First Time

The first time event that I remember best is my first time in Blue Water. It was a life altering event for me, and I am thankful for it. I forgot what the most important thing in life was, and I became a bad person and I did bad things, in turn ended me up in jail. I have to admit it at first I was scared so bad I was sick to my stomach. I remember the thoughts that were going through my head. I kept thinking about all the movies I have seen about jail, that just made it worse, and it really bothered me that I would have to get a strip search.

Once I was there, it had a smell that I could never forget; it was a sterile smell but at the same time grungy. I had to strip in front of a guard. He took my clothes and gave me burgundy shirt and sweat pants. After your search they take you to the doctors to look at you and see if you have any problems. Then a guard will take you to the admission house, it was called Trent House. Trent has 18 hour lock up and half an hour outside time. When you are in that house it has very limited privileges, also it has big, thick metal doors that have huge locks on them.

When I walked into the range I was scared, but I was trying to look like I wasn't. When I got out of my room, I had one guy come up and tell me to fight someone, and told me if I didn't that him and three other guys would jump me. The way people handle things in there is extremely different then the way people do in society. You have to fight for your respect, and that's all that counts. I found myself not as afraid once you have some respect. Its not exactly like real jail, people don't get raped or killed, but in a way it is in the fact fighting solves all problems.

When I was transferred to Georgian House I got that feeling in my stomach again, because Georgian held people that have worse crimes and have been there longer. It was the exact same, fight and people won't bother you. We showered alone, and we only got a little paper cup of shampoo and a little bar of soap. The only sport we ever played during outside time was basketball... and you had to be good or you would get beet.

After the whole experience when I heard the judge say that I could leave custody, I was the happiest person alive. It has change me severely, the fact that I don't want to be one of those people you see that spend there life in and out of jail. It was an experience that saved my

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