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Tips for prison etiquette and being a good cellmate
Illustration by Jessie Milo

Below is a list of tips for living in a prison cell:

  1. Communicate. No one can read your mind.
  2. Give your cellie private time daily.
  3. Agree on:
  • Physical space. Our legs shouldn’t be touching.
  • Air space. Don’t block the air vent or fart.
  • Sound space: Noise levels and quiet times.
  1. Prior to moving in, discuss:
  • When you’re chewing pretzels, does it sound like you’re chewing concrete or gravel?
  • Do you share or have conflicting goals or values?
  • Do you clap and yell so the whole tier can know you love your team? Or do you prefer to quietly eat nachos to celebrate your team?

Good luck.

Disclaimer: The views in this article are those of the author. Prison Journalism Project has verified the writer’s identity and basic facts such as the names of institutions mentioned.

Jessie Milo is a writer, artist and poet incarcerated in California. He is a volunteer for InitiateJustice.org and an advocate for mental health.