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Prison Rules: A Guide to Prison Etiquette and the Art of Prison Survival
He enforced the law. Then he was forced to survive it.
Gary Sahlin’s life took a turn few could from U.S. Navy veteran and police officer to a federal inmate serving a twenty-year sentence. In Prison Rules, Sahlin offers an unflinching, insider’s guide to navigating the brutal, complex and often-hidden world of the American prison system. This is not a theoretical guide; it is a manual for survival forged in the fire of experience across eleven different federal institutions.
Forget what you’ve seen in the movies. This book is a masterclass in the unwritten laws that truly govern life behind bars. You will
The Art of the First 24 How to survive the initial shock of intake and establish yourself without becoming a target.
Navigating the Understand the rigid social structures, racial politics, and gang alliances that define daily existence.
The Underground Master the currency of commissary, hustles, and favors to improve your quality of life.
Dealing with Staff and Learn the delicate balance of earning respect, avoiding conflict, and dealing with every personality type, from predatory inmates to indifferent guards.
Mental Discover the psychological strategies to combat despair, loneliness and the soul-crushing monotony of a long sentence.
The Road to Prepare for the unique challenges of halfway houses, probation and rebuilding a life from scratch.
More than just a list of rules, Prison Rules is a guide to mastering your internal world when your external world has been taken from you. It’s a story of resilience, a testament to the power of attitude and an essential resource for anyone facing incarceration, their families or anyone seeking to understand the raw reality of prison life in America.
Gary Sahlin’s life took a turn few could from U.S. Navy veteran and police officer to a federal inmate serving a twenty-year sentence. In Prison Rules, Sahlin offers an unflinching, insider’s guide to navigating the brutal, complex and often-hidden world of the American prison system. This is not a theoretical guide; it is a manual for survival forged in the fire of experience across eleven different federal institutions.
Forget what you’ve seen in the movies. This book is a masterclass in the unwritten laws that truly govern life behind bars. You will
The Art of the First 24 How to survive the initial shock of intake and establish yourself without becoming a target.
Navigating the Understand the rigid social structures, racial politics, and gang alliances that define daily existence.
The Underground Master the currency of commissary, hustles, and favors to improve your quality of life.
Dealing with Staff and Learn the delicate balance of earning respect, avoiding conflict, and dealing with every personality type, from predatory inmates to indifferent guards.
Mental Discover the psychological strategies to combat despair, loneliness and the soul-crushing monotony of a long sentence.
The Road to Prepare for the unique challenges of halfway houses, probation and rebuilding a life from scratch.
More than just a list of rules, Prison Rules is a guide to mastering your internal world when your external world has been taken from you. It’s a story of resilience, a testament to the power of attitude and an essential resource for anyone facing incarceration, their families or anyone seeking to understand the raw reality of prison life in America.
Audible Audio
Published August 5, 2025
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