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Leisure Time

Interview with Lance, Ana and Jack

JM: What types of facilities were available to help pass the time?
Lance: Watch TV, read and play card games. You could buy cards from the inmate commissary list. That's pretty much how everybody got cards. When I first came in they had Yahtzee, Monopoly, Checkers, Chess and Scrabble and those were provided by the jail. The games kind of disappeared after awhile. They bring a book cart around and you are limited to 3 books in your room. I saw the bookcart maybe 10 times in 6 months. We traded books around. We kept a pile of books under the stairs.
Ana: In jail, there are books, tv, cards, some board games, church services, visits, recreation time outside probably three times per week, AA and 12step meetings and GED classes. In prison there is everything from sports to crocheting to college courses, 12 step meetings, church services, choir and various clubs and many self help type groups, visitation, tvs and radios and games that you can purchase and a room with games on each yard. There is also employment which is required on most yards.
Jack: A television was mounted on top of the wall for inmates to watch for most of the day. A newspaper was given daily but when i arrived it had been taken away because a crossword puzzle was found in one mans cell so it was restricted for two weeks. Book carts were delivered every once in a while to pick through.

JM: Did you have regular access to the entertainment or was competition fierce? Give details.
Lance: There weren't very many channels. The system of what we would watch was pretty much set up before I came in. If a movie came on we would always watch the movie. There were specific shows we would watch depending on the night and that's just how it was.
Ana: In jail I had regular access to everything, but the games and books are sometimes difficult to access. In prison there is a great deal more access and if you have money available on your books you can purchase almost any type of games, tv, radio etc that you might want. In prison the library is open fairly regularly but the selection is limited.
Jack: I was entertained by reading the bible so my time was filled with plenty. The television was mounted in the main room for everyone to watch and people with seniority got to choose was was to be put on. That was about the only entertainment provided. Reading and television and that's it.

JM: Did you have a hard time staying in shape while in jail?
Lance: No. They don't feed you very much and I would walk around a lot. I lost about 40 lbs. I only ate what they gave me because I didn't have any money.
Ana: In jail it is very difficult to stay in shape since you dont get access to equipment or outside much. You can however do exercises in your cell or walk in circles around the day room. Quite a few inmates do walk in circles. Yes, in prison, but only because I was pregnant the first 8 momths and then I got valley fever and lost a lung. It is easy to stay in shape in prison if you want to. There is a track on most yards and plenty of mats, exercise classes and sporting events.
Jack: I stayed in very good shape in jail by doing simple work out but i was told that doing so was against the rules.

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?
Lance: I came in at the onset of winter and I think we only went out one time in three months. But in spring they took us out once a week for an hour or two. There were brick walls all the way around, a spot between the pods on the ground floor. There was a chain link fence above us. You could basically just see the sky.
Ana: In jail, you could go outside approximately 3 to 5 hours per week. You could shoot basketball hoops or play dodge ball or hand ball thats it. In jail it is very difficult to stay in shape since you dont get access to equipment or outside much. You can however do exercises in your cell or walk in circles around the day room. Quite a few inmates do walk in circles. In prison if you are on a minimum yard you can go outside from about 6 am to 10 pm every day and do almost anything.
Jack: I was allowed outside with my block once in two weeks. You could choose between either shooting the one basketball or trying to get into a game of handball or sit down. There was no other excercise material.

JM: Did the jail offer church services? If so, what were they like and when were they held?
Lance: Yes they did, occasionally. Not every week I don't think. I didn't go.
Ana: Yes. Two or three different denominations once a week. They were generally very geniune and emotional since in jail people are not very happy and need God. Same goes for prison, but there were at least five different denominations per week and quite a few more people and more time was available for each service.
Jack: The jail offered church services yet they were inconsistent so i can not say for sure when they were held. Men from other churches arrived and spoke about the bible and offered encouragement and community.

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