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Going to prison means partially relinquishing your civil rights, but the United States constitution is supposed to ensure prisoner civil rights. These laws are in place to protect the rights of even the most hardened criminals and inmates who can be maltreated, punished, or abused by the system. 

The United States has the highest incarceration in the world, with a black person six times more likely to be incarcerated than a white man. It is also the only democracy in the world that has no definite body established to monitor prison conditions or the rights of the prisoner. Whether it is to be treated fairly or protect their health and safety, prisoners have rights, and it is time you knew them.

The fight against the COVID-19 virus has shaken the world at large, affecting every aspect of our lives. The economy of the world, education, organizations, and institutions have all been put on hold, to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

The message preached by the health organizations to help control the spread of the virus has mainly been a matter of social distancing. It has been stated that safe distancing would stop the spread of the virus, and necessitate the end of the deadly disease. The fact stated above, the world at large has been placed on lockdown in a reasonable bid to reduce social contact and spread of the disease.

In the wake of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, many U.S. prisons have suspended prisoner visits by family, friends, and loved ones to prevent its transmission and spread. This measure is reported to be a very important step relating to prison visitation information as many prisons may update their visiting rules when visitation resumes, and the loved ones of inmates can see their incarcerated loved ones again.

Due to suspended visits because of COVID-19, the family, friends, and loved ones of prisoners may be feeling nervous, anxious, and concerned about the safety of their incarcerated loved ones. According to the Bureau of Prisons, measures have been implemented to protect prisoners. At some point, visitation to inmates will resume so here is information that could help you increase your chances of having a good visit.

Cell Block Legendz Does Not Own The Rights To This Image.

In a November 2018 report compiled by the Prison Policy Initiative, it was stated that there are approximately 219,000 incarcerated women in the United States. Despite being home to about 5% of the world’s female population, the United States is responsible for about 33% of the world’s incarcerated female population.

Let’s start this blog article off with some commentary about the picture above to help you Get In The Know About Illegal Prison Contraband. Imagine how many cell phones and contraband got inside jails and prisons due to contraband smuggling. 

That is…before the invention and implementation of search equipment and unless contraband smugglers didn’t forget to turn off the cell phone ringers (Lol). Is there more to the story when it comes to prison contraband. You bet.

According to various news sources, legal marijuana sales are expected to hit over $20 billion in 2020. Various groups and individuals are calling for the feds to change their stance on the continued illegalization of marijuana at the federal level.

Ever noticed that when a group of people is hanging out with each other for a while, they create special words and phrases that make sense to no one else but them? This can happen in schools, hospitals, offices, workshops and of course, in prisons. 

You’ve probably even made some up with your friends. In this blog article, Cell Block Legendz will refer to Prison Slang To Know How To Relate To The Incarcerated. We realize that slang is used in jails as well and some slang words are universally accepted and spoken.

Getting the news that someone you know is in prison can be surprising, sad, stressful, and/or confusing. If someone you know has never served time in prison, then you may already know that having support, helpful knowledge, and coping skills can mean the difference between life and death in various instances and correctional facility settings. 

Cell Block Legendz does not wish for you or your loved one to end up in jail or prison. Nevertheless, we are providing you with these 11 Survival Tips For Your Loved One In Prison, below, that just may help to save your loved one’s life.

Brief Overview of Mandatory Minimum Sentencing

Mandatory minimum sentencing, a legal term which according to the definition given by law means an individual condemned of a crime is given a prison sentence for at least a certain period, in contrast to the punishment issued at the discretion of judges.

To clarify a bit more, let’s look at an example; a person who is caught carrying one kilogram or more of cocaine would be put in jail for five years even if a judge feels their sentence should be less.

Mandatory minimum sentencing laws compel judges to give fixed sentences to every convict, regardless of their accountability, answerability and other extenuating factors.

As unusual as it may sound, some people view the incarcerated as mere criminals and nothing more. In some countries, prisoners are left on their own to complete their sentences while allowing them no chance at redemption or rehabilitation.

For anyone who is not familiar with the concept of prisoner rehabilitation, they may have never been imprisoned. Let's get some proper insight into what prisoner rehabilitation is.

“Loose lips sink ships.”

“Snitches get stitches.”

“Stop snitching”       

You may have heard these words at some point in your life. You may even be familiar with what a tattletale is. However, do you know what snitching is? Snitching is an act in where someone provides incriminating information to the police about the criminal activity of others so that the cops show leniency in punishment to the one who provided them with information. This way, the one who provided police with information avoids getting in trouble or gets in less trouble. A person who does this is called a snitch.

Summer is approaching. In certain geographical parts, the weather will become more stable and some folks may or may not be complaining (again) about how hot it is or that it’s not hot enough...Antarctica, anybody?

It can get piping hot or frigidly cold where we live in upstate New York. The weather can literally go from a summer-like day to a snowstorm the next depending on where we are in the spring or winter season. 

I am hardly surprised to hear folks who are born and raised in my city complain about hot or cold weather as if they don’t know what to expect every year or that it was coming (Lol). I was already thinking weeks ago about the AC (air conditioner) being ramped up because I know what the weather typically has in store for us during our Rochester summers. It can get very hot.

Okay, so you may be reading THIS title and wondering to yourself what in the heck could this blog be about or what is the deal with me being assumed a liar (…the nerve of Cell Block Legendz).

Hold that thought and let me clarify some things up front. No, I am not maliciously calling anyone a liar. It seems like no one likes to be lied to or called out as a liar. I get that.

But, let’s face it. Lying happens and in the interesting world that we live in, it would be safe to say that lies probably happen every day and are a part of life.

Your alarm clock goes off at 7:00 AM on a Monday morning and you slowly hit the snooze button a few times to get a little more sleep before you must get up for work. You had a very busy weekend and did not catch up on your sleep. Although you’re tempted to call into work and fake being sick when you wake up, you decide that you’ll postpone that idea for another time (Lol). 

It’s a new year – 2019 - and for those of us who are blessed, favored, and fortunate enough to have made it, it may feel like another extraordinary opportunity for a fresh start in life and to work toward our goals! 

You may have heard friends, family members, and associates proclaim sayings like:

“New year…new me.”

“My New Year’s resolutions are…” 

“This year, I’m going to….” 

“THIS is going to be my year….” 

There are many debatable outlooks and ways to deal with life and the day-to-day issues that we may experience. For some folks, life is simple and without too many issues and complexities. Regular routines and schedules are adhered to or followed, positive support systems and safety nets are in place to break a fall, and it can seem like some folks live a problem-free life with less chaos and little to no worries.