For many on the outside, prison follows a simple logic: keep your head down, mind your business, and you’ll be left alone.
But behind bars, reality is far more complicated—and far more dangerous.
In correctional facilities across the United States, survival often depends on an unspoken code. Inmates quickly learn the basics: don’t interfere in others’ affairs, show respect, avoid debts, and never appear weak. Those who follow these rules can, in many cases, serve their time without major incidents.