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A prison is like a little city. It has a library, a beauty shop (which is just a fancy name for a hair cutting room), a medical wing, a rec yard... Of course, facilities vary from institution to institution, but if we exclude countries that have a different philosophy on incarceration altogether, most places are pretty similar.

So we're told. For the average person, life behind bars remains a mystery. And quite an intriguing one. How do people organize themselves under such extreme circumstances? What do they miss? How do they spend their days? A TV show, for example, might give us an idea but if we constructed our worldview based on what we saw on the screen, we'd end up like Truman Burbank. In an illusion.

Instead, let's take a realistic look at how inmates get by — the subreddit r/PrisonWallet is perfect for this job.

#1

Prisoners From Indiana Were Given Cats To Look After As Part Of A Rehabilitation Scheme. Here Is One Prisoner With A Hat He Knitted For His Cat!

Prisoners From Indiana Were Given Cats To Look After As Part Of A Rehabilitation Scheme. Here Is One Prisoner With A Hat He Knitted For His Cat!

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karla Meixnerová
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I read somewhere abou similar project (possibly this one), that it significantly reduced prisoner recidivism.

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#2

“Lady”, An Electric Guitar Built Illegally By An Inmate In A Pennsylvania State Prison

“Lady”, An Electric Guitar Built Illegally By An Inmate In A Pennsylvania State Prison

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Naturally, not everything that gets made in a cell is as innocent as you see in these pictures. "I'd, unfortunately, say one of the most common items to craft in a prison is a shank, [probably] due to how easy it is and the inadequate system of rehabilitating prisoners," a representative of this subreddit's moderator team told Bored Panda. "Many of them stick to crime or violence while inside of prison."

"Zip guns utilizing .22 ammunition are also popular because [the rounds] are easy to sneak in. Not to mention the fact that when you break down a gun to its bare bones, it's a simple machine that's quite easy to replicate."

However, we decided to leave guns out of the equation. We already know about them, plus there's so much more! "I [also] see a lot are tiny figures or artworks made of what is practically trash," the person running the subreddit added. "It allows prisoners to express their creative intentions while locked up."

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#3

These Are The Best Chess Figures I Have Ever Seen And These Were Made In Prison

These Are The Best Chess Figures I Have Ever Seen And These Were Made In Prison

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John Brant
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Andy Dufrense finally finished his chess pieces before he decided to leave...

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#4

Prison Issued Bleach Soap Carved With A Plastic Spoon And Empty Bic Pen

Prison Issued Bleach Soap Carved With A Plastic Spoon And Empty Bic Pen

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Brian Brown
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If this is the sort of things that inmates are crafting, I say let them keep them.

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#5

Asked An Inmate To Draw His Interpretation Of The Prison System. They Are Only Allowed A Blue Pen. Color Was Done By Melting Skittles And M&ms

Asked An Inmate To Draw His Interpretation Of The Prison System. They Are Only Allowed A Blue Pen. Color Was Done By Melting Skittles And M&ms

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BaconBenchPress616
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We had a guy who had no money but would barter/trade greeting cards he painted with Skittles and M&Ms. Every time a holiday was coming around he'd set up at one of the tables with all his cards on display and guys would pay him in food items so they could send a nice card with Tweety Bird, Powerpuff Girls, Paw Patrol, etc to their loved ones.

𝕥𝕠𝕒𝕤𝕥
Community Member
3 years ago

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Terran
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It makes somewhat sense. The spirit of the confederate states is still carried on in the prison system.

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Marlowe Fitzpatrik
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why would they only be allowed one colour? Is there a (logical) reason for that?

Potato
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Perhaps they were only allowed one pen, and it happened to be blue. Only one pen, because the others might go “missing”.

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Stephanie A Mutti
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a former public defender, we called it "skittle art" and it was an honor to receive skittle art from an inmate.

Beast
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

agreed whoever they r that it pure talent! smart with the skittles btw

helen anderson
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Amazing what one can do with limited items..this is better then most art out there! He should have an arts show!

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Interestingly, in 2019, the U.S. incarceration rate fell to its lowest level since 1995, according to recently published data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), the statistical arm of the Department of Justice. (It is not yet clear how the coronavirus pandemic may have affected these numbers as statistics for 2020 are not expected to be released until later this year.) But despite this downward trend, the United States still puts more people behind bars than any other country for which such data is available. 

The American criminal justice system holds almost 2.3 million people in 1,833 state prisons, 110 federal prisons, 1,772 juvenile correctional facilities, 3,134 local jails, 218 immigration detention facilities, and 80 Indian Country jails as well as in military prisons, civil commitment centers, state psychiatric hospitals, and prisons in U.S. territories.

