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Interview with Larry, Tawnie and Henry

JM: Did you find it difficult to get along with other inmates? Please give examples to explain why you did or didn't.
Larry: I was never one to start trouble and I knew a lot of people who were in there since I grew up in the small town of east palo alto. I found it very easy to get advice and make new friends. I am an easy going person who stays to myself and I am a quiet person.
Tawnie: At first I was scared of everyone because I had only heard horror stories of what happens in jail. The fact that I have a college degree did not help me in any way. If anything it hurt me, because I didn't have "street cred". I was in for a white collar crime. One thing that helped was simply being nice to other people instead of being on guard all the time. One girl really hated me and constantly talked shit about me until one day I broke down in tears infront of her, and explained that I was really scared. She started looking out for me after that. Women come together in times of need - as long as I was willing to show my vulnerability, I was cool with other women. To this day, some of them are my best friends.
Henry: i have been to jail a few times. in the bay area, i know many people so every floor of the jail housed many people i knew.i was head of the kitchen and worked laundry, in jail, this means i have the cleanest and newest clothing, and access to food no one else does. its hard to not want to be my friend in jail.i only had a few problems with the younger kids trying to bully others for the tv or things like that.but for the most part, i have no problem getting along with people, unless they are in a gang thats is scared of the neighborhood im from. other than that im easy to get along with, mature and i have a mouth piece. which means i can talk sense into most people..the working side always has more optimistic personalities housed there who tend to be more at peace then those who are a risk or feel the need to prove themselves in a setting like a county jail.county jail makes people more upset than prison, you have worse food, more lockdown time, recycled gross air and its because county is a place that is generally designed to house someone for a few weeks at most, and then ship them out to a prison for evaluation. usually people going to prison want to go asap because prison offers more comforts.

JM: What types of things did you have to do to avoid problems or fights with other inmates?
Larry: there is no way to avoid fights if someone wants to fight you. I have had to fight a few times but luckily it was always someone who underestimated me and I usually had to "GET OFF FIRST" strike first because I was warned and saw it coming. I am not a large guy but was trained to box by my father who was golden glove champ of oregon st. university.
Tawnie: Simple common courtesy is mainly all that is needed. Offering extra commissary doesn't hurt either. Getting a bunch of girls together to make a spread (Top Ramen noodles mixed with whatever else is around) was one way of bonding. Also - being ok with watching ridiculous television helped (COPS, music videos, etc.). Keeping my bunk clean, my clothes off the floor, wash only during my wash time, etc. And letting go of the desire to control anything outside of myself and my own actions was really a learning experience and helped the most.
Henry: nothing. just be me. its who i am. the streets love me.i keep it real, intelligent, and mature. i learn and teach. i had the fresh clothes, and the best food and I knew most people in there, all races, and backrounds. i grew up in an all tongan community and no one wants to have problems with a tongan.i also held dominoe and spade tournaments. for the average joe, to keep himself safe , he should find someone he can relate to so hes not solo.he should talk more, learn how to understand certain slang and just be cool, dont try to be tough, but be tough enough to let people know that messing with you might not be worth it. if you pose more of a problem than not, people will generally leave you alone.show no fear.

JM: Were you able to choose an inmate as your cellmate if you knew one? How often would your cellmate(s) change?
Larry: in the beginning you have to deal with whoever they put you in a cell with. But if you are there for a while you end up knowing the sheriffs that work there. Luckily for me there was a sheriff there who was the uncle of my sons mother. So I kinda got special treatment and got to stay out longer and work for him during rec time. He let me put anyone in my cell I wanted.
Tawnie: No - they were always selected for me. However, if the COs could see that there was a problem with 2 bunk mates, they would switch us up to avoid fights.
Henry: my cellmates changed often. i think that was due to me being white and not having a gang affiliation. they tried to affiliate me with a gang because of my street and the park next to my home but they were unsuccessful.most of the white guys were meth heads, losers, and i dont think they wanted to put me with those guys, especially because i was like a question mark to them. i remember two people they tried to house me with , both people had to taken out of my room or they would have ended up in the hospital or worse. If i didnt like someone, i would tell them to hit the button, or else they will be hurt.they would hit the button, ( which is for medical emergencies only ) the cops would either come to the door or just say "what, this better be important"..etc..i would just say " get this clown out of my room before he ends up in the hospital", and that usually did the trick. they would roll him up and put him in a safer area.the co's could clearly see that i knew many people in jail and most were not white, and 90% of them were gang members who were my childhood friends so they didnt know what to do with me. i moved floors a few times, and when there was a new "shy" or timid white guy, they would put him in my cell, i think they felt he would be safe with me. after moving to the working side i was in a 15 man tank .we had our problems, but who wouldnt have a few problems in the same room as 15 people 23 hours a day.lol i was not able to choose a roomate, but if i asked for a specific roomate, and he was white, i think they would have let it happen. i gained their trust by being a good worker and staying busy.I had respect as a leader in my own right.

Read about time off for good behavior in the San Mateo County Jail