Too Bad I Take Things Seriously-Chapter 542 - 218: Pre-Prison Training!_3

The defendant’s dock.

Liu Qiao frowned, puzzled. "I’m going to prison, so how could there be opportunities to save others at the risk of my own life during daily production and life?"

The lawyer smiled, explaining, "It’s your first time in prison, so you don’t understand the environment. Once you’re there, you have to work; otherwise, everyone would want to go."

In the eyes of the world, prison means having food and shelter provided. It simply means being locked up. But that’s not the reality. Prison is a punishment that targets freedom, and it comes with many ’tortures.’ First, there’s fixed daily labor, much like in a factory. Next, meals are simple: cabbage and steamed buns, plain tea and bland rice, with meat served rarely. Furthermore, spending is restricted in prison, making it more like the life of an ascetic monk. If prison conditions were very good, those without ambition would probably want to go to prison.

"So, after you go to prison, you’ll still have to work. Some will sew, some will weave sacks, some will assemble ballpoint pens, some will pull data cables, some will produce medicine..."

When Liu Qiao heard the word "medicine," his eyes lit up again. That sounded like his old profession.

"Besides production work, you can usually gather to play cards, read magazines, or listen to music."

The lawyer continued, "If accidents occur during these activities and you act heroically to save someone, you can also receive a sentence reduction."

In prison, it’s not just tedious labor. After ’work,’ inmates do get some free time. In groups of threes and fives, some play cards, some read books, and others listen to music.

"The fifth point, having an exceptional performance in resisting natural disasters or preventing major accidents can also lead to a sentence reduction."

Hearing this, Liu Qiao couldn’t help but ask, "Could I encounter natural disasters in prison?"

The sentence had now been passed, and he was about to be incarcerated. Wanting an early release, he listened attentively, humbly seeking advice. He tried to memorize all these methods for sentence reduction. Once inside... he wouldn’t have access to this useful ’knowledge’ anymore.

"Of course, disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, and mudslides are quite common," the lawyer nodded. He continued the pre-prison orientation, "Prisons have often collapsed due to earthquakes or mudslides, with gates being destroyed, and so on."

"Destroyed gates?" Liu Qiao swallowed hard. If the gates are destroyed, what need would there be for exceptional conduct in disaster response? He thought the first thing any sane person would think of is to run away.

"Don’t even think about it. Every prison has considered the possibility of natural disasters and has stringent defense measures in place," the lawyer, as if seeing through his thoughts, warned. "Even if you manage to escape by luck, with today’s dense surveillance network, you’d be recaptured soon enough."

Decades ago, when technology was less developed, many prisoners would take advantage of earthquakes to escape and remain at large. But now, with technological advancements, successful prison escapes are almost non-existent.

Liu Qiao gave a sheepish smile, dismissing the idea. Besides, whether escape was even possible, a natural disaster was too unpredictable to count on.

"Then... if someone else tries to escape and I capture them, does that count as an exceptional performance?" Then, a thought struck him, and he asked.

The lawyer nodded. "That certainly counts, but others aren’t foolish either. The success rate for escape is low, and getting caught means additional years on your sentence."

Even if one escapes during a natural disaster, it still constitutes the crime of escape. The crime of escape refers to the act of legally detained criminals, defendants, or suspects fleeing from a place of custody or during transport. As long as there’s an intent to escape and an act of escaping, the crime is committed. Once committed, the penalty is imprisonment for up to five years.

Liu Qiao grew contemplative after hearing this, his gaze flickering. The lawyer was right; ordinary people wouldn’t dare to attempt an escape casually. But... he was the type who liked to scheme, to create opportunities where none existed. In the early days of his pharmacy, business was slow, with hardly any customers. To increase revenue, he’d racked his brains to find ways to expand sales. As events had shown, if he hadn’t been caught, he’d be a rich man by now.

"The sixth point, making other significant contributions to the state and society." The lawyer, oblivious to Liu Qiao’s thoughts, diligently continued the pre-incarceration briefing. "This point is quite broad, but... you probably don’t have much chance of getting a reduction this way."

Generally speaking, inmates can reduce their sentences through these avenues. But more often, it’s through significant meritorious acts, displays of repentance, and an application from the warden. Each prison has quotas for sentence reductions in every phase.

"By the way, if you’re lucky, you might also encounter an amnesty," he suddenly added, looking at Liu Qiao.

Liu Qiao paused, his expression turning curious. "Amnesty for all under heaven? That’s still a thing?" He had heard of amnesty, but only from TV dramas. In ancient times, it seemed a general amnesty was declared whenever a new emperor ascended the throne. But... he hadn’t expected it to still be a practice today.

"Of course, there is," the lawyer said earnestly. "But now it’s not called amnesty; it should be termed a ’special pardon.’"