10 Everyday Items Banned in PRIS0N

[@raharoth]

Hey Jess, Im a Licensed Psychotherapist in a men's prison. We are in the middle of an opiate crisis at my facility. As a recovered addict/alchoholic, I do everything I can to try and get my guys clean. While I've had some successes, its unfortunately not enough. If you're up for it, Id love to brainstorm with you on what more I could be doing to reach more of my guys.

[@evahallock4716]

48 Laws of Power and Art of Seduction were two books that always had a hold list a mile long when I was a prison librarian. Also any urban fiction, and every Twilight and Harry Potter book.

[@BonitaHabibti]

My brother and I just talked about those books. Including The game and rules of the game. He said Prisons don't want the inmates knowing about that kind of knowledge. I wanted to know more reasons in detail but I didn't ask him.

[@liorasitelman1856]

I’ve never been to prison or committed a crime but am obsessed with your channel. You’re awesome!

[@stephaniemhoover4741]

County jail here, allowed hardcover books until the 90's. Then an inmate stuck a bunch in a pillowcase and hit a guard in the head. Instantly got them banned. Now they don't have pillowcases either. And they even completely removed the library. If you want paperback books, you have to either get them from other inmates or have them shipped from the printer.

[@CosifaMario]

I totally agree with the fact that the prison system is not designed for rehabilitation but is punitive and often violates human rights. Prison increases anger and hatred for the self-righteous society that punishes those who break the law with illegal methods. Those who change their lives do so only for an inner and personal journey, just like Jessica did ..

[@DokesConspiracyNetwork]

I know a guy who allegedly "heard" about a secret piece of info that prison is just for profit *cough*. Every aspect from overcrowding, no fresh air, solitary confinement, processed foods and not enough to eat, lighting to make you go blind, temperature control, down to fighting over one tv was designed to give you cancer blindness, mental illness, harmed by other people and guards all for money to keep this system alive. Inside the document they were full aware of the Stanford prison experiment and how things would turn out too. This didn't just happen because we voted for this person or that, it was all made this way and since there's almost no way to get that document out due to it being sealed since before 1970 or 1980 idr. I have little faith anything will change especially since there's no way for the public to be made aware of any of this. It's like a giant pyramid scheme for money and control. The fact this is hidden to from the public. If the masses knew I wonder if it even would change anything at all.

[@CosifaMario]

@@DokesConspiracyNetwork the American judicial and prison system is a shame. Police has an arrests budget and they catch persons that can afford a lawyer or to pay a bayl, they throw in prison at the cost of hundreds bucks a day till the process to enrich the private prisons system.. U cannot make a business on the justice or on the wealth.. It is not human.. Everything is moved by business, money, financial and political power.. The 70% of Americans was arrested or has a parents that was in jail, the percentage of arrests is growm of the 150 % from the 1950 to our days but the crimes are the half respect the pasta.. Even if black People and minority are the 20 %of the total they are the 60%*of the prisoners... Same thing is wrong..

[@alyssahamlett]

One of the dumbest rules we had and my prison was we weren't allowed to have metal tweezers that gave us these horrible plastic tweezers but yet they sold us soda cans we could buy 12 packs of soda I'm telling you I could make a serious fucking weapon out of a soda can God forbid I have some metal tweezers

[@JessicaKent]

🥴

[@mollyjackson4476]

I hear you sis. 🤦‍♀️

[@HannahRose19960]

Damn that's crazy

[@ashleyphillips3043]

FACTS

[@meahdahlgren6537]

​@@JessicaKent do you know who christina randall is

[@brendaleelydon-carpenter1554]

But, Jess, if they actually help you better yourself, you might not ever go back! What on earth would the prison industrial complex do THEN?! Gotta create job security, right?

[@sarah_isntcool]

lmfao this^

[@SjofnBM1989]

Womp there it is

[@imbluedubbadee]

Fuckin facts

[@margauxnodvin7478]

Exactly!!!

[@deerheart87]

It’s a business

[@stevechitty5861]

What is also annoying is that the prison system thinks that everyone wants to read the Bible. Not everyone is a Christian.

[@nikolaidobrev5098]

Jesus is the way the truth and the life. You don’t have to believe but you should still respect other people’s beliefs. No one is forcing you to read the Bible. It’s your choice whether you want to read it or not.

