Razzmatazz

I've been playing with the idea of putting together a short story about someone in prison... I can't give up that much information, because I don't really know yet What I know is the main character will be in prison for a crime he did commit, but I'm having trouble thinking of a crime that doesn't come off as generic like killing his wife, or something. Any ideas out there for a pretty grisly operation that'd land a large sentence, but doesn't sound too clichéd?

StephenP2003

Well, if we gave you ideas for what seems to be the center of your plot, would you be as proud of the finished work?

But anyway, what if he was in prison for killing someone he accidentally rear-ended in a car accident, because he didn't want to get arrested for a DUI?

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Razzmatazz

I'm not even sure the actual crime - or being within the prison - will be the center of the plot. At this point I'm only sure that the protagonist will be in prison at the start, and I'm looking for possibilities on what could've happened to put him there. Maybe a generic one could in fact be the way to go, but something like a botched robbery that left the clerk dead just seems too plain.

Lawfire

People can end up in prison for a TON of different crimes. Any felony can send your ass up the river (in theory). Is it a state prison, or federal? They tend to enforce different crimes (though not always).

Is the guy a real bad guy? A crime against a person tend to be viewed more harshly, murder, rape, severe assaults, stalking, robbery. Then there are property crimes like burglary, arson, larceny. Drug crimes, white collar crimes, too many drunk drivings...lots of reasons to go to prison.

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ClancyBoy

How about election fraud?

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Lorlie

How about he wrote the worst novel ever, ever, ever and it ended up dominating the bestseller lists for months. and causing catholic anarchy. . That must be punishable. . .

Just a thought.

Lorlie

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ClancyBoy

Ostrich rustling.

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Arvind

Drove a bus into a roadside house.

Just Me

Llama fighting. Light cock fighting, but with llamas, of course!

Unless you want it to play a significant role in the plotline, I'd try and stick with a generic crime.

Beyond that, it's hard to help working off of so little information. Is he a good guy or a bad guy? Are you looking for a violent crime? A crime against another person or against the government? There are virtually unlimited ways to get yourself arrested.

VigorousMastication

knowingly infected someone with HIV.
smuggled pygmies across the American border
raped an ATM (use your imagination. Is he a cyborg?)
duped a woman into sex (I've never heard of that receiving jail time, but he could be a repeat offender )
vigilantism
severe lewdness

feel free to use any of them

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Malone

The knowingly infecting someone with HIV thing was done in OZ.

Just Me

...and in real life.

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missmia86

I like the arson idea. But I agree with.... just me. What's the character like? If he is meant to be somewhat sympathetic you probably would want to steer clear of things like rape and murder!

But then again, why does the reader have to know why he is in prison? Does it even matter? If it doesn't matter, or if it will stop the reader being able to relate/sympathise with the character, maybe you should leave it out?

It's hard to say when we don't know much about the character and whether or not we are meant to like him.

xoxo

Arin

Poaching. Elephant, whale, moose, bear, buffalo, egg, whatever.

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murder_of_crows

what about beastiality i dont know if it is punishable with prison time

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