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Interview with Tim, Bob, Peter, Iris, Pat, Elsie, Kathleen, George and Amber

JM: Did you find it difficult to get along with other inmates? Please give examples to explain why you did or didn't.
Tim: Not at all. Pretty much every one else minded their own business. They all were either hung over like I was or asleep or just plain hungry and bored. The jail could have been a little more air conditioned, but that's just my opinion.
Bob: I personaly didnt but some do. there are always going to be a couple people you dont get along with if your stay is extended enough. especially at george baily where your in barrack style accomidations of 45+ people as opposed to sharing a cell with one person.
Peter: no i didnt find it difficult to get along with other inmates. i got along well with all. just kept my cool and didnt cause any problems with others.that was it.
Iris: I stayed to myself but some of the older women that had been to jail multiple times gave insight and just advice that this is the place that I would never want to return to.
Pat: I found it very difficult to get along with other inmates because I didnt feel like I was like most of the people in there. I did make a mistake but I didn't like talking about it like most of them did. They would be proud of what they did while I was ashamed. I kept to myself and that worked out the best for me.
Elsie: I did because of the huge social and economic differences and absolute shock of the whole ordeal. False accusation/conviction. Furthermore, everyone seemed to be a drug addict and I had never had contact with street life or drugs in my life though I came from poverty. I am college- educated and was in my early forties when arrested. It was another world and the deprivation was alarming.
Kathleen: it wasnt too difficult. most women there are pretty cool. all trying to pass they time and realizing you're one of 60 different personalities around non stop. most women also dont want to make things more difficult for themselves and everyone basically respects each other and accepts things for what they are. occasionally someone gets out of control or is just completly out there but i tried to ignore most bullshit and focus elsewhere.
George: No I didn't find it hard to get along with other inmates. It was easy for me because I followed rules in there and kept to myself for the most part.
Amber: IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET ALONG WITH OTHERS BECAUSE THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH SEATS. SOME PEOPLE SMELLED AND WERE TOO LOUD. AND IT WAS IRRITATING TO HAVE TO WAIT ON OTHERS WHEN YOU WERE THROUGH

JM: What types of things did you have to do to avoid problems or fights with other inmates?
Tim: I didn't have to do anything. The inmates were really more interested in their own crap or just counting the seconds march on. No one ever messed with any body else while I was there and I didn't hear any other stories.
Bob: You must figure out what "car" you roll with and find out what the specific rules are and abide by them otherwise you will get "full flighted" or "checked" translation: Ass Kicked by 5 to 20 people until you requre serious medical attention possibly airlift. This is no Joke. There are established convoluted set of rules learn them if you dont know ask! "cars" are the different groups in the california penal system its known as politics whatever any deputy or correctional officer tells you they are an unavoidable and entrenched part of the system. if your white your roll with the Woods, if your black - the Brothers, if your mexican - the Paisas, if your hispanic but from here (ie. homeboys and cholos) - the Southsiders, if your asian,islander,middle eastern - the Others. Every Car has a Rep also called a Keyholder they are the elected (by force or democracy) leader of the car. Once you touch down (get to your Module) ask someone from your Car who the rep is. Introduce yourself and get the rules. If its your first time in jail let them know! I have never seen someone get beat up or hassled for being new. And above all remember your not on the outside in their there exists a certain level of respect. Give it to everyone and you shouldnt have problems. Say thank you , please, and excuse me.
Peter: like i said. just kept my cool. didnt cause any problems with other inmates. got along with everyone. sometimes i was just stay by myself and not talk to anyone. if there was altercations i wouldnt get involved. that was about it. just kept my cool and get along with anoyone who got involved with me.
Iris: I didn't have any incidents with any of the other women I would see fights break out between other women for mainly stealing or talking behind one another's back, but I just think that all the drama is because there is nothing else going on so they start drama with one another.
Pat: I would read all day long so that I wouldnt have to socialize with the other inmates. Some people look for the weaker guy in the module to pick on so it is important to act like someone that you are not so you dont seem like you are the weakest person in there.
Elsie: I didn't have problems, per se because I wasn't aggressive or problematic. One often had to give up food in order to avoid problems. Or, if in line to accomplish something, allow someone from the back of the line to push ahead of you. Or look the other way when illegal behavior was ongoing. Or alert the inmates when the police were approaching. Or, simply say nothing when confronted and threatened.
Kathleen: not getting involved in others problems and keeping myself out of whatever drama not concerning me. not attracting dramam of my own remaining respectful and keeping quiet. not involving myself or allowing myself to get involved. neutral or off in my own world somewhere. also trying to remain positive. keep a smile on my face. good sense of humor and a lot of patients and showing some compassion
George: I mostly just kept to myself, didn't really look or talk to anyone unless it was necessary.I just hung out with my own race and followed their daily routine and didn't stir up any trouble. Unfortunately there were a few other people in there I knew from outside of jail, it was kind of comforting.
Amber: BASICALLY I WOULD JUST MIND MY OWN BUSINESS, I WOULD CLAIM AND STAY IN 1 SPOT FOR THE WHOLE DAY AND TRY AND GET AS CLOSE TO THE BARS AS POSSIBLE SO I WOULDN'T HAVE TO SMELL ANYONE. BEING BY THE BARS ALSO PUT ME CLOSER TO THE TV AND MADE IT ALMOST POSSIBLE TO HEAR AND SEE.

JM: Were you able to choose an inmate as your cellmate if you knew one? How often would your cellmate(s) change?
Tim: Not that I know of. I didn't know you could choose your own inmate, and even if I could, I wouldn't have one to pick. I don't have any friends in the county lock-up nor any relatives.
Bob: Hell No. But things get rearranged in the mods or houses by the inmates reps
Peter: no they just placed me in a cell. it was a two man cell with just me inside. on the third day someone came. there was only one cellmate change through the time i was there.
Iris: I was in a large room bunked. With about 40 women then there's a bathroom area and on the other side there's about another 40 women so there's no privacy at all.
Pat: They tell you what cell to go into when you first arrive in a module. You are almost always celled up with someone who is the same color as you due to race fights. you can also change cells if you are not getting along with someone in your cell but you will need to talk to the representative of your race. Cellmates change either weekly or monthly depending or what security level you are. the higher the level the less they change because they are in there for longer periods of time.
Elsie: At times. If someone was very mentally ill, you simply had to get away from them because of the danger, or their odor, or their theft. Much of the ability to change cellmates was dependent on the police on duty. Not all of the areas of the facility had cells but rather were dorms with 35 women in them. There was some movement but again, it depended upon who was working and that officer's personality. Everything was iffy and precarious...24/7.
Kathleen: we were in dorm. 2 sides to each dorm seperated with a bathroom. 60 women on each side. people came and went as their court dates passed and people were released. no one got to chose the housing they were places into. there wasalso different housing for they level of supervision and severity of crime commited
George: I did not have a choice in a cell mate, I pretty much just had to deal with the person I was dealt. Fortunately he was not to bad, but did snore pretty loud all the time.
Amber: THE HOUSING DEPUTY ASSIGNS WHERE EVERYONE IS TO BE CELLED. MY CELL MATES CHANGED OFTEN BECAUSE I HAVE A PERSONALITY DISORDER AND I DONT ALWAYS GET ALONG WITH OTHER PEOPLE

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