[@Ilovecrystals922]

@@nikolaidobrev5098 If people push their beliefs upon other people I do not support them. Prisons, some, at least, push their beliefs on the inmates, which should NOT be allowed.

[@zoeglass]

I think it's more of a religious freedom thing. Still, it is strange that a Bible is the only item you can take from county jail to prison. Speaking as a Christian, I'd rather save my personal writings or other one-of-a-kind, sentimental items. The Bible's gonna be the same wherever I go.

[@nikolaidobrev5098]

@@Ilovecrystals922 I don’t agree with it either.

[@milopenalozaosorio3992]

@@nikolaidobrev5098 but every sacred book should be allowed, not just the bible

[@popeyenghe]

Hey Jess, so good that you are giving back and in such a positive way - well done you!!

[@tayloredwards1012]

I work at a prison in Texas as a substance abuse counselor. We have to take our old chewed gum out of the unit to throw it away or flush it lol. Our clients can buy pens, pencils, and colored pencils off commissary though. As someone that goes into the unit everyday to advocate for my clients, it’s heartbreaking to see them have so little to fight for or look forward to. 😔

[@colourfulsouls]

Never flush chewing gum, That’s awful for the plumbing! Best to just throw it in the trash (though it seems like a pointless rule imo)

[@bryancady5837]

Thanks!

[@rilkennedy]

you are such a light for such a broken system. thank you for educating on this topic. i used to be one of those people that said ‘well you shouldn’t have broken the law’ but then i watched pretty much all of your videos, as well as other creators and truly educated myself on this. the prison system is horrifically broken

[@robinhaupt9119]

These type videos are awesome, thank you Jess. I had no idea.

[@kimberlyf5993]

We love you thank you for sharing your knowledge & bringing awareness 🙏❤️

[@Island-Girl]

Eighty percent of that list is also banned in mental health hospitals, even those you voluntarily check yourself into.

[@tuffsmurfen96]

I’ve been to mental health hospitals and the only thing banned on this list were r-rated movies and paperclips (but you could have your phone and internet so you could watch it there). If you hurt yourself with a spiral note book that might got banned for you personally. Games was very allowed, that was pretty much was the patients were doing all day. There was also an inside smoking room (but only the staff had lighters).

[@awakentheheretics]

The noodle / soup thing reminds me of the episode of friends where Joey is filming for a commercial and it's for "noodle soup" but the line was "mmmmm noodles" and he kept saying "mmmmm noodle soup" and he couldn't figure out how to say just noodles. Random thought and not related at all but it made me giggle lol

[@Savryavri]

The fact that people actually believe prison should equal torture….bro are you good? Most of these people already been suffering their whole lives they need help not more suffering

[@makayla9602]

Love you Jess! You’re the ONLY KZbinr I can relate to, and I love watching your videos. Thank you for being you!

[@idkanymore9894]

I’ve never been to prison but I’ve been to psych wards 5 times between the ages of 9 to 11. They also banned spiral books, paper clips, staples, and full length pencils. I remember the 1st time I was there my dad brought me kids magazines to read and they made me take the staples out. Like bruh, I was a 9 year old who never $elf h@rmed.

[@zoeglass]

I've been to psych wards too and yeah, the rules are annoying, but people could steal those staples even if you wouldn't hurt yourself with them

[@danielsweet858]

When my best friend was in prison I couldn't send him magazines because of the staples. 🤔😳

[@haleymiller8868]

Also side note, I witnessed an inmate hide her razor and tell the guards it fell down the drain (the little mesh part was gone so it was just a big hole) and they didn't even check they said 'oh okay' and went about their day.. luckily the inmate didn't keep it as a weapon but instead to cut peoples hair on the block for money..

[@elorahancock3581]

Oooooo a Saturday upload I’m so happy thank you!!!!

[@lovebug9386]

I remember when I was prego in jail my cellmates both were facing prison time (short sentences) and they started fighting because, and they both said, they had nothing left to lose!!! So therefore no reason to not beat each other's ass... I literally had to climb to the top bunk to get out of the way. Just goes to show that even the thought of prison is basically the end of the world for some if not most people.

