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Interview with Lena, Janis, Anna and Malcolm

JM: Did you find it difficult to get along with other inmates? Please give examples to explain why you did or didn't.
Lena: I was actually on a lock down situation. It's that way on the women's side. You're in your cell 21 hours with one other person. I got along fine with her. Barely even saw anybody else. They bring you your meals and that was it.
Janis: Yes. Everyone is from different walks of life and there for various reasons/alleged crimes committed. Some people want to test you and start fights or petty arguments and everyone is miserable. But even noteworthy some people are accustomed to that type of life and they get territorial behind cell space, bathroom etiquette, phone time.
Anna: It wasn't hard for me at all to get along with people. I didn't really talk much to any of the inmates. Only when asked question's etc. I did talk a lot to my cell mate.
Malcolm: i got alone with most of the other inmates because i stayed in the prayer groups and i stayed to myself for the most part and i also knew alot of ppl from the streets that was in there with me

JM: What types of things did you have to do to avoid problems or fights with other inmates?
Lena: I'm guessing it's best to just keep to yourself and mind your own business. Like I said, I only really dealt with my cellmate and she wasn't much of a bother.
Janis: Sometimes altercations are unavoidable and there were moments like that for me while incarcerated. Kind words don't always diffuse a situation, especially when the other individual is used to popping off at the mouth. Everyone is in jail and a lot of them spent their time making a name for themselves or stirring up trouble in an effort to let others know that they weren't to be played with.
Anna: Well I kinda kept to myself. I wasn't ever trying to get involved with the drama. Anytime anything would happen like an argument or confrontation I'd move some place else. But my stay at west valley there was only a few arguments. One was about a book and I remember the other one was about bread. A girl told someone she was giving them her bread but ended up giving it to somebody else. Silly crap.
Malcolm: i kept my mouth closed and read my books. I also became a kitchen trustee, so i was with working inmates and no one in my housing unit was trying to get in trouble or risk losing good time / work time for fighting or breaking any jail house rules.

JM: Were you able to choose an inmate as your cellmate if you knew one? How often would your cellmate(s) change?
Lena: Nope. The cell you got was the one you stayed in.
Janis: No I wasn't able to choose my bunkie. My bunkie would change according to their sentence or if they had mental health problems I would try to get the moved. I've have junkies that were there a day, a few days, weeks, it all depended on their sentence, and whether we got along or not.
Anna: I was not able to choose my cellmate. I don't think anybody was allowed to. I didn't know any of the other inmates put in there. I had two different inmates before I was transferred to Glen Helen.
Malcolm: i was not in a cell but an open dorm that housed a max of 58 men. and it had bunk beds in it. inmates changed daily based upon a persons release date.

Read about time off for good behavior in the West Valley Detention Center