Here's some things I learned when a marathon of Lock Up was on and I was too sick with Corona to change the channel one day.
1. Learn how to use a spork. You will eat everything with sporks. You will not be allowed a true knife or fork.
2. Don't tell them your shower shoes are too big or too little when they are issued to you. One girl prisoner did that and the female guard looked at her and said, "This aint Macy's, keep movin".
3. If you take a bag of potato chips from the commisary or vending machine, put a little water in it, shake it up and down a lot, then let it dry, it will taste like scalloped potatoes later. But they will be room temperature, not hot.
4. People in prison that are stronger or more used to it than you will offer to help you and protect you. Be careful with this as there are no free lunches. You might be surprised what your due bill might be.
5. When you get to the parole board, own it. Don't go in there talking about it was the people's house and you just followed everyone through an open door, and you are still not sure why you got sentenced. That will get you a trip straight back to your cell to serve the rest of your sentence. Just own it! Tell them exactly what you did and that you are remorseful.
6. If you get written up by a guard for disciline referral in prison, you get to go to a hearing in there. They are going to find you guilty 100% of the time. They are going to rule in the guard's favor every time.
7. Get used to the whole no-fly list deal and checking those boxes on employment applications that ask if you have ever been detained.