CountyJail.net

        USA  /  California  /  San Mateo County Jail    CountyJail.net has 1,420 interviews from ex-inmates. Share your story
Find San Mateo County Jail inmates...

Leisure Time

Interview with Larry, Tawnie and Henry

JM: What types of facilities were available to help pass the time?
Larry: there was church AA meetings and books.
Tawnie: One television per dorm was turned on one channel from 10am - 5pm and then again from 7pm - 10pm. If we were lucky, there would be a channel change by the CO twice or three times a day. AA and NA meetings were held 5 times/week. Religious services were held twice per week. There was a "library" of four or five bookcases out in front of the COs desk that you could select a book from to read. Most people would play cards as well - they were available to purchase on commissary.
Henry: on the 5th floor, there was a ged program,plenty of books to read on all floors that circulated often, a yard to work out whether handball, basketball, running or whatever.. board games like monopoly, chess, and playing cards.tv's , chairs, pencils, and paper to draw, not many windows but, if your someone who can keep themself entertained you will appreciated the few things they offer to help you pass time.

JM: Did you have regular access to the entertainment or was competition fierce? Give details.
Larry: competition was fierce and even the TV was turned down so low that you could not hear it.
Tawnie: Generally, the loudest person would catch the CO's attention to select what channel they would want to watch. We generally tried to keep the rule that whichever bunk was assigned to clean the bathroom that day would be the bunk to select which channel to watch.
Henry: i didnt worry about competition or entertainment access.usually people are trying to avoid extra time and punishment so we vote on what to watch or whoever gets there first , gets to choose unless they get out voted.simple as that.ive seen a few arguments over tv stations that got people in trouble and one some lost good time over little things like that.especially if its on the working side and you get kicked out back to the main jail.

JM: Did you have a hard time staying in shape while in jail?
Larry: you can work out in your cell or when you get rec time but there are no weights to lift. You must do calestetics. I regularly did pushups.
Tawnie: I gained 50 lbs in jail over 7 months. The food was loaded with sodium, high in carbohydrates with only one piece of fresh fruit per day. Most people gain a significant amount of weight.
Henry: i have a hard time staying in shape no matter where im at so no, i didnt. in fact, i was getting in more shape because there was nothing else to do and you have to be ready, prepared for anything so working out is priority 1# on the inside. pushups, water bags, garbage cans, chairs, we get creative and it works..

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?
Larry: I never got to go outside in new maguire. But in old maguire I remember that they would let you go outside on a saturday or sunday. Whichever the officer preferred that was working that weekend.
Tawnie: One hour per week, usually on the weekend each dorm (one dorm at a time)would be allowed out onto the "patio" which was a concrete patio with a chain-linked fence cage around the top, bordering along side the freeway.
Henry: 1 hour a day we were allowed outside on the regular side of the main jail. in the working section we were allowed a bit more time out of out cell because we had earned trust. especially if there was something to be cleaned, which their always was..we would have to clean it.( i remember when we had to clean up a flooded toilet next to scott petersons room while he was going through trial. someone did it on purpose thinking he would be let out of his cell, ( maybe they thought they could get to him if his door was opened? ) i dont know..

JM: Did the jail offer church services? If so, what were they like and when were they held?
Larry: church was offered every sunday but I am a practicing heathen (non religious) and didnt want to go to church just to get out of my cell. That would kinda defeat the purpose of church.
Tawnie: Twice per week catholic services came in the jail - once on Sundays for the eucharist presentation, and once to have Bible study. One other Bible study was held one night by women from a Baptist church. They were small - only 4 or 5 women from each dorm were allowed to attend. Whoever was in line first in the dorm got to attend.
Henry: the county jail did offer church services which i attended weekly.we talked, read scripture and shared stories of our lives, some shared on their current situation, others chose not too. we prayed for each other and helped each other get through the madness without losing hope.

Read about visitor policies in the San Mateo County Jail

comments powered by Disqus