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#6

Made Out Of Rolled Paper, Cardboard, Craft Paint, Bed Sheets, And Floor Wax (Clear Coat)

Made Out Of Rolled Paper, Cardboard, Craft Paint, Bed Sheets, And Floor Wax (Clear Coat)

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Clandestine
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is one of my favorites, I think. It looks SO GOOD!

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#7

Model Of Hms St George Made By Pows Of The Seven Years War

Model Of Hms St George Made By Pows Of The Seven Years War

Tzuvembi Report

#8

The Face Of A Guard Made With Soap By A Prisioner In Brazil. All Made With Soap Even The Eyes

The Face Of A Guard Made With Soap By A Prisioner In Brazil. All Made With Soap Even The Eyes

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#9

Anytime You Feel Life Isn’t Nice, Remember This Brazilian Prisoner Who Dug An Escape Tunnel For 5 Years To Burst Out In A Guard Room...

Anytime You Feel Life Isn’t Nice, Remember This Brazilian Prisoner Who Dug An Escape Tunnel For 5 Years To Burst Out In A Guard Room...

NarcosdaMouraria Report

The moderator of r/PrisonWallet who took their time to reply to us considers the subreddit's community pretty diverse in their background and intention of joining. "I've talked to members who are former police officers, former prisoners, some interested in the craftsmanship of the people stripped of their freedom, some similar to me in the way I greatly care about prison system reform."

If you took a look at the subreddit's newest posts, you wouldn't see many. The latest one goes back 21 days. However, members are still engaging with them. "The community is somewhat active but ... and you can even notice older posts getting comments, showing new members are fairly common as well!" Maybe you want to be one of them?

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#10

The Paper Mache Heads Made By Frank Morris, John Anglin And Clarence Anglin When They Escaped Alcatraz Prison

The Paper Mache Heads Made By Frank Morris, John Anglin And Clarence Anglin When They Escaped Alcatraz Prison

flysoup84 , whataTyphoon Report

#11

Found This In A Small Town Museum Today. Made By A Prisoner In Angola Prison Out Of Match Sticks And Pebbles From Prison Grounds

Found This In A Small Town Museum Today. Made By A Prisoner In Angola Prison Out Of Match Sticks And Pebbles From Prison Grounds

Itsme_dandelion Report

#12

A Way Prisoners Make Rose's For Their Loved Ones Made Of Jolly Ranchers

A Way Prisoners Make Rose's For Their Loved Ones Made Of Jolly Ranchers

VlClOUSLY Report

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Bobert Robertson
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Never bite down on a jolly rancher. They're so sticky.... I had a crown and I was kinda biting one and it stuck to my crown and pulled it right off.

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#13

Asian Prison Art Made By Liv Bao Jin, A Chinese Refugee, Made And Sold To Pay Legal Bills, 1993

Asian Prison Art Made By Liv Bao Jin, A Chinese Refugee, Made And Sold To Pay Legal Bills, 1993

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#14

Two Picture Frames Made Out Of Chip Bags An Inmate Had Given My Mom Whilst Working The Jail As A Nurse

Two Picture Frames Made Out Of Chip Bags An Inmate Had Given My Mom Whilst Working The Jail As A Nurse

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#15

Trained Cockroach Smuggles Cigarette Into Prison Cells, June 1938

Trained Cockroach Smuggles Cigarette Into Prison Cells, June 1938

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#16

Carved By A Death Row Inmate Using Only A Spoon

Carved By A Death Row Inmate Using Only A Spoon

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#17

Flashlight Made By Prisoner

Flashlight Made By Prisoner

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Brian Brown
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is great ingenuity in prison, too bad that took prison to discover it.

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#18

DIY Dumbbell Made Of Old Battery’s Crafted In Jail

DIY Dumbbell Made Of Old Battery’s Crafted In Jail

Gvazeky Report

#19

Hand Crafted Mah-Jong Set By A Japanese Prisoner Of War, Ww2

Hand Crafted Mah-Jong Set By A Japanese Prisoner Of War, Ww2

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Layla Corman
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I LOVE this game! Beautiful set! *Made the year my dad was born too!

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#21

Pen Art On Prison Linen

Pen Art On Prison Linen

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#22

Prison Lamp Made From Popsicle Sticks

Prison Lamp Made From Popsicle Sticks

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Brian Brown
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If this was made by one person eating ice cream, I think he has been locked up for some time now.

