JM: What types of facilities were available to help pass the time? Lena: They had cards, checkers, chess, magazines
newspapers. There was TV but you could only watch
what the deputies wanted to watch. Janis: I was able to attend church in the
dayroom of the unit on Sundays and the
dayroom was available for walking,
playing cards, television watching,
making phone calls, that was pretty
much it. Classes like parenting, anger
management and domestic violence
were available but you usually had to be
mandated. Anna: Well there was church on Sundays. We were able to
get books. There was a tv in the day room.
Everybody had to agree to a program though. So
that kinda sucked. There wasn't really much
exciting things to do. I had to read books to pass
the time. Without them I probably would of went crazy.
JM: Did you have regular access to the entertainment or was competition fierce? Give details. Lena: There was never any competition for that stuff. Janis: Competition was fierce, especially for the
only entertainment that mattered, which
was the tv. Whoever was out at the time
the dayroom was open, it was usually
first come first served and if everyone
was in their cells and the tv was on,
whoever might have been out in the
dayroom for whatever reason, would
choose the channel. Anna: My experience us inmates were only allowed once
everyday to the day room. We only had a couple of
hours. There really wasn't much to do but talk
with other inmates. Watch the t.v. The day room
was big enough to walk around in circles. I did
that a few times. I also would just watch the t.v.
JM: Did you have a hard time staying in shape while in jail? Lena: Yeah it was pretty rough because you're in a tiny
space where maybe you could walk 12 steps in
either direction if you wanted to. That's nnot
going to do you much good. Janis: No, I had a work out regimen and once I
got into it, it became consistent, and kept
me focused. Anna: Yes I ended up gaining like 20 pounds. Inmates
weren't allowed to work out. I remember the
correctional officer's telling a few inmates to stop.
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? Lena: Once a week for about an hour. They had a
basketball court on concrete surrounded by a
fence out there. Janis: Once a week was the alotted rec time
and I usually walked laps around the
perimeter. I would do the same
exercises in the dayroom if the rec time
wasn't available. Anna: I was never given the opportunity to go outside. I
could only see outside from my tiny cell window.
Honestly there isn't really much room in a cell to
exercise. Plus the correctional officer's wouldn't
allow it.
JM: Did the jail offer church services? If so, what were they like and when were they held? Lena: Oh yeah. They had them right in the jail
downstairs in a big room. Was it nice? Sure.
Depends on what service that you want to go to.
They had them in Spanisih and whatnot. Some were
very structured while others were a bite more
relaxed. Something for everyone I guess. Janis: Yes, church services were offered and I
went to the protestant services because
it paralleled with my beliefs. They were
on Sundays and we sung songs and read
the Bible. Anna: Yes, there were church services. I believe they
were held Wednesday's and Sundays. I never went to a
church service at west valley.