian prisons have their own special laws. Here they often meet a person “by his clothes” - during the first conversation with the onlooker, the newcomer must tell him for what sins he is imprisoned. Moreover, in prison no one is interested in biographical facts, but questions regarding articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation should be answered honestly. And if it turns out that the first mover is a rapist or pedophile, then his future life will not be the best. Such criminals are faced with an act of descent, after which the person is included in the caste of the offended.
Along with the shameful ones, there are also respected articles in prison. In addition, life behind bars largely depends on a person's behavior. Below we will talk about the most respected articles in the zone. We will also look at the basics of correct behavior, which will be useful for beginners.
From scrip to prison: what you can’t talk about and how not to get caught in the “sixes”
A pretrial detention cell or a room in a camp is a common home for two dozen men for a long time.
To survive this period in sound mind and acceptable physical shape, this house must be clean and tidy, and household members must be mutually polite. Having lived in three Zakamsk pre-trial detention centers and a Nizhnekamsk colony, journalist Sergei Eretnov, in a series of blogs, tells BUSINESS Online readers about prison life, topics forbidden for prisoners and personal qualities respected in the zone. Having lived in three Zakamsk pre-trial detention centers and a Nizhnekamsk colony, Sergei Eretnov spoke about prison life and the life of prisoners Photo: Oleg Spiridonov
SMOKE IS CONVERTED FREELY, TEA IS BY AGREEMENT
Often, the person under investigation spends many months, or even years, in a pre-trial detention center cell, waiting for a court decision, and with him about 20 other people. Every day in the cell begins with cleaning - washing the floors, toilet, sink. The prisoners themselves do this, having determined the order of duty. You can refuse to clean - no one will force you, but is it worth opposing yourself to everyone? Usually only older people are not involved in duty. The administration provides all the tools and supplies needed for cleaning. In Chistopol, for example, the head of the pre-trial detention center is so passionate about order that the employees themselves go through the cells asking who needs what to maintain cleanliness. Cleanliness is the main rule of prison life, both in the cell and personally. If someone starts to smell, they will reprimand him for not washing his hands after using the toilet - “go wash it.” One way or another, the dirty roommate will be forced to wash himself. Since assault is prohibited, they can hit you with a basin if you really don’t understand the words. It's not so much painful as it is humiliating.
There are no exercises or morning walks here; prisoners wake up at whatever time they want, just before the morning divorce. Prisoners are counted in the morning and evening. There is nothing to do in the cell, so everything is constantly being erased. If you want to get a haircut, you turn to the supervisor for the scissors; in general, you can contact him for any similar reason. In addition, household or personal care items are sold in the prison store.
Money is prohibited in the zone, but every prisoner has an account. This store does not have a display case - there is a list of goods from which you can order: groceries, cigarettes - in general, everything you need is there, the list is extensive. The assortment, of course, is not very diverse - for example, there are not 20 types of gingerbread, but one, but there are enough product categories.
Cigarettes remain the main currency in domestic circulation. When I got here, I once again congratulated myself on not smoking. Even financially secure prisoners experience difficulties with smoking - they are shot at. This, of course, is not accepted, but what remains for those who have no money at all? No one will say a word about refusal, of course, but there are almost no overtly rich people in the zone, and most prisoners have very, very limited opportunities - relatives do not send money, they do not send large parcels. Cigarettes can be used to pay for services. For example, prison hairdressers work for cigarettes and sweets. In the Nizhnekamsk camp there were three of them with professional hair clippers, each with several clients every day. Hairdressers don't know the need.
Tea is also a currency, but not a clear one, we need to negotiate. Many people drink chifir, but I would advise you not to forget that it is harmful. I didn’t chifir myself.
DON'T BE OPEN WITH CRIMINALS
It is better to share transfers from the outside, although no one obliges you. What and how much a prisoner will allocate “to the common fund” depends only on him: you can pour some tea, you can treat him to sweets. No one will take anything without permission, unless there is a special mutual understanding in the cell or room. The easiest way, by the way, is to receive parcels through the temporary detention center when you come to investigative events - you should warn your relatives to bring them there. When you arrive from a temporary detention center with a parcel, it is not inspected again - it is considered that it has already been checked. In some cases, this matters - in particular, you can get the cigarettes through intact, otherwise during inspection in the camp they are often broken.