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#23

Pokemon Cards Made While In Prison

Pokemon Cards Made While In Prison

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#24

Hand Painted Playing Cards Made By French War Prisoners, Hampshire 1796

Hand Painted Playing Cards Made By French War Prisoners, Hampshire 1796

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#25

Prison Chess Set Made In The 1950s - Made Out Of Toilet Paper, Dried Bread & Shoe Paste

Prison Chess Set Made In The 1950s - Made Out Of Toilet Paper, Dried Bread & Shoe Paste

topher181 Report

#26

Toy Dachshund Made By A Prisoner Of War In Bristol, Gifted To A Family Near The Prison, Ww2

Toy Dachshund Made By A Prisoner Of War In Bristol, Gifted To A Family Near The Prison, Ww2

reddit.com Report

#27

The Convict Cookbook, Made By Convicts At Washington State Penitentiary For Charity

The Convict Cookbook, Made By Convicts At Washington State Penitentiary For Charity

reddit.com Report

#31

Table Made From Ramen Noodles And Masking Tape

Table Made From Ramen Noodles And Masking Tape

Jamesvaughan711 Report

#32

Prison Made Celluloid Bakelite Ring, Gifted To A Prison Guard, 1930s Ww2

Prison Made Celluloid Bakelite Ring, Gifted To A Prison Guard, 1930s Ww2

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#33

Inmates Bug The Guards’ Rooms With “Bugs” To Listen For Cell Shakedowns

Inmates Bug The Guards’ Rooms With “Bugs” To Listen For Cell Shakedowns

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#34

This Prison Tattoo Gun

This Prison Tattoo Gun

Gvazeky Report

#36

19th Century Carved Bone Prison Ring, Made In Libby Prison, Richmond, Virginia

19th Century Carved Bone Prison Ring, Made In Libby Prison, Richmond, Virginia

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#37

A Snazzy New York Prison Crafted Box, Circa 1866

A Snazzy New York Prison Crafted Box, Circa 1866

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Caro Caro
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's inlaid wood which is hard to do, takes time and talent. I love it.

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#38

Hotplate Made From A Brick

Hotplate Made From A Brick

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#39

9 1/2" Sabre Tooth Tiger Made In Folsom Prison

9 1/2" Sabre Tooth Tiger Made In Folsom Prison

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Marlowe Fitzpatrik
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not trying to be nitpicky, but it could very well just be a panther. Bit short teeth for "sabre tooth"

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#41

1970s Prison Made Japanese Kokeshi Doll

1970s Prison Made Japanese Kokeshi Doll

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#42

Embroidered Belt Made By A Prisoner Of War, Ww1

Embroidered Belt Made By A Prisoner Of War, Ww1

reddit.com Report

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Gabby M
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm slayed! As I scroll through, the most poignant posts to me are the POW posts. The items displayed show so many ways human beings, the human brain, is capable of doing to keep itself alive. As aware most of us are of just how unspeakable POW camps/prisons were .... are, to have the amazing ability to not only collect the items needed ...... I can't even. Totally Slayed.

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#43

This Radio

This Radio

Gvazeky Report

#44

Prison Made Turkish Beaded Snake, Ww1

Prison Made Turkish Beaded Snake, Ww1

reddit.com Report

#45

19th Century Prison Made Bone Corpus Christi

19th Century Prison Made Bone Corpus Christi

reddit.com Report

#46

A Canteen Radio Made By Pow Brian Hitchison From A Ww2 Prison Camp

A Canteen Radio Made By Pow Brian Hitchison From A Ww2 Prison Camp

Gvazeky Report

#47

A Tattoo Gun Made In Prison. Functions Off Of Vibration. This One Is Powered By An Electric Toothbrush Motor

A Tattoo Gun Made In Prison. Functions Off Of Vibration. This One Is Powered By An Electric Toothbrush Motor

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#48

Carved Skull Beads Made By A Napoleonic Prisoner Of War

Carved Skull Beads Made By A Napoleonic Prisoner Of War

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#49

Prison Made Kool Cigarette Purse, Clutch And Case Made From Folded Cigarette Packs

Prison Made Kool Cigarette Purse, Clutch And Case Made From Folded Cigarette Packs

reddit.com Report

#50

Cigarette Lighter Made In Prison

Cigarette Lighter Made In Prison

Gvazeky Report

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#51

“The Cross” Created By A Woven Winston Packaging And Made At The Louisiana State In Penitentiary, Angola

“The Cross” Created By A Woven Winston Packaging And Made At The Louisiana State In Penitentiary, Angola

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Andrew Betts
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The final line should read "Made in the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, LA."

