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Leisure Time

Interview with Joe, Walter, Wendy, Ella and Annie

JM: What types of facilities were available to help pass the time?
Joe: group, basketball, meetings
Walter: We would have recreation 1 time a day at the jail. At the workhouse we got a 15 minute smoke break every hour. We would play horseshoes, cards, dominoes, and a lot of board games. I also did a lot of reading. In order to get out of my cell a little more, I would go to church. Also watch a lot of tv.
Wendy: There was a rec room that had tables with books, magazines, and puzzles, as well as a television and vending machine available. I also was allowed to have an exercise ball in there because of a back injury, so I spent a lot of time in my room exercising or reading.
Ella: AA groups. Card making and computer lab groups. Parenting and many religious meetings are offered as well as gym time and volleyball. The only jail I was ever in that had a fenced area outside to sit in. There was also books and a movie room off of the main day room.
Annie: there are Books, cards, crosswords, coloring projects, and some board games and puzzles and one tv. The channel for the tv was usually always fought over, but there was dominos and cribbage boards, suduko, crossword puzzles, newspapers, and religious reading materials, puzzles, books, church programs to attend, school for those without their GED and cleaning jobs.

JM: Did you have regular access to the entertainment or was competition fierce? Give details.
Joe: you don't really have too much say over the long termers
Walter: We did get to watch TV. As I stated, the whites hung out with the whites and we had a TV. The mexicans hung out with the mexicans and they had a TV and the african americans hung out with each other and they mostly played dominoes. I wouldn't touch the TV channels as that was a no- no.
Wendy: There was a television in the rec room that was almost always on. There were ladies that would watch soap operas all day long. There wasn't really competition - everyone sat and watched the same shows. We all watched the news together almost every day, which was nice, as well.
Ella: I do not remember there being competition for books or the movie room. On weekends we were allowed a movie and popcorn and even when many were watching the movie there was always enough room to accomodate those wanting to view the movie. Sometimes decks of cards or certain table games would have to be waited for and turns taken but most times without incident or problems. The sign up for computer lab was the most competed for activity as only so many slots to sign up are available.
Annie: Competition for the tv channel was was always a fight, over what to watch. but there were plenty if cards and games to share. You can usually always find someone who wants to play cards or cribbage and there were more than enough books to choose from, but women always argued over the television channel.

JM: Did you have a hard time staying in shape while in jail?
Joe: not if you work out. but you tend to gain alot of weight cause the food is awful and unhealthy
Walter: Not really. We got rec time where you could run and play basketball. Also, I was able to work when I was in the workhouse so that kept me in shape.
Wendy: No, I was able to have an exercise ball in my room with me because of a back injury, so I worked out daily in my room.
Ella: Yes some jails offer literally no physical activity at all but Lino offered the most of any jail Ive been in.
Annie: yes it was hard to not gain weight with only gym 3 week for 30-45 minutes and high starch foods, and canteen only offered more junk food and snacks.

JM: How often did you get to go outside? What did you do outside if you were allowed to? If you were not allowed to go outside what could you do for exercise?
Joe: not really
Walter: We did get to go outside for an hour a day when I was in the jail. At the workhouse we got out for 15 minutes every hour but you could not really exercise in those 15 minutes. We mostly played horseshoes
Wendy: We got to go outside daily. I went to work every day, but the other ladies would just sit outside at the picnic benches - I always thought they should be having people garden or something productive, not just sitting there, smoking cigarettes.
Ella: We would maybe get to go outside every other day if weather and available staff were available. There is not enough room to do much more than just sit and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.
Annie: No outside time is allowed while in custody, you even get transported to court from within the sally port into a correctional van. No outside time until you are released or in prison.

JM: Did the jail offer church services? If so, what were they like and when were they held?
Joe: yes, in the jail, fine.
Walter: They did offer church services. They were held on sunday morning and Wednesday night. They would havd a pastor in from a local church. I only went as it was another way to get out of my cell.
Wendy: Yes, there was a chapel, but I didn't go. I was granted release on Sundays to attend mass at my church.
Ella: Yes religious services were offered. I believe most outside meetings were held in the jail library. A one on one with clergy may be held in a small room with a door off of the dayroom in our cell block.
Annie: Yes pilot outreach came in on wed and Sunday. During the week they held a bible study for 1 and a half hours and then church service on sunday

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