[@tammybushnell6920]

@Jessica, please make a long video with pre-prison tips, such as get dental care, mental prep, etc. Some people have some time before court but know conviction is likely.

[@JessicaKent]

The real me always has a verification badge. Plz ignore these spam accounts

[@ActionJacksonForever]

What you’d do?

[@lysbellemare1345]

she has a video on that

[@tammybushnell6920]

@@lysbellemare1345 Thanks! I looked and looked but didn’t find it. Do u know the title or date? ❤️❤️

[@lysbellemare1345]

@@tammybushnell6920 i think a couple months ago but i can check for you too

[@petitepersianperspective3468]

Forced in a psych ward and those pens were the WORST! I have carpal tunnel and I majorly struggled to write.

[@pixibelle3282]

We, in Australia, think the USA prison system is dreadful & doesn't achieve much.

[@LimuEmu420]

It achieves nothing but misery lol

[@pixibelle3282]

@@LimuEmu420 Seems that way. Not that I've been to prison but I went visiting an inmate a couple of times here & they seemed cheerful & full of hope. In Australia most prisons are seen as places of rehab.

[@LimuEmu420]

I've heard that a lot, that other systems around the world seem to be much better than the system we got in the USA

[@pixibelle3282]

@@Steves_fish OK, yeah I understand.

[@popeyenghe]

Jails, prisons everywhere in the world have huge issues - mainly lacking and retaining staff. Wish there was a silver bullet.

[@alechachman9599]

Let me guess, one of the banned Shakespeare Plays is Titus Andronicus, cause its violent and gruesome as fuck, to reference Mark Hulse figures that Titus Andronicus "has 14 killings, 9 of them on stage, 6 severed members, 1 rape (or 2 or 3 depending on how you count), 1 live burial, 1 case of insanity, and 1 of cannibalism - an average of 5.2 atrocities per act, or one for every 97 lines." Edit, and no I'm not defending it being banned, i don't think it should be banned, but its genuinely a shockly violent and disturbing play, Titus literally kills a woman's two son's then has them cooked and serves them to her without her knowing she was literally eating her kids

[@StofferNO.]

Greating from the EU (Norway). it`s actually quite interesting to watch these videos and i love your content. Keep it up and have a nice week.

[@jacobshort6528]

I did some time, and gum was verboten at my Facility, too. One of the C.O.s chewed 5 gum because he was quitting smoking, and he would wrap his used pieces in the wrappers and throw them in snowbanks. I was on Yard Crew and during the winter, I would pick them up with the cigarette butts. I'd unwrap them out on the track in the back 40, save the wrappers as bookmarks for my Gideon Bible, and wash the sand grit outta the gum in the bathroom sinks. For my own personal use. I've been hiding my gum chewing since gradeschool, and was never caught. I kept the gum wads in the caps of my chapsticks. Never were they found through official inspections, contraband searches, moving to another Unit, and moving to another facility. I lost books, but never my gum.

[@kewlgurlrockz]

So would you chew that gum you found? Or was it frozen because of the snow

[@laurenskubish400]

@@kewlgurlrockz sounds like he chewed em

[@unicornpopcorn258]

Gross

[@aangranaa5352]

You gotta do what you gotta do man, nice work

[@sheilarough236]

I spent 60 days in county. We were allowed cards , dominos and dice from Yahtzee sets. We weren’t allowed to have clock on the wall in the common space on the pod. If we wanted to know the time, we had to ask the officer

[@rockhoundcustomjewelry]

Craven County prison here in NC won't even let u bring anything from jail to prison. They had a huge box full of bibles they was throwing away. It's a processing prison where u get sent to be checked out before going to your actual prison.

[@davidodonovan1699]

Well done Jessica. Great video

[@nikkic0509]

So interesting. I’d love to have one of the hand made rosaries.

[@suefontaine5227]

I'm left handed and creative AF. I used a plastic compact as tweezers. It worked like a charm. I could use it on my friends brows or chin hairs.

[@LimuEmu420]

Hi Jess, I hope you're having a great morning 💚

[@andrewo5296]

Good ol "Hey Bro Day" and the 2 for 1 deal 😂

[@TerPer1969]

Yay, an early prison video & for once I'm not late to the party! 💚 💚 they are def called "soups" especially in prison! EDIT: Always want to hear more video's like this!!