#52

Prison Made Mermaid Soap Sculpture

Prison Made Mermaid Soap Sculpture

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#53

1943 Colorado State Penitentiary Prison Art Pyrography Box

1943 Colorado State Penitentiary Prison Art Pyrography Box

Maybeiwillbeokay Report

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beastmachine.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pyrography or pyrogravure is the free handed art of decorating wood or other materials with burn marks resulting from the controlled application of a heated object such as a poker. It is also known as pokerwork or wood burning.

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#54

When I Saw This Subreddit I Immediately Thought About These Inmates That Built A Computer Near My Hometown

When I Saw This Subreddit I Immediately Thought About These Inmates That Built A Computer Near My Hometown

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Vic D
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What kind of IT they have in this prison for letting an unauthorized device connect to the network ?

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#55

Prison Made Cooking Device, Made By Prisoners Of War In Germany, Ww2

Prison Made Cooking Device, Made By Prisoners Of War In Germany, Ww2

reddit.com Report

#56

A Guy Was Sent To Lockup And I Was Tasked With Cleaning His Cell. I Found This Left Behind In His Locker

A Guy Was Sent To Lockup And I Was Tasked With Cleaning His Cell. I Found This Left Behind In His Locker

JDst4r Report

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Me Oh My
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Must've been some damn good cake to be sent to lockup for it.

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#57

Toilet Paper, Toothpick And Toothpaste Chess Pieces

Toilet Paper, Toothpick And Toothpaste Chess Pieces

sryyourpartyssolame Report

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BaconBenchPress616
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Inmates used toothpaste as glue to put up pictures. Also they'd patch up cracks to keep out bugs, but I was told by a pest control guy that the bugs get attracted to the sugar so it was pretty self defeating.

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#58

Some Soap Sculptures From The 1950s

Some Soap Sculptures From The 1950s

MissRxbbit Report

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#59

Interlocking Heart Of Playing Cards, Made By A Florida Doc Prisoner

Interlocking Heart Of Playing Cards, Made By A Florida Doc Prisoner

HurricaneBetsy Report

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Natalie Oleander
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mom used to make these things from gum wrappers. She was never in prison though lol

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#61

Fake Gun Used In Prison Escape

Fake Gun Used In Prison Escape

catharticanimus Report

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#62

Water Powered Tattoo Gun

Water Powered Tattoo Gun

PatrickSutherla Report

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Brian Brown
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I really hope some of these people realize their skills when they get or got out.

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#63

German Prisoner Of War Made Trench Art Box, Us Camp #16, France, 1945 Ww2

German Prisoner Of War Made Trench Art Box, Us Camp #16, France, 1945 Ww2

reddit.com Report

#64

Chess Pieces And Board From An Abandoned Prison In NY

Chess Pieces And Board From An Abandoned Prison In NY

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Gabby M
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Human ingenuity! But honestly they (the system) couldn't provide?! You know .... "an idle mind can be the devil's workshop" and all that!

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#65

Literal Prison Wallet. Made By East Tn Inmates 4 Years Ago

Literal Prison Wallet. Made By East Tn Inmates 4 Years Ago

Eliot_Lochness Report

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BaconBenchPress616
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The other definition of "Prison Wallet" is not something you can put a picture of on this website... Google "suitcasing in prison"

#66

Pruno; Wine Made In Prison Using Fruit And Yeast From Bread. This Bag Was Found Inside The Base Of A Sink In A Prisoner’s Cell

Pruno; Wine Made In Prison Using Fruit And Yeast From Bread. This Bag Was Found Inside The Base Of A Sink In A Prisoner’s Cell

Blackflag312 Report

#67

This Wrench Made To Unscrew Windows To Escape

This Wrench Made To Unscrew Windows To Escape

Gvazeky Report

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#69

Prison Made Folded Purse And B Cup Bra

Prison Made Folded Purse And B Cup Bra

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Kopf Los
Community Member
3 years ago

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FENOMENAL RESEARCE Greathings from Lugano. Sandro

#70

Pipe Made In Prison

Pipe Made In Prison

Gvazeky Report

#71

Prison Made Candle

Prison Made Candle

Gvazeky Report

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#72

Dice Made From Ibuprofen, Courtesy Of @rianjean11 On Tik Tok

Dice Made From Ibuprofen, Courtesy Of @rianjean11 On Tik Tok

Gvazeky Report

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Vic D
Community Member
3 years ago

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God damn greedy is giving me a headache

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#73

Mini Tattoo Gun

Mini Tattoo Gun

cyril_figgiss Report

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#74

Prison Glue, Not Toothpaste

Prison Glue, Not Toothpaste

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Lauren Caswell
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you muddle them up, you'll only be able to figuratively grind your teeth about it ^-^

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