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Leisure Time

Interview with Clayton, Darryl and Kristofer

JM: What types of facilities were available to help pass the time?
Clayton: there was a television and access to books
Darryl: I read . There were baord games , we went outside fro smoke breaks , classes , GED studies Some cats worked in the offices . Work in the cafeteria was available if you so choose . There were also hoops and other outside activities on the paly grounds but it was January in NJ .
Kristofer: our block had 2 tvs, the newspaper came every morning. there was a small gym area with some raquet balls, a basket ball, there were board games, a lot fo chess, cards, dice, a LOT of books. The librarian came once a week and yo ucould tell them what you wanted

JM: Did you have regular access to the entertainment or was competition fierce? Give details.
Clayton: most of the time the people that were there longer had seniority with the television
Darryl: We did not have entertainment . In D Hall we had a morning meeting that sometimes little jitterbugs would get up and spit rhymes .. but that was about it . Church was entertaining. Weekends they had movies and meetings . Not a lot of entertainment.They could use some good entertainment . You know any ??
Kristofer: there was feirce competition for the entertainment. A lot of the games were missing peices or decks of cards were missing some cards. there were only 2 tv's so there was sort of an understood schedule worked out, but there were still a lot of fights over that sort of stuff

JM: Did you have a hard time staying in shape while in jail?
Clayton: i did a little bit because i didnt have opportunity to exercise
Darryl: I really dont work out per say ,.. I work hard thats my exercise .. not a problem for me . Jail sobered me up . I felt great when I got out .
Kristofer: not really. I didn't have a hard time, some people would. There is noting but time in there so you could work out all day if you put your mind to it and weren't lazy

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?
Clayton: we didnt go outside at all. we really didnt exercise to be honest about it
Darryl: It was 3 or 4 times a day . But it was cold in NJ so they were short lived . The fire drills were the worst .. 2 in the freezing ass morning outside to be counted .. man that sucked
Kristofer: we didn't get to go outside. The only time we got to go outside was when we were going to court and it was a short period of time between being transfered from the bus to the courthouse

JM: Did the jail offer church services? If so, what were they like and when were they held?
Clayton: the jail did offer church services and you had to sign up in advance. there was a little chapel there. they were held on sundays in the afternoon. it was like a regular church service however, they talked alot about foregiveness of sins
Darryl: yes Catholic and Babtist. Down stairs I think . I only went once . A lot of men find God in jail.
Kristofer: yes, once a week a pastor came in with his bible and held a little sunday school type deal. It started and ended with a prayer and focused on a different theme each time

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