I'm Carl Ostrander, a retired prison guard. I spent 31 years on the guard's side of the bars: twelve years inside the old limestone walls of Joliet, then nineteen more at Stateville, much of it in the famous roundhouse. I retired as a sergeant in 2021.

Here I tell you what really happens inside an American prison: the yard, the cells after lights out, the contraband, the hustles, and the people on both sides of the bars. And I share what those years taught me about reading people, spotting a con, and keeping your family safe out here.

📖 My book, Count Time: What I Saw in 31 Years Behind the Wall
👉 countimebook.netlify.app

📘 The Guard's Rules, my short guide to reading people and staying safe
👉 theguardsrules.netlify.app

New videos every day. Subscribe, and I'll see you at count time.