[@melc7803]

Love your content 💕 Australian subscriber here 🇦🇺 ❤️

[@sophieamarant1536]

I just got out of a psych ward with someone that served time in jail. I was curious. We couldn’t have books with any staples or colored pencils. We had rubber pens and crayons.

[@Caderynwolf]

People do tend to underestimate what you can do with paper-mache.

[@thecaristascarchannel9189]

You are such a good-hearted person. Love you and wish you all the best :)

[@amberhuls5231]

I'll never understand books being banned

[@RollaRoaster]

Jess! I can really tell your Invisalign is working. You look fantastic girl!

[@vince6792]

Hi Jessica, thanks for sharing your knowledge, insight, and experiences. Hopefully its helpful. I think your first thought was basically right...no happiness is allowed. I knew a CO that was crazier than probably most of the inmates 🙄 that would probably make a good video for you.

[@jamescook6564]

I've seen a shank made out of toilet paper that is just as effective as one made of metal.

[@Theresa_52]

Your hair looked purple in the thumbnail and it looked really good on you!

[@laurenpittman8622]

My mom worked with juvenile youth at a school for a incarcerated youth, she would come home with plastic weird paper clips that can be unfolded. She also would where a lanyard with a button on it called the panic button, if it was pushed security would come. I also want to say she loved those kids. Her job was so hard on her, she eventually left because of her new boss, she hang on through budget cuts, and all the good coworkers leaving. She brought in stuff for the kids all the time (she was aloud to) but she would bring stuff like dvds of movies they wanted to see, and new chip flavors. It always made their day, but even though they could have all that, she could only chew gum in her office because of safety issues.

[@cherylmclaverty2182]

Ty for sharing and I agree we need to help not hurt

[@alyssahamlett]

love when jessica uploads, makes my day! edit: r rated movies, yep...remember thinkin how ridiculous this was, they still played good state movies for not having r rated. (breaking dawn part 2 came out when i was locked up and i was so happy i watched it 5x (they play one movie all day everyday so everyone gets a chance to see it)

[@JessicaKent]

Aw 🙏💚

[@LimuEmu420]

I love when I see a new upload

[@bradleysquires2592]

This is why prisons seriously have strayed from rehabilitation to completely punishment give someone to work for like a GED or even a better job when they get out so they don't have to steal or anything then they won't have to be repeated offenders and then prisons will loose money

[@sofiasousapires]

Love you Jess!

[@AlexanderSeven]

You are absolutely right, the punishment is loss of freedom, and this is what many people don't understand. There is nothing in the law about making inmate's life miserable or torture or dehumanize them.

[@Ninten70]

Banning a William Shakespeare book is like banning a Charles Dickens book.

[@withtrees]

Experience with the risk of full-length pencils. I taught in a youth psychiatric facility where we used short pencils, and as soon as we started allowing full-length ones, a student of mine swallowed one.. Twice

[@RowanWarren78]

I see a lot of comments comparing this description of prison to their own experience in a psych ward. If this isn't a testament to our abysmal healthcare system, mental healthcare specifically, I don't know what is.

[@hazyspirits3177]

The wrong people are C.O’s, Warden’s, etc. I feel like a lot of C.O’s are in that line of work because they like the power they hold over a human being. ‘Cause like you said, they don’t care about you. Your videos make me wanna be a C.O. or some kind of advocate. Great freakin’ content. So wholesome, and you state nothing but facts & your personal experiences. Mad respect ✊🏼

[@mirandavatcher9065]

Just want to say I appreciate you! You are a strong beautiful soul. 🖤🖤

[@dwarf1482]

❤️❤️Not a flex I'm just used to saying it in every video so new people understand and not get confused

[@matthewdeward1984]

the first time I read the Prince was a Hand written copy from my friend Jerry when he got out of Prison

[@SouthernGothBelle]

Hardback books were also banned in the psych ward I went to once when I wanted to unalive myself. The only thing I read for 72 hours was manga because they were paperback. 😂

[@Susiewitha_S]

The wire on spiral notebooks could be used as as ligature.