By and large, there are no taboo topics for conversation behind bars, but there are topics that are best avoided. I would not recommend talking about your relationships with women. There are people who are interested in this after a long celibacy - they can spin it for frankness, and this is fraught. In general, you shouldn’t reveal too much, especially from those sides that don’t concern anyone. There have been cases when, due to careless statements, a person ended up in a cell with “lowered” ones. I’ll tell you how an ordinary village boy of about 25 got into trouble. They asked him how things were with his wife, would he wait? It will, he says. Do you like kissing? We love you. Do you have oral sex? Not without it. And that’s it - the guy went to another cell because he admitted that first his wife stimulated him orally, and then with the same lips. In general, you don’t need to tell much about yourself - people are still strangers, criminals. If provocative questions are too persistent and alarming, you can simply ask: “For what purpose are you interested?” Let them first explain what the questions are for.
Caution in conversations about the article and your criminal case is especially important at the stage of the temporary detention facility, because here there may be a decoy provocateur among the cellmates. People from the street are sitting in the temporary detention center; it’s easier to place an employee here - there’s no need to open a criminal case. In addition, the investigators’ interest in the prisoner’s frankness is at its most lively at this time. A person does not appear in a pre-trial detention center out of the blue, he is already under investigation, but in the camp there is no point in planting an agent - everyone there is already convicted.
A HUNGER STRIKE IS NOT THE BEST FORM OF PROTEST
Of course, special slang also exists in the camp for first-timers, but it is not as developed as in the zones for experienced campers. Well, for example, a person prone to deception, who is not very decent, can be characterized as “curly-haired”, and it can be said about him that he “braids curls.” It’s not a stigma and doesn’t seem to be offensive, but everyone understands what it’s about.
Who is respected in the zone?
Thieves have always occupied a special position in prisons. Almost any illegal activity related to theft allowed a person to take a worthy place in prison society. Tweezers, swindlers, thieves who commit major crimes as part of gangs were and are respected here.
People who have received an article for financial fraud, especially for crimes against government agencies and the system, are also respected. For example, in places of deprivation of liberty, persons who have committed crimes against security services are honored. They treat criminals who have committed a robbery of a bank or a cash collector's car with special respect. Blood feud is also held in high esteem in prison.
However, it should be understood that respect for a specific article is given in advance. That is, a person may lose the trust of his cellmates if time shows that there is nothing to respect him for. In the first weeks, the inmates take a closer look at the newcomer, and here it is important for him to be able to stand up for himself, possessing intelligence and character. Any manifestations of weakness can lead to the fact that cellmates will make the prisoner a six or even enroll him in the caste of the offended.
In addition, the newcomer must behave with dignity, adhere to the code of thieves - live according to the “concepts”. So, in the zone you will have to forget about your thieving habits, because here theft from your own people or from the common fund implies severe punishment.
Thus, the article under which the attacker was convicted will only matter in the first few months. During this time, he will have to prove that he deserves authority. And first of all, those who are respected here are those who do not complain about fate, behave like men and are ready to share parcels received from relatives.
Cop (garbage) lawlessness
The garbage chaos in zones and prisons lies in the excessive cruelty of the administration towards prisoners. From time to time, in the media and reports of human rights activists, you can find information about the facts of beating of prisoners and their systematic humiliation. Cop lawlessness in zones and prisons is expressed by placing prisoners in press huts or punishment cells. In prisons, press huts are created on the direct orders of the heads of closed institutions.
They house notorious scumbags who carry out orders from the administration to intimidate unwanted prisoners. For this they have some relaxations in the regime of detention. Such prisoners collaborating with prison authorities may be tacitly allowed to have mobile phones and other prohibited items. Lawlessness in Russian prisons and pre-trial detention centers is used to “extort” the necessary testimony or confession, money or personal hostility from prisoners.
What crimes are people despised for in the zone?
In Russian prisons, a prisoner can be released for a number of reasons. In most cases, a person is transferred to the category of offended for serious offenses. For example, they can be released for denunciation of cellmates or theft from the common fund.
