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Interview with Mish, Sally, Pace, Baby, Jamie, Gerard, Jessica, Manuel, Jay, Raella, LKai, Josie, George, Terry, Pebbles and Miles

JM: Did you find it difficult to get along with other inmates? Please give examples to explain why you did or didn't.
Mish: No.
Sally: NO IF I DIDNT LIKE SOMEONE I STAYED AWAY FROM THEM, AND IT WAS PRETTY EASY TO DO I WAS IN A 2 MAN CELL AND I GOT ALPONG WITH MY BUNKEE VERY WELL.
Pace: No, most of the inmates just wanted to avoid problems
Baby: Not really I talked to all races, I don't play that card. A few girls threaten me with crazy talk, I just stood up for myself when you have that little of time to be out of your cell it is not worth listening to that. And it sure the hell isn't worth getting more time for !
Jamie: not really
Gerard: This being the first time I had ever gone to jail, I thought it was going to be pretty bad but and I suppose it could have been, but I found many of the inmates to be friendly and willing to share information/support. I spent my first night at Orange County jail in an 8-man cell with Asians since I am Asian as well. We had one toilet, TV and a phone in the room. Unfortunately I was moved to JA Musick before the phone was available to use so I couldn't let anyone on the outside know that I was in jail.
Jessica: I kept to myself as much as possible. Many people in custody are very confrontational.
Manuel: very racist jail i seen a post in here where they mention that mexicans divided in two groups thats is true but the name they gave them is drug first you have your gang members who call themself south siders not south fighter they run the jail dont mess with them the rest of the mexicans are call paisanos they united with the south siders when riots start then you have your white inmates they united with the south siders also the minority group are the blacks and asian who united themself if you dont belong to any of this group you can always buy protection from the south siders your best bet
Jay: Not really, you do have to stick with your race. Whites (woods) American born mexicans ( south SIDERS not fighters) and Mexicans (Piasano's) And Blacks & others. As long as you follow the rules of your "car" (race) you will be ok.
Raella: No, all girls were either very nice and talkative, or quiet and kept to themselves.
LKai: Not at all. I even knew some people in there, so it was easier to get by.
Josie: no, everyone even other races were all really nice. but then we were all women.
George: No. Since my sentence included going to prison, I wore a yellow band although I was in no way violent and had no propensity for violence. So, there was a level of respect afforded me in that regard.
Terry: AT TIMES YOU TEND TO DISAGREE WITH OTHERS GUYS, FOR MAINLY THINGS LIKE PERSONAL PROPERTY, HYGIENE ISSUES, AND JUST THE GENERAL STRESS OF BEING HELD IN SUCH TIGHT QUARTERS WITH THE SAME MEN FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME.
Pebbles: The girls I was with at the farm where their for minor crimes 3 outta 10 were going to prison the rest where gonna sign and stay there. There was 60 bunks so 60 girls and of course no free time to yourself or privacy!!
Miles: No, it wasn't that difficult to get along with other inmates. I was in one of the lowest security facilities that Orange Co. has to offer. So politics and fights were not a big deal like higher risk facilities.