[@jenmontzingo]

Home Alone with Macaulay Culkin also gives criminal ideas… 🤣😇

[@ghfan234]

New york prisons still allow tobacco in the STATE facilities still and in Arizona prisons and in Florida road camps.

[@amywilliams6342]

My fiance was not allowed to take his Bible from Jail to State Prison in Montana, and to top it all off, the Commissary did not have Bible's. I had to order him one and have it sent from Amazon.

[@christopherjustice2462]

R rated movies are band in California as well. MacGyver can give you a whole lot of ideas on stuff you'd never thought of.

[@debrandw246]

Love you too Jess x

[@colourfulsouls]

There was one jail I’d seen a video a few years back of the warden who invented & made to sell the inmates vape pens out of a clear rubber casing.. idk if that’s still going on or not.. but the guys was actually making $ from that, the inmates were happy tho

[@AutisticAthena]

This man is a genius. I would have been willing to put a whole ass WEEK onto my sentence if I could have had nicotine while I was inside (not much longer than that, I was in county in a box inside of a box inside of a box, it was miserable and I only got to see sky for one hour a week IF my pod had been good and hadn't lost us the privilege)

[@JRenault]

As a french girl I think it's very weird that in the US inmates can't smoke cigarettes

[@dcfanchris]

People can’t smoke a lot of places in the US. 95% of this country is smoke free.

[@JRenault]

@@dcfanchris I know.

[@thegamefanaticshow]

The fact that damn near everything narcotic is freely available in the joint is something I don’t think people get. I mean shit was cheaper in than out at times.

[@candacechisholm6419]

Shout out to all the small wrist ladies out there 🤟🔮

[@amstel5468]

Up in Billerica Massachusetts we were watching all of the Fast and Furious movies. Not really sure if some of them are R-rated or not but they are kind of violent

[@heyyybestie3032]

love you jess! your videos always make my day, and let me just say that you are beautiful! you are my legit favorite youtuber! have a great day everybody!

[@mollyjackson4476]

I hope you and your family have a great day too Bella 🖤🖤🖤

[@heyyybestie3032]

@@mollyjackson4476 thank you so much!

[@roundsdm]

My jail only allowed us to have the pen guts, the ink stick inside of a pen😮‍💨

[@tammybushnell6920]

If I buy a book for an inmate via Amazon would I ever know that it was banned and the inmate didn’t receive it?

[@goddammitalana]

Probably not unless you asked the inmate and they told you

[@tammybushnell6920]

What services are available at the prison salon?

[@natashaw401]

Thanks for sharing how illogical prison supervisor think

[@GUCR44]

Love you Jess... you are an amazing person with a big heart... Thank you for your videos. Peace and love luv

[@jacobshort6528]

I hated those pens. And we had short pencils in quarantine. But long ones at Carson City O.T.F.. And long colored pencils. But at J. C. S. we had to make pencil extensions using rolled up paper.

[@Pushin_kushin]

What video did Lawton make about that i needa watch it now 😂 this video was to funny but also very true personally only spent 2 years and hated every second can relate to most of these great video 👍

[@JessicaKent]

Hmm I forget the title but it’s definitely on his channel

[@LimuEmu420]

We had R rated movies in WI prisons

[@LimuEmu420]

Just adding information :)

[@tammybushnell6920]

Do commissaries sell reading glasses? It would be awful to turn 38-42 and suddenly realize you need them and couldn’t get them.

[@sunchips5]

Not having reading glasses would suck and it is such a basic need.

[@ashleyphillips3043]

💚💚💚💚💚 In my experience, from having someone very very near and dear to my heart incarcerated in a medium security facility in Arizona, The 48 Laws of Power and the other Robert Greene books in this collection were allowed EXCEPT FOR the one he collabed with 50 Cent on The 50th Law. They wouldn't allow it and that was extremely frustrating. Also, A Star Is Born was available for rent, because you can't rent movies, play games and download music on your tablet if you're fortunate enough to have one. It's also how we email each other. So, while A Star Is Born is allowed most other Rated R movies is a definite no and the songs for download are very select. Prior to being transferred to medium security he was in a maximum security facility and in Arizona it's called a "supermax" facility and none of these things were allowed. Not even the tablet for renting movies, playing games, downloading songs or writing to your loved ones. It's definitely different depending on state, what level of security and many other factors. I LOVE YOU JESS!! I have been following you since you had like 1,000 subs. Every day you inspire me and I'm so so proud of you and you're just a whole ass vibe!!! 💚💚💚💚💚

