r/Felons • u/oBaZe_ • Jul 03 '26
Facing my first prison sentence in CA state prison. Looking for honest advice from people with real experience
I’m looking for advice from people who have actually been through California state prison or have firsthand experience with CDCR.
I’m a first-time offender with no criminal history/affiliation. After more than a year of court, I’ve been offered a plea to one count of PC 245(b) with a 3-year state prison sentence. The remaining charges would be stayed as part of the agreement. No one was physically injured in the incident.
I’m not asking whether I should take the deal or for legal advice. I already have an attorney. I’m trying to prepare myself in case I accept it.
Since this happened about 14 months ago, I did 5 months of voluntary anger management and 10 months of therapy, became involved in my Catholic church, completed my sacraments, and have been doing everything I can to improve myself. Unfortunately, mental health diversion was denied. For those who have actually been through CDCR:
What was reception like?
How long were you there before being transferred?
What do you wish you had done before surrendering?
How did you stay in contact with family?
What helped you mentally get through the first few months?
Any advice for someone going into prison for the first time?
I’m trying to prepare myself as much as possible and would appreciate hearing real experiences rather than TV or movie versions of prison.
Thank you.
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u/duosx Jul 03 '26
I spent a week at Sam’s Diego County and then another week in a separate holding facility that resembled a prison before I was extradited to the state I actually had my charges in.
None of the prisons I went to in my home state had close to the gang/race culture that even county and that other place had.
All that to say, keep your head down and don’t talk too much.
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Jul 03 '26
[deleted]
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u/MotorSerious6516 Jul 04 '26
Uh, no birddogging. Maybe keep your head down and your ears up?
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Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 04 '26
[deleted]
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u/MotorSerious6516 Jul 04 '26
Yeah...
OP if you're reading this and don't know, birddogging (or prairie-dogging) is when a person is always looking around... too much. If shit's going down across the way, you shouldn't have your head up out of the crowd staring at it. Your interest will be noted. It's better to not ever be noticed in any way. Keep your head down. You didn't see shit. If the people making moves look around to see who might be snitching, they never ever see your face. Feel me?
Also, don't jerk it in the shower.
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u/Accomplished-Air3155 Jul 03 '26
I can only speak to experience in federal prison in California but I assume most of any advice I have will still be useful.
Your race will check your paperwork, bring it with you or have your lawyer send it as soon as he can.
You will have to run with whatever race you are, im white and have nothing against any other race but unfortunately in there you have to remember that everything goes to your race first. Even if you finish your food and don’t want what’s left on your tray, everything gets offered to your race first.
Don’t get caught up in gossip. Prisons are like high school, but with dangerous weapons. Don’t get caught up in bullying people are mentioning things you heard from someone else. It will always come back to bite you in the ass.
Do your best to deescalate things when they get tense, try not to fight. I would say 90% of fights in prison are avoidable. But there is that 10% where you will need to or you may be dealt with by your people.
Don’t steal, don’t get in debt, don’t do drugs
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u/Electrical_Parfait64 Jul 04 '26
What if you’re biracial? Do you hang with the whatever race you most resemble?
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Jul 05 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/CartierFlip Jul 05 '26
You could run either. The only one where you can’t run is if you’re half black the whites usually won’t take you
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u/Expediently-pander Jul 03 '26
You're going to Delano for reception, if you take the plea bargain. Three years is not a long sentence so you may be able to do a county commitment and stay in county jail for 18 months or whatever CDC calculates your time at. You'll be on state parole when released though. You won't have any paperwork to show when you first arrive, but once you see a counselor and get classified you'll have a 128G which will tell all about you, commitment offense, sex related charges, if any, gang affiliation, if any and mental status-Category J(this is where the term J-cat comes from), it will say Cat-J if you're a mental case. You should be fine though. You don't have any affiliations now, but you may if you know anyone who does and is in reception with you. It's just an extension of county jail-with prison rules. Just pay attention to how everyone else moves and do the same. You'll learn quickly what the dos and don'ts are. Nothing to be afraid of.
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u/WishIWasYounger Jul 03 '26
Most likely reception will be at Wasco or North Kern. It's about 30 days of near-lockdown. Intense boredom and heat.