JM: What types of things did you have to do to avoid problems or fights with other inmates?
Mish: I never had any problems. All the girls were very nice and helpful.
Sally: I REALLY AM NOT THE TYPE OF PERSON THAT GETS INTO FIGHTS... IM RELAXING... I LIKE TO MAKE PEOPLE LAUGH AND THEN IT MADE THE ROOM THE WHOLE AREA LIGHTER SO THEN I DIDNT FIGHT.
Pace: Just keep your mouth shut an avoid contact with institutionalized personnel or the soon to be.
Baby: try to avoid them, my cell mate was insane talk to walls, paced all night long. Made crazy stories up about the others. Avoid and be pleasant no matter what
Jamie: keep to myself
Gerard: At JA Musick, there aren't any hardcore prisoners in there so there's no real need to pretend that you're tough. Just go with the flow and everything will be OK. In my barracks, I was one of 3 Asians there so we weren't much of a threat to anyone. We hung out with the blacks, shared the showers and ate with them. The whites (Woods) did their own thing and so did the mexicans (Southsiders). We were all allowed to play checkers and cards together and watch TV together but the whites ate as a group and so did the mexicans. When it was chow time, the line had to be by ethnicity. Whites got the front of the line, then asians, blacks then mexicans. My first day there I didn't know this so I got in the front of the line. The white guys apologized about me not being allowed there and told me that I had to get in line with the asians. They seem to feel bad about it. It wasn't like a major confrontation like you see in the movies. In the "real world", I am not used to having to hang out with only certain ethnicities so that part felt weird in jail. There were some sort of race riot in another barrack so we had lock-down one day. We heard that it was the mexicans and asians that brawled. I was hoping that it wouldn't spread to our barracks because there was no way us 3 Asians could have taken on 25+ mexicans.
Jessica: Avoid any altercations as much as possible. Don't bring up touchy subjects.
Manuel: there is nothing you can do when riots start you either join or get bet.
Jay: Do not disrespect anyone, We are all in close courters and as long as you keep to yourself you should be OK. Do NOT have any gambling debts, or drug debts.
LKai: Not much. Just use common sense and give respect to one another. Don't be afraid to ask questions on what your etiquette should be like. The wrong doing will get you in trouble with other inmates. Such as picking a lower bunk that you're not supposed to.
Josie: nothing
George: I helped many who were taking classes and also had resources, which allowed me to help those who couldn't afford commissary items to get them. It's hard for people to fight with the guy who has a lot of soups and a lot of coffee. There were far fewer problems than I expected.
Terry: AFTER BEING LOCKED UP A WHILE YOU TEND TO LEARN HOW TO KEEP TO YOURSELF WHEN NEED BE, KEEP QUIET WHEN NEEDED, MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS, AND BASICALLY STAY OUT OF THE WAY. STAYING OUT OF OTHER PEOPLE FACE, AND THEIR SPACE SAVES STRESS AND KEEPS PROBLEMS AT A MINIMUM...ALSO, DON'T GAMBLE OR BORROW KEEPS YOU OUT OF HARMS WAY TOO.
Pebbles: I'm Hispanic so as soon as I got there I found a group of Hispanic girls like me. Racially is the best way to go because tour people will back you up in a fight versus standing alone.i was in one fight there. Of course I won and after that ever one left me alone.
Miles: You had to associate with your own race, well actually they had whites and mexicans allowed to associate together, and Black, Persian, and Asians allowed to associate. But if you attempted to talk or hang with a person of the group outside of yours, there could be possible violence. Another sure fire way to have problems or fights with inmates is to upset the deputies.

JM: Were you able to choose an inmate as your cellmate if you knew one? How often would your cellmate(s) change?
Mish: No
Sally: I KNEW QUITE A FEW PEOPLE... BUT I WASNT REALLY ALLOWED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM UNLESS THEY WERE IN MY DAY ROOM... OR ELSE I COULD HAVE GOTTEN A WRITE UP AND LOCKED DOWN ALL 24 HOURS INSTEAD OF 22.
Baby: LOL are you trying to be funny. Be thankful you finally got a cell and a cot!
Jamie: choose for what i dont get the question
Gerard: Probably not. I try to forget as much as I can about my experience in jail. I don't plan on going back.
Manuel: no
LKai: I'm not sure what that question means..
Josie: no
George: We were in a dormitory, and the bunks were assigned by the "Rep" so no. However, people often switched bunks. There was a regular inflow of new inmates and inmates coming in for only a few days, so there were many changes.
Terry: IF YOU ARE IN THERE LONG ENOUGH, EARN RESPECT FROM OFFICERS AND BUILD BONDS, YOU COULD GET MOVED TO A CELL, OR GET SOMEONE MOVED TO YOUR CELL AS A FAVOR.
Pebbles: We could choose bunnies etc but its hard to it approved by the deputies. You get a random Bunkie and side carts. What ever bunk is free is given to you.
Miles: No I was not allowed to do that, I lived in a dormitory. I had two different bunk mates, in my short 45 days there. There was a high turnover in the dorm I was in.

Read about time off for good behavior in the Orange County Jail

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