But in some cases, cellmates may not even understand what kind of person is in front of them. They only need to know about the crime he committed to draw the appropriate conclusions.
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At the same time, many thieves in law and crime bosses had articles for rape. Therefore, in this case, strength of character is important. During the Soviet era, law enforcement officers fabricated many cases against criminal authorities. One of the most convenient was the article for rape. In this case, it was enough for the police to take statements from witnesses and the victim without conducting any examinations.
Accordingly, someone convicted of rape did not have the right to vote in the zone. The path to authority was closed to him, and he could achieve recognition of the loyalty of his cellmates only by correct behavior.
Among the most despised articles are child molestation and violence against minors. Prisoners have a short conversation with pedophiles - they are released without the right to rehabilitation.
Greeted by clothes, escorted by intelligence
Even if the newcomer was not blacklisted upon arrival at the prison, he should not relax. The further fate of the prisoner largely depends on his behavior. And prison rules differ in many ways from everyday life. In particular, any incorrectly spoken word can significantly worsen the person’s situation in the cell.
In prison jargon, many words are subject to rethinking. Accordingly, a word that is absolutely harmless in freedom may turn out to be a curse in places of deprivation of liberty. In the first weeks of his stay in prison, the newcomer is given concessions - during this time he must learn the prison laws and the peculiarities of the local vocabulary. For example, in the colonies they don’t ask, but are interested. If the criminal decides to ask his cellmate, this will mean that he wants to hold his opponent accountable for a particular offense.
Torture and press huts
The lawlessness of the cops in the zone and the lawlessness in the prison are aimed at suppressing the will of the prisoners. These are criminal offenses, but it is extremely difficult to find out about them and collect evidence about such illegal actions. In the press huts, various types of torture and moral humiliation can be applied to prisoners. The history of judicial practice has recorded many cases of beatings, violence and even murders in such cells. Prisoners who are activists find in bullying other inmates a way of self-affirmation and relaxation of the regime.
A newcomer to prison or how a first-timer should behave correctly in the house. Prison hierarchy
Imprisonment is a serious test for any person who is not accustomed to a confined space and a rather specific society. It is especially cruel for first-time prisoners, that is, people serving prison sentences for the first time.
Temporary detention center, pre-trial detention center, court hearing, sentence, transfer, quarantine, settlement in the zone - at each of these stages, mistakes are possible, leading to truly catastrophic consequences. Having made one wrong action, even out of ignorance, you can end up in the caste of untouchables (“offended”), from where there is no way to join the ranks of “men”, and especially “thieves”.
About the prison hierarchy
Prison society is deeply hierarchical. This imposes strict limits on the system of relationships between convicts. First of all, the “suit” of the prisoner matters:
The backbone of the prison community, a sort of local elite. The thieves enjoy the maximum number of privileges, but many restrictions are also imposed on them. “According to the rules,” they are prohibited from working, obeying the administration, or cleaning, and previously thieves in law were not even allowed to have a family. The thieves adhere to strict rules, and if you learn them, there should be no problems. These people are interested in maintaining order in the cell, and from among them are appointed guards and overseers, designed to prevent lawlessness. It is better to treat them with respect, but without servility.
The most numerous class, so to speak, is the people. The men work quietly, live according to general rules and expect to quickly return to freedom, to ordinary society. If a first mover manages to avoid mistakes at the start, as a rule, he becomes a man. This is the ideal position.
But these are precisely the people who made these same mistakes (with the exception of voluntary homosexuals or those imprisoned for rape). Usually these are incorrectly spoken words and certain actions (theft from one’s own, denunciation to the administration, communication with other people from this caste). Previously, the ritual of “lowering” involved committing a homosexual act with a potential victim; now this is rare and mainly occurs among minors. In women's prisons and colonies, homosexual relations are not taboo at all.
The administration's collaborators, doing its dirty work in the hope of leniency. Being part of this group is low, so rarely does anyone cooperate with the administration voluntarily.
The bottom line is to keep your eyes and ears open at all times.
How magnificent and generous the Russian language is!
It is one of the richest languages in the world. It contains about 500 thousand words. How many great works of art are written in Russian. They are known not only to our compatriots, but also abroad. And how often they use it crazy!
