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Interview with Raymond, Brenda, Reta, Ronnie, Germz and Jimmy

JM: Did you find it difficult to get along with other inmates? Please give examples to explain why you did or didn't.
Raymond: I'm pretty much like a cameleon so I can get along with everybody. I did get into a situation where I had mutual combat with a guy. We threw blows at each other and went into the hole for a couple of days for that.
Brenda: I didnt have a problem with the inmates because I didnt cause any problems. I had a good attitude and I respected them.
Reta: I didn't. Although I was sent to lockdown once for getting into a fight over the TV. Overall, I'm pretty easy to get along with.
Ronnie: I would say that inmate wise it does get difficult to get along because everyone is playing jail politics. You got to go hang with with you own race just to be protected.
Germz: i found it very stressful because you have to follow all these new rules .you have to basically stick to your own race you ccant drink or smoke or anything with other races . you will get stabbed
Jimmy: I got along fine with the other inmates. I was actually surprised by how polite they were, but I am a pretty big guy (6'2", 200 lb), much bigger than most of the other inmates who were largely Hispanic. One particular inmate was particularly kind to me and we are still great friends.

JM: What types of things did you have to do to avoid problems or fights with other inmates?
Raymond: Mind you own business.
Brenda: I had to swallow my pride so many time and just walk away from problems. also you have to really "fake it to make it", befriend the right people. Be nice at all time is what got me through.
Reta: Mind my own business. You pick and choose who you want to asscoiate with. It was a humiliating time for me. There were people who are used to being there. Some brag about being in there and I didn' even want anyone to know I was there.
Ronnie: I would say mind your own buisnes. If you see other people plotting or scheming don't put no mind to it. Once they see you paying attention to them they'll start looking at you.
Germz: well for me it was actually quite simple. i got jumped intoo a racially motivated white supremist group . then after time of getting up there in rank if there was a problem i would just send in a torpedo and thats how i would avoid fights in the system and stay out of sight
Jimmy: Nothing in particular, however I am polite and respectful in general and basically kept to myself. If someone made a reasonable request of me (e.g. left over sugar to make pruno) I would honor it. I remember one inmate was thirsty during lunch, so I offered him my milk: he insisted I take something in return. I didn't feel the need to, but I did anyway so he wouldn't feel in my debt and I wouldn't develop a reputation for being a soft touch.

JM: Were you able to choose an inmate as your cellmate if you knew one? How often would your cellmate(s) change?
Raymond: Yeah you could if you asked for that and worked it out in advance.
Brenda: no we were given one and that was that.
Reta: No, that's all done for you.
Ronnie: They usualy just put you with your own race. You don't get to pick you cellmate.
Germz: it all depends on where your at in some blocks you can choose but if your being disiplined the cos put you in with another race but mostly you can choose who ever you want
Jimmy: The jail I was in had large dormitories rather than cells and there was a large turnover of people. I wasn't given a choice of who would share my bunkbed, but I believe I could have changed place if I could state a valid reason for doing so.

Read about time off for good behavior in the Santa Clara County Jail