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Interview with Kathy, Cameron, Norm, Arturo and Isidra

JM: How many different blocks were there?
Kathy: I am not to sure where I was there was 4 blocks
Cameron: not really sure but they are quite a few
Norm: At least 12 different units in the facility. Blocks broken down by risk levels, offenses, gender, and medical issues. Sentenced inmates housed on one side of the facility run by correctional officers and the unsentenced inmates were housed on the other side run by the county sheriff dept.
Arturo: I don't know how many there are
Isidra: Too many to reall count probably about 20

JM: Did they have names? If so, what were they?
Kathy: Not that I know of I was in block c
Cameron: yes they did I can't remember them all but there was alpha, delta bravo lema and so on
Norm: Names where military call sign letters from A (alpha) through Z(zulu). Also blocks referred to as either sheriff side or correctional officer side.
Arturo: I do not know the names for the blocks of the jail
Isidra: Yeah they had names ALPHA.. BRAVO.. CHARLIE.. DELTA.. ECHO.. FOX

JM: Which types of inmates were housed in the different blocks?
Kathy: there was inmates for pety theif, one for dangerous offenders, some for more serious crimes, other then that I am not to sure as I was in my own area
Cameron: they were all mixed together state inmates parole violators people going to court as I said they put you where they put you but it should not be that way
Norm: Women housed in two separate blocks. Under 19 housed in a minors block. Unsentenced housed in multiple open dorms with bunks on the sheriff side. Sentenced inmates housed based on classification levels of risk on the correctional officers side. Sentence inmate broken down by prior record, parole status, medical issues, and prison behavior record.
Arturo: I was in with everyone no segregation, there were drug dealers, thieves, rapist, murders, dwi offenders and just about everything you can imagine, most were open about why they were there the sex offenders lied to avoid a beating
Isidra: The only people who had a special" section to be in was minors.. people on mental watch..and medical.. which may have been people with severe mental illness.. or physically disabled whether temporary or permanent

JM: What do you remember being the nicest and worst parts about the different blocks?
Kathy: The nicest block was the one I was in, as there was not any fights, but as we went down the blocks there were more fights going on in that area, and lots of people screaming at each other, guards were always being called to a certain block every few mins
Cameron: well in the open dorms you have to deal with everyone in the pods and cells you can just lock in and stay to yourself and there are some officers who think it's their job to make your stay as hard as they can and just dealing with people that you don't like being around
Norm: Open dorms were awful. They smelled, had few toilets and showers that were always dirty or broken. Not enough space, high risk of stealing personal property, lack of phones and extremely cold and uncomfortable bunks. The pods on the sentenced inmate side were much better. The best part was having an individual cell with a sink, toilet, and desk all to myself. A door to lock and close for privacy. Also the pod housing units had enough space, low number of inmates, plenty of phones and the unit was kept clean. Some pods were more violent or dirtier but my unit was basically the lowest risk inmates thus it seemed like an adult forced daycare facility.
Arturo: not thing was good about jail, I did have plenty of time to read, the worst was just listening to all the nonsense going on around me. I saw drug deals going down and future drug deals being made when the individuals were released, I witnessed people getting extorted for there breakfast
Isidra: Truthfully their wasn't too much good things about it. The food was horrible, it was dirty, the guards are rude and unattentive. The shwers hardly work and there is always bugs in there. I guess the best part was actually having one dept. That actually took the time to attend our needs. And being able to talk and communicate with people.

Read about telephone access in the Erie County Jail

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