Do you speak simply, clearly and at the same time witty, bright, metaphorical? You are smart and a rare exception to the rule. Because they often use only a very small part of their vocabulary. The average citizen with a higher education uses approximately 10 thousand words, while erudites have a vocabulary of 50 thousand. What about filler words? They often roll off the tongue. Please note that unnecessary words are used regardless of status and intelligence. Let's remember M. Gorbachev))
How to enter “the hut”
This is perhaps the most difficult moment that brings the first mover to the starting position. Fortunately, now the prison administration is trying to place prisoners in cells in accordance with their “suit.” This makes it possible to avoid conflicts from the first hours of imprisonment, and newcomers can learn prison rules in a relatively calm environment, without the pressure of authorities.
When first entering both the cell and the barracks, the most important things are:
It’s best to stick to a neutral option like “Good evening”, “Good health”, “Peace/evening at home”. It is better to refrain from familiar greetings, especially with a hint of “suit” (such as “Hello, guys” or “Hello, guys”).
You should not immediately occupy a free “shelter” (bed). You should ask if it is free here and if you can settle down. By the way, in the zone they do not “ask” in the usual sense of the word, but “are interested” - this is also better to learn. If they suddenly throw a towel at your feet, you don’t need to pick it up, just step over it. And if they say that this hut is for “roosters”, pretend that you are scared and knock on the door a couple of times demanding to be transferred to another cell.
One experienced convict said that the toughest registration is in the juvenile years, where lawlessness is mixed with outdated thieves' concepts in explosive proportions. For improper behavior at registration, they can even be physically removed, and with a severe beating. In adult prisons and zones (of course, in the “correct” ones), registration now comes down mainly to conversation. The new prisoner is asked who he is “in life”, what he is imprisoned for, and so on. The observer usually acts as the initiator of the survey.
Prison Camp Survival
Below is basic information on camp life so that you can quickly get used to your new role.
Do not try to pass yourself off as an experienced prisoner or attribute to yourself a more authoritative article of the sentence: such things quickly come to the surface.
Castes.
The unspoken order divides prisoners into the following classes:
Roles.
Thieves' Code.
A good thief must observe the following commandments:
Don't cooperate with the cops.
Traditions.
The article of the sentence largely determines the unofficial status of the prisoner.
The only acceptable form of conversation between a thief or a man and a fag in public is: “Get out of here, you stinking fag!”
You should not approach those talking without an invitation: maybe they are discussing a new thieves' case.
Differences in clothing.
The zone administration strives for uniformity in clothing. But the camp self-organization turns out to be stronger and, overcoming technological difficulties, maintains the following differences:
Sanctions.
The dictatorship of thieves in the zone is based on a strict system of sanctions.
Tattoo tongue.
There is the following tradition in the choice of symbols.
There are tattoos that every prisoner has the right to:
a tattoo in the form of a narrow ring on the ring finger of the right hand;
a mole above the eyebrow or above the lip.
Taboo.
being near a fag;
take things from his hands;
use his dishes (fags' plates are marked in a special way: with a hole on the edge);
have a red item (in the zone this is the color of homosexuals);
eat sausage (it looks like a penis);
pick up a fallen spoon from the floor;
say “thank you” (you should say “thank you”);
say “sit down” (you should “sit down”);
build and repair the “zone” (fencing, towers).
Self-organization.
In the zone, two hierarchies of self-government for prisoners are taking shape: official and thieves. They partially coincide. The degree of their fusion depends on how much the zone administration flirts with the godfathers.
There is a secret general fund in the zone, supposedly for mutual assistance. Everyone is required to contribute to it, and it is used almost exclusively by thieves.
There is definitely a channel of communication with the “will”, but it is expensive, and it is used mainly by cultivators.
Jargon (“fenya”).
For a more detailed study of this language, we recommend S. Snegov’s book “The Language That Hates.” With a serious approach, it seems convenient to organize words not alphabetically, but by topic:
Source
General rules of behavior for newcomers in prison
It is better to devote the first few days to studying the prison rules and not communicating with anyone unless absolutely necessary. The exception is the actual observer, to whom questions can and should be asked. This is regarded positively: a person wants to live calmly, in compliance with unwritten rules.
