What Can Lil Wayne Expect During His Time In Jail? Experts Weigh In

What Can Lil Wayne Expect During His Time In Jail? Experts Weigh In

‘He’s definitely going to be treated differently,’ retired NYPD detective Derrick Parker states of Wayne’s prison stint.By Jayson Rodriguez

Lil WaynePhoto: Newscom

Lil Wayne’s life revolves around a daily regime of “SportsCenter,” studio time and sweets. But on Tuesday (February 9), the Cash Money lyricist will be formally sentenced to prison after he struck a plea deal with Manhattan prosecutors stemming from a 2007 arrest in New York on gun charges. After he officially enters his plea, the rapper is expected to then turn himself in immediately to start a one-year jail sentence.

Not since 2Pac has an MC been as accomplished and relevant yet faced an impending prison term at the height of his career. But will the lithe New Orleans rapper survive the daunting conditions at the notorious Rikers Island facility?

“Lil Wayne is gonna be OK,” retired NYPD detective and noted “hip-hop cop” Derrick Parker told MTV News. “While he is in jail, it’s a matter of fact they may not put him with the general population because of who he is and his popularity. They might lock him down and let him come out with a supervisor and stuff like that [when he's] in the main area — but he is definitely going to be treated differently.”

According to Parker, the way Wayne will be handled is due to safety concerns for him, of course, but also to ensure as much normalcy as the facility possibly can — it will not resemble pampered treatment by any means. Parker stated despite Wayne’s small physical stature and his propensity to signal a particular gang affiliation in his rhymes, the rapper will not have much to fear in terms of extortion, bullying or worse.

Parker compared Wayne to former New York Giants football player Plaxico Burress, another celebrity who was convicted on gun charges in New York. However, Wayne could be better prepared for life behind bars — Burress hired a jail coach to assist him with acclimating to prison, something Wayne would not even consider.

“Wayne is from the streets, from the Magnolia Houses in New Orleans, so I’m sure those guys have been in jail or locked up at some point,” Parker said. “So being in prison is no huge deal to them. Plaxico is not built for that — he is the type of guy that is never been locked up like that before. He’s gonna need a coach or someone to tell him what to expect, since he is not used to that.”

But what exactly can Wayne expect? Fortunately, he will not to cut his trademark tresses.

“The days of doing that are over,” retired corrections officer Charles Reid told MTV News. “They cannot make inmates do that anymore — it’s within their rights to maintain any kind of hairstyle.”

Wayne will have a few comforts of home while he is away. He will be able to watch network tv — not cable, however. And he will be able to watch DVD movies. He told Rolling Stone recently he plans to take an iPod in with him assist with writing music, but a source close to the prison facility told MTV News that would not be allowed.

Reid, who worked at Rikers Island for 21 years as an officer and an investigator, stated Wayne’s days would continue to be regimented, but in a much different way. He suggested the rapper may have to succumb to some work conditions, whether in sanitation or the mess hall, for example. Reid also noted that different wings of the prison carry different types of criminals, but guessed that Wayne would be housed in a dormitory area and not even be confined to a cell.

“Like a hospital, where there is maybe 20 to 25 beds in an open ward, or it maybe bunk beds,” Reid stated of Wayne’s possible lodgings. “Where he has a nightstand to keep his personal belongings.”

Due to the short nature of Wayne’s sentence — one year, which could mean 10 months, including the possibly of early release after serving 80 percent of good time, possibly putting him back onstage in a tiny as eight months — the rapper could very well spend his entire term at Rikers Island.

It will not be known for sure if Wayne will be transferred upstate until he enters the New York corrections system and is processed. (A representative for the Corrections Department did not return several inquiries made by MTV as of press time.)

“I think he is gonna go in there and do his time and do it quietly,” Parker said. “If he does it with good behavior, that will be a plus for him — then he will be out and putting out a new album.”

How do you think Lil Wayne will fare with his upcoming jail time? Let us know in the comments below, or upload a video to Your.MTV.com!

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Submited at Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 12:00 pm on music by madison
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