Prison is a dangerous environment where size does not matter because anyone can be a threat.

“It ain't about how tall you is, how big you is, how short you is. Anybody could [ __ ] kill you or stab you in jail.”

Jamar Neighbors believes that he would be forced to fight and would unwillingly engage in sexual activity if he were to be incarcerated.

“yeah man I would I would you know I would have sex with a lot of men but no not willingly mm-hmm yeah yeah would you fight or no yeah I would have to yeah yeah”

A person should choose to endure sexual assault in prison rather than face a life sentence behind bars.

“I'm telling you right now and you can quote me on this y'all can chop this up edit it circulate it on the internet however y'all want to yeah yeah i'm taking a dick before i go to jail for life”

He believes the necessary response to a threat in prison is to physically fight back to gain respect.

“You get your ass beat and then you're going to be the guy's [ __ ] No, but they you're respected for fighting.”

Oschino Vasquez prefers to be labeled a snitch rather than a victim of rape while in prison.

“I would rather be a snitch than a rape victim in prison.”

He argues that federal prison life provides more individual autonomy compared to the mandatory gang participation he observes in state prison stories.

“It was totally up to you if you wanted to participate. Like I worked I taught GED. I to I worked all day. I went to got in at night, went to my cell, read, it's lights out, I wake up, I go back to work. Even on the weekends, I go to the wrecky yard.”

Prison gang membership and maintaining a reputation in the penitentiary are viewed by participants as earning status and respect.

“you're a badge of honor like you you earned these stripes in the streets like you did something worthwhile or like whatever it is”

Prison life in New York is strictly segregated and controlled by specific street gangs, where one's neighborhood affiliation and connections are essential for survival.

“it was run by the blacks and the Hispanics and you had the Latin Kings and the neas and what and you go in there thinking on the street Italian is something you know I go in there acting like I'm a Ken I'm like hey how you doing that doesn't fly when you get in the jail”