Debt

Debt causes more problems than anything else in this guide. There is no cash in here, so almost everything you do economically creates one, and new arrivals walk into that without recognizing it.

Stamps or commissary

There is no cash. Nearly every transaction is either an exchange of stamps or a promise to pay on a future commissary day. That means almost everything you do economically creates a short-term debt, and the interest has the potential to be high.

Pay when you said you would pay

That is the whole rule, and it is not really about the money. A small unpaid debt escalates far out of proportion to its size, because what is actually in question is whether your word is good. The amount is beside the point. Once you are someone whose word is not good, every subsequent interaction gets harder.

Practical guidance

That last one matters more than people realize. Coming to someone in advance is a normal conversation. Being found short after the fact is a different conversation entirely.

Where the credit actually comes from — stores, rates, and what things cost — is covered in the economy.

Hand the rest of this site to your family

You will not be able to look things up once you're inside. They can, and this is where: everything written for the one waiting — a twelve-part guide to mail, visiting, money, and your release date, plus their own FAQ and checklist. Alongside it, a guide to every facility with email alerts when visiting stops, the support group directory, calculators for your release math, and free answers when they have questions.

Send them the link before you report, not after they can't reach you.

If this helped, it will help someone else too.