First of all, you need to remember the main postulates:
It is not particularly customary to shake hands in prisons, especially with strangers. What if it turns out that this person is offended? In principle, it is not customary to communicate with them: you cannot touch, sit at the same table, or use common objects. You can give something to the offended person out of mercy or in exchange for a favor, but you can no longer touch this thing. People of this “suit” are obliged to report their status themselves, so that a stranger does not inadvertently mistake them for thieves or peasants.
It happens that other prisoners themselves get into their souls in order to have fun and lead the first mover to some kind of “jamb.” This is a sign of bad taste; there is no need to be frank. You can even inform the observer about this, because the intrusive interlocutor may turn out to be a “mother hen,” that is, a secret informant for law enforcement agencies or prison administration.
Taking something that belongs to someone else without permission is strictly prohibited - this is theft from one’s own people, that is, ratting. Remember: there is nothing “nobody’s” in prison! If you need something (cigarettes, tea), ask the supervisor to allocate a little from the common fund (common property). But it will have to be returned at least in the same amount!
One mention of oral sex can turn an honest man into an offended one. Therefore, it is generally better not to talk about your own sexual preferences and experience.
This is the opposite side of the coin: if you don't answer questions and communicate with basically no one, it can be seen as arrogance. And in general, withdrawing into oneself, and even in such conditions, is detrimental to the psyche.
Even if you were known as a poker master in the wild, under no circumstances sit down to play with the inmates for fun. It’s not a fact that they will play with you fairly, and card losses are not forgiven. If you cannot repay the debt or fulfill the wish of the winner, you will automatically become offended. It’s easy to refuse – a simple “I don’t want” is enough.
Does this happen to you too?
Maybe you don't attach much importance to this? But in vain! You need to understand the essence of what was said. Have you thought about the real (read psychological) meaning of your sayings and sayings? Since these are not just unnecessary words in speech, they indicate your internal problems. In this note I want to share with you my research on this issue.
First, a real example. One of my friends used the words in everyday life: “Nightmare!” Horror!" This was his favorite sentence. He no longer noticed how appropriately and inappropriately he inserted these words. Without noticing it, he brought bad events upon himself. At first on a small scale - such as loss of documents, then it got worse and worse. And when he went to prison, he realized what real horror and nightmare was. In such a harsh way, unfortunately, his life treated him and freed him from parasitic words.
You never know such words!
I propose to analyze the true meaning of some of them.
The constantly used “as if” indicates that you perceive your life as a convention, a game, a rehearsal, and constantly compare yourself and others.
The often repeated particle “yes” speaks of your lack of self-confidence and the fact that you constantly need someone’s consent to do even something insignificant.
“Simply” - you are bringing simpleness (stagnation) into your life, or you already have it.
“And so on” - if you often say this, then you have nothing to say, or you have an impoverished vocabulary that does not give you the opportunity to describe this “and so on” in a language accessible and understandable to your interlocutor.
"Wow". Do you really think you can achieve something? And for whom, if nothing for yourself?
“About nothing” - this magnificent trinity may indicate that you are unconsciously thinking about the meaninglessness of your stay in this world. This also includes delirium (fear of madness), dregs, stupidity, etc.
What about brain drain? I hope you don't want your brains to be served on a plate, do you?
We are now talking about trash words, broken records, and in no way about expressions that are appropriate and tastefully chosen.
Hygiene rules in places of detention
The rules of personal hygiene in places of deprivation of liberty have been elevated to almost the rank of religion. The first mover is judged not only on merit and conversation, but also on cleanliness. This is natural: in a confined space, any violations of hygiene are felt and smelled especially clearly.
After each visit to the toilet, you should wash your hands thoroughly. If they notice that you shook hands with someone without completing this basic procedure, they may call you to account. If you drop something on the floor, you need to wash it, but you absolutely cannot pick up food from the floor.
You cannot eat, prepare food or tea while someone is in the toilet. On the contrary, if cellmates are sitting at a table, you should refrain from going to the toilet. Every day you need to wash your feet, keep things clean, and check yourself for parasites.
Source
Why you shouldn't be responsible for your words
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