How does buying goods from outside prison work?
In Shawshank Redemption Andy buys several things from Red, when his cell was inspected the warden found some of the things but didn't care much. I get the basics on how this works: Red bribed some of the guards in order to buy things outside the prison and sell it to Red
Many questions arise:
- How does Red pay the guards?
- How do the prisoners pay Red? It seems that all the interesting things they have in the prison are from Red anyway
- Why doesn't the warden take enough measurements to prevent? This of course is a security issue (which ultimately allowed Andy to escape), so I reckon the warden takes any measure possible to prevent this
- Why do the guards help the prisoners buying goods from outside? The warden is so corrupt and brutal that any sane guard who doesn't play the warden's game would immediately quit and work somewhere else?
Best Answer
While multi-questions usually aren't allowed, I think I can answer all of these after having spent some time in prison:
Red pays the guards from the money given to him by the prisoners. Likely in a very secure environment like one of the workshops.
The prisoners pay Red from their bank accounts. Prisoners work and they get paid for that work, plus their families can add funds from outside prison.
This is so commonplace that not every warden can stop every transaction. In this case, he may have turned a blind eye if he knew it was Red doing it, and if that "contraband" wasn't anything serious.
Guards have expenses, and guards' pay isn't the greatest in the world. If they can make a couple hundred here and there on the side, why wouldn't they?
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How do you get stuff in prison?
Being incarcerated doesn't mean that you stop being a consumer, and almost every penal institution has a commissary system to allow inmates to buy goods. Whether you're in jail or prison -- and yes there is a difference -- an inmate with some outside funding can purchase food, clothing, and even hobby supplies.Can you buy things in prison UK?
The requirement to purchase items of property internally was designed to act as an incentive to prisoners to maximise their earnings, thus encouraging them to engage in purposeful activity. As a general rule property can only be purchased through the prison shop from an approved supplier and cannot be posted in.How does red get things in prison?
Red is a prison smuggler, active since a long time. His trade is explained in detail in the novel. Red explains that he can smuggle a variety of goods from outside and he sells them in return for the price plus his own margin.Can you send gifts into prison UK?
Gifts and parcelsPrisoners must first apply to have any items posted in. Only when approved should any items be sent. Women in Send are also able to buy items from approved suppliers through a catalogue system.Prison Commissary Survival Items
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