[@nightcore9973]

When you said r rated I thought you meant like violent movies not like Ted or a star is born tf 😂😂😂

[@a_diamond]

I don't know how to play dominoes.. I wouldn't mind learning some day :)

[@stephaniewilson2447]

Staples, paperclips and wire from notebooks can be used for tattoos also. I know where I was, that was the reason.

[@aaronhenderson8502]

Patron member here.🤗👍 What happens to school shooters in prison? Video request. Love you you helped me survive Section 8 trap housing.

[@jenmontzingo]

I’m S8. What do you mean by trap housing?

[@monicamayo6953]

Ramen noodles are in the soup isle, not the pasta isle, so they’re obviously soups🤣 Right?

[@betsybabf748]

I understand the R movies. While some movies feel silly, a general guideline strips the need to review and make decisions on each of 100s of thousands of movies individually, which no one has time for. Less about getting ideas, movies make us emotionally invested and created a response. They did a study years back where they had a large group of men watch a Fast & Furious movie. For 48 hours after, every one drove faster than they had prior to watching it. I found it funny because I hate driving & it gives me severe anxiety, but every time I watch a F&F movie I catch myself driving faster that week. So I can see seeing how many R movies have a level of violence, erasing that natural response by just avoiding creating the situation.

[@auzangelful]

Wow....I cannot believe books are banned!

[@mollyzulu3679]

Hey Jess. Could you explain the difference between prison and jail? Many people use the words interchangeably.

[@hauptmann6]

Jail = Less than a year. It's generally local. AKA County Lockup. Prison = You're gone for 366 days to life.

[@maxpillow5843]

Yes in FL

[@haleymiller8868]

GIRL.. I did 3 months in county. And 3 of us were going to medical to see the dr and I look down on the floor and what do I see? An unopened stick of gum.. us 3 girls split it then when we got back on our block, women were offering commissary to take the gum out my mouth and give it to them! So I sold that shit right outta my mouth and watched them chew it and pass it to someone else.. same with the other 2 women who split the stick of gum with me originally.. it's crazy! Like it's gum.. what's the issue if we have gum?! It's confusing to me the little things they deprive you of that could literally make an inmates day, which would in the end make CO's jobs easier. If that makes sense.

[@amberleighstorms126]

Duuuude! Crazy. Out of your mouth is insane. It is unbelievable what deprivation of just normal basic human things does to you mentally. Glad you could make someone’s day I guess 🙃

[@davidodonovan1699]

Police studies do show that if you make a crime a little bit harder to do, then you will greatly reduce the risk of that crime happening. As in most crimes are apparently just because the opportunity presented itself at the time. Like a having a valuable item in plane view in your car, or on an outdoor restaurant table, an an addict sees that your not looking. So I totally understand why taking staples and paper clips away from inmates won't stop inmates from making weapons, but I'm guessing will have a statistical reduction in that chances of that happening. But with the carrot and stick approach that I think would really help, the better trust that you gain, with good behaviour, the easier these things should be for you to gain access too. I'm no expert here. But I have seen sadistic people that can't be trusted with anything. Demonic possession is a real thing.

[@sheilarough236]

The King’s Speech is R rated because of a single scene of profanity used in context to help King George VI overcome his speech impediment. So a historical biopic focusing on the friendship between a king and his speech therapist isn’t allowed?

[@rizwanmation8431]

at 4:46 what if you don't like to read?

[@wendymarshal5391]

Vegemite is banned in Australian prisons since 1990

[@nybsbfan18]

If u tell someone they can't have something, they might want it more...

[@maryshellsmith6627]

She’s so proud that she was in prison.

[@pinkgiraffe378]

Yeah being allowed razors but not full length pens or pencils does seem really dumb.

[@Smiley35S]

I'm dating a prisoner lol yesterday he said he was juiced. Yep they make alcohol for sure.

[@hippiepisces9745]

Lolita is definitely on the list