If you have been convicted of a crime and will be self-surrendering to prison shortly, it is essential that you are able to recognize effective prison consulting practices. Let’s face it. Going to prison for the first time can be scary. Prison is an unknown territory that can leave you defenseless and vulnerable, which is a very dangerous state to be in a violent environment. That is why learning how to avoid the major pitfalls that every first-time offender faces while in prison can save your life.
Prison consulting, also called prison coaching, is the act of providing newly convicted criminals with advice on how to cope and survive in the unfamiliar surroundings of prison. Therefore, it is the duty of an effective prison consultant to provide you with a game plan for coping, even surviving, while in prison. Consultants charge anywhere from several hundred to many thousands of dollars, with no promises made.
In some instances, prison consulting may include providing your attorney with advice on how to lobby the sentencing judge for a shorter sentence, and how to get you sentenced to a lower security level prison. This is important because the higher a prison’s security level, the more violent and dangerous it can be. And excellent prison consultant knows that your attorney is best equipped to file a motion for a lighter sentence it you have mitigating factors. Because all clients have different needs, consultation services can be tailored to fit your unique situation. So if you’re in need of specific types of services, then ask the prison consultant if he or she provides such services. By doing so, you can avoid problems that can surface at a later time.
The need for a prison coach would not be so urgent if you have been incarcerated before. But since prison consulting focuses primarily on first-time convicted individuals, the need for one could not be greater. Adding state or federal prison consulting to your arsenal of legal tools can take the fear and mystery out of going to prison. It is best to select a prison consultant who has served a lengthy period of time, hopefully at various security levels in prison because he or she is able to understand the stress you are experiencing. For instance, if you are being sentenced to a low, medium or high security prison, your consultant should have served several years at either. If you are considering a prison consultant who has only served a few months or years at a prison camp, how could they honestly tell you what life behind bars is like at a higher security prison.
Some prison consultants believe that prison preparation should educate you on how to obtain a lighter sentence and a successful re-entry into your community. That is true; however, you must make it out of prison before you can prepare for a re-entry. Excellent prison consulting will accomplish this for you.
How you and your family prepare is important. When you’re facing prison, so are your family and friends. When a prison consultant provides you with high quality prison consulting services regarding prison, you can have great confidence despite being nervous about your new surroundings knowing that when you walk through those prison gates, you go prepared and able to successfully navigate your way through a confined environment.