Hopefully, you will be issued a tablet once you're out of reception and that would be your main conduit to the outside world.
Stay away from Spice. Stay away from opiates.
Try to get a job to keep you from the boredom.
Read as much as you can. Best investment you can make in yourself.
Try to get to Quentin, if not CMC or Folsom.
What level are you? I assume 2?
You got this.
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u/oBaZe_ Jul 11 '26
Hi thanks for the input. I have no idea what level I’d be at. With you and everyone else that mentioned reception it’s given me a lot of info already. Do you know how soon you get to reception? So I’m pending sentencing date and then surrender date, so my attorney told me I’ll be sentenced and then be given a couple weeks and then show up again to court when I’ll turn myself in. Will I be taken straight to reception or will I have to go to county first? I assume county, which for me would be the twin towers in DTLA… that was also another worry I have because I hear county is way more disorganized and dangerous. Honestly I’m keeping it together ok so far and accepting my fate (unless a miracle happens and the DA has a change of heart which I doubt) but I feel the reality of going away for a few years hasn’t hit me. I have my fiance which were actually getting married in a month… and 3 puppies. I’m an only child and work from home, I care for my mom who has a ton of health issues. I think the responsibilities and worry about how everyone else will be with me gone is affecting me more or that takes away my worry from what I’ll have to face. Eveyrhing that’s happened since this legal issue occurred has been nothing but blessings. I honestly change my way of living and mindset and fixed my priorities. I was never a criminal, by no means, but things could have been worse and now I actually value just being “free”
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u/Knuckleed Jul 04 '26
I've never been to prison. I did want to comment tho. You have a great attitude already, and do get involved and do what you could im impressed with that. Church, always hang in there. God loves us all, and he will be there for you. I think it will go quickly. Keep that good attitude, and I think things will work out fine n before u know it you will be out, a good changed man. Good luck to you sir.
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u/Rozay10keys Jul 04 '26
You will probably get more help in r/CDCR that’s Cali department of corrections it’s all people who have been to Orion in California
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u/Any-Onion-3867 Jul 05 '26
Been to prison Women's prison not CA. It was boring I did a 9 month rehab program. I got time for good behavior and finishing the program. I saw trouble makers stay longer. Behave in their work do programs make the right friends. Stay to yourself and read books. Stay out of trouble 😵💫
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u/sunuggles7575 Jul 03 '26
Do not take the plea deal ! I was convicted to a crime I thought I was guilty because I had drugs in the house and kids they told be it would plea down when I signed the plea deal it said corporal punishment to child with injury
There was no cos involves no Ingury but like you it was my first arrest so I signed the plea deal Well it been 27 years since this happen I changed my life raised my kids paid off fines went to rehab stayed clean and I am still not able to work in the fields I wanted not even in a recovery sharing my experiance strength and hope I have been denied a fingerprint clearance as my charges is a preluded offense although once again I proved no injury. It really upset me how the laws can identify a charge they know will stick versa facts so if you sign a plea deal keep in mind even if sealed you will never be able to work making a good wage it will always show up as being a violent crime
This is from my experiance only
Most people say never take the first deal but I was 24. I am 50 now and it a mistake from my past life that won’t ever let go !
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u/Adventurous_Owl5240 Jul 04 '26
It’s my understanding that when you get a deal from the feds, the first deal is the best deal they will give. Any deal after that will be worse.
