Weinstein is said to have hired one – so what is a prison consultant?

Harvey Weinstein, who was this week convicted on two sexual assault charges and faces a maximum 25-year sentence, has reportedly hired a prison consultant to make life inside a little easier. Christopher Zoukis was jailed for 12 years when he was a teenager, eventually earning a bachelor’s and a master’s degree while serving his sentence. He has now written award-winning books and works with clients who have to do time in prison. There are general regulations that govern almost every area of prison life, but there’s a separation between policy and its actual application. There’s a big difference between how we live outside of prison – the social structure and norms – compared to how it works inside. In the political structure of a prison, people particularly dislike sex offenders and informants. But because he [is] very visible , it could cause additional violence, because people can view it as an opportunity to make a name forthemselves. If someone cuts in front of you at the store, whatever, they’re rude – but in prison, that’s seen as a direct attack upon your stature. Conflict avoidance will be a great tool, but’s a difficult line – if someone directly confronts or puts their hands on you, you have to assert yourself in a self-defense kind of way. _______________________________________________________________More on this story: _______________________________________________________________ As soon as someone gets into prison, they need to find the guard and ask them where their cell is. Go and figure out who the cellmate is – so they can meet you before they come back and find someone else “living in their house,” as it were. I was reading a quote the other day and it mentioned all these services that Weinstein will have access to. The recreational services: five days a week, we will allow you intowhat looks like a big dog kennel for 45 minutes – and if you’re in protective custody it might not even be safe enough to go out to the cage. Or doyou want him to learn how to brew prison hooch really good while he’s in there?” When you subject people to very violent and dangerous conditions, that abuse and harm comes back to our communities. Biggest celebrity scandals of the decade: Weinstein, Cosby and more (USA Today)