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Leisure Time

Interview with Sarah, Paul, Allan and Erik

JM: What types of facilities were available to help pass the time?
Sarah: work...arts...labor... they keep you busy no problem.
Paul: There was a TV. Playing cards were available through the commissary. The guards rotate books though on a weekly basis, or people could order books from Amazon, and have them sent to you. This was significant for me, because I read alot. I rarely watch TV, so I spent a lot of time in my cell with a book
Allan: School, if you weren't in Ad. Seg. (3C), rec time on the yard where we could play basketball or handball, mostly handball, either that or just walk around, I got my GED while I was there , so that was a plus I guess, better than wasting the time !!
Erik: Shast county none to speak of. There was a yard and we were basically just outside in a cage. Because I worked, Susanville put me the E yard. We had softball, handball, horseshoes, football, basketball as well as excersize eq. We also had a ping pong table. The prison had board games some of the guys played

JM: Did you have regular access to the entertainment or was competition fierce? Give details.
Sarah: the tv was usually always on.
Paul: There was always an argument over the TV in the first pod I was in. people were always bickering and complaining over what to watch. Channels were minimalistic, so the choices were limited. When I went to the workers pod, the TV was really controlled by the workers, and there were no problems. Someone would give notice ahead of time if there was anything they really wanted to watch, and there was a given amount of respect. Especially for the hard workers who really got stuff done
Allan: Always someone controlling the TV, but if you try to get someone to clean up after themselves you go to Ad. Seg. (3C), some people exercised or walked to pass the time , not much else to do, it's amazing that more people didn't fight like in the A3 pod
Erik: Both faciliteis have TV and yes there was comptition for what to watch. Prison showed decent movies on one channel that changed weekly.We played cards with some gambling going on for commosary. Base ball was two captians piked the teams for that days game. Best not to play. Handball had lots of competition. Also best not to play. I playe cards, watched TV, worked and read a lot. There was a decent book exchange

JM: Did you have a hard time staying in shape while in jail?
Sarah: of course not you have plenty time to excericise!
Paul: I did at first. Exercise was limited to 2 trips to yard a week. The workers pod got to go out anytime no other pod was out, or when only another pod of workers were out. Then I spent more time there, playing handball and baasketball
Allan: Yes, they only feed you carbs/junk, if you can afford canteen you can get other things but there's nothing good for you in there.
Erik: I actually walked 10 miles everyday and did pushup, sit ups and stuff like that. We all excersized to some extent.We had no free weights but the kids in jailare pretty resourceful.

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?
Sarah: everyday.
Paul: workers pod went out to yard a minimum of 4 times a week. Usually more. We only had to ask, and if no one else was there, or if it was only another group of workers from another worker pod we were let out. Both basketball and handball balls were provided. We organized our own handball tournaments
Allan: We went out 2 x a week, and stand around - If you are in Ad. Seg./(3C) you only get an hr. out of the cell per day, but sometimes its in the middle of the night, or you're out by yourself- same with the phones there depends on your rotation -sometimes you can't talk with family for days because you're out in the middle of the night 12 midnight -1,2,3,4, in the morning
Erik: Shast let us out foran hour or so but was not reliable. Susanville let me out duing the to the yard about 9am to 9pm everyday except during head counts

JM: Did the jail offer church services? If so, what were they like and when were they held?
Sarah: Thay had special rooms set up... for usually hour long "religeous social" meetings... with outside resourses... from neighboorhood churches.
Paul: church was twice a week. The midweek church was run by the christian motorcyclist association. That was the only time I went, because I knew the pastors. I had ridden with most of them, and been on many of their charity rides
Allan: yes, they were a pleasant break from the grind, sometimes we watched a movie- One thing they don't have on a regular basis that would be a benefit to inmates is A.A. meetings I only got to 1 meeting in 8 months. Pathetic really
Erik: Yes there were church services of more than denomination. Usually weekly and some bilble study classes were available. I did not attend

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