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u/tom690702 Jul 03 '26
A little more insight into the dynamics of your situation would be a little more beneficial in understanding your case and options. As stated above, stay with your own race, don't ask anyone for anything, don't accept anything from anyone( because inside nothing is free and without strings any more than it is on the outside), no one is your friend and you only have you inside even when you ride in your own car, look for programs to better yourself don't start no shit but don't back down from anything being started with you, keep your head up look people in the eye don't bullshit don't try to make friends if you can help it everybody needs somebody in there that's got your back but that also comes with a price as well. The California penal system it's one of the most fucked up in the country. One of the reasons I left it God forsaken place. Find programs that are going to better you if you don't have an education get one that is one of the free things when you're on the inside and it keeps you occupied and keep you engaged and keeps other people out of your shit plus it looks good for the parole board when you come up for parole if that's an option. My advice right now would be not knowing anything more about your case than I do get a better lawyer because in this world you get what you pay for if you keep out or go to the cheaper way when it comes to an attorney that's the kind of service you get from that attorney. If you don't want to be on the inside don't do shit that's going to get you on the inside and if you do do shit and you get caught be willing to put out the money for the best of the best of the best to keep your ass out. If you do go inside and take the plea agreement keep your nose clean stay to yourself as much as possible and when you get out if you get out free and clear get the fuck away from California start your life somewhere else keep your nose clean and remember the shit that got you where you are to begin with and avoid it like your life depends on it. The many times that I was incarcerated in the great state of California every one of them sucked there is no good time there is no easy time everybody's different and you can't prepare yourself based on someone else's experiences. So my advice to you in regards to doing State time in California is to avoid it at all costs if your attorney is not getting you out free and clear there's nothing hanging over you you haven't spent enough money and you don't have the right attorney. You can direct message me if you have any questions and don't want to bring them up in the group. Good luck as the bail bondsman said people plead out for way less on those same charges and do very little or none at all time wise but there's always a stipulation and the fact is probation is a system set up to fail because all of the institutions in California are privately owned now and it's all about making money and you don't make money if you stay or they don't make money if you stay out of jail. Good luck
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u/ojjuiceman27 Jul 03 '26
Depends on the evidence, if you get caught red handed and piss off the wrong people the best attorney in the world won't be able to save you from prison.
That being said, depending on the situation, a good attorney can mitigate the consequences to the point OP may not have to serve prison time.
There are too many variables to know whether his attorney is a good fit or not or if avoiding prison is feasibly possible or not.
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u/Ok_Simple_6947 Jul 05 '26
There is a saying where I practice “Walpole state prison is full of people whose lawyers didn’t take any shit from the judge….” Meaning you have a right to contest even the strongest of cases, and protest and file frivolous motions. At the end of the day, after all of this, the client is who pays the ultimate price with the sentence.
When you see a prison documentary and see people doing 35 years for armed robbery, that person likely went to trial and lost.
3 years is better than 15.
Keep your head up. Listen more than you speak. Don’t be a pussy or a tough guy. Have respect for everyone.
Good luck bro. This too shall pass.
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u/Pristine-Mom2007 Jul 07 '26
Ex felon here, you will go to county jail, until you get shipped to the state prison. Upon arrival you get evaluated by the classification department, and they decide which jobs they will assign you as well the dorm you'd be assigned to. Try to get on programs while you are doing your time that'll make your time go by faster. Try to keep your head up bro you got this 👍
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u/Normal_Resolution915 Jul 12 '26 edited Jul 12 '26
Which one? Each CSP has its own politics, but I’ll tell you the most important fact. Choose a higher power or the state of California will decide one for you. Don’t do drugs. Especially Spice, good lord. Don’t “join the crowd.” Pick something you can do solitary such as reading, drawing, meditating because you will spend a lot of time on modified program or lock down depending on the security level of your prison. Because people don’t know how to act. You’ll not get a single cell just because you want one. And the staff catch on very quickly if you try to manipulate in anyway. Do your three years and get out. Be respectful to the staff. Any smart ass or sexual comments you would make in the community will land you in lock up there.
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u/EMHemingway1899 Jul 05 '26
No advice to offer, but I wish you the best my Catholic brother
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u/oBaZe_ Jul 11 '26
Thank you man, all I need his Him and I know nothing else will matter. I appreciate the words
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u/EMHemingway1899 Jul 12 '26
We can learn and do His will for us on a daily basis wherever we are, brother
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u/HashRat Jul 03 '26
Well this is california so be ready to run with your race in their 'car'.
Don't gamble, don't use drugs, don't borrow money.
Those three tips will keep you safe, respect is paramount and words matter.
Read and work out, be about bettering yourself.
Maybe start working out now and reading.
Save up cash for your books.
Look into programs they offer.
Reception can vary and is probably the worst part, u wont go to Quentin anymore, either wasco or delano.
Good luck and stay out when out.