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Leisure Time

Interview with Ray, Oscar and Marshall

JM: What types of facilities were available to help pass the time?
Ray: Cards, boardgames that you could check out, Basketball (outside in the summer, inside during winter), Walking, working out (w/o weights), TV area (majority decides station). There are a lot of creative people in jail and there are ways to keep yourself occupied too numerous to count. Sleeping is common to those who are facing a lot of time.
Oscar: I read books and wrote letters there is very limited access to rec. facilities due to over crowding and housing people in the gym and in other non designated housing throughout the facility therefore limiting the access to meaningful recreation activites beside cards, board games and other similar activities that we find to do
Marshall: well you can go to church or different types of groups, you can go outside and get some fresh air i personally didnt go to the groups or church service and rarely went outside but i know alot of people that did it to pass the time i chose not to

JM: Did you have regular access to the entertainment or was competition fierce? Give details.
Ray: Usually if you wanted to participate, you would just use a verbal acknowledgement. If more than the allotted number of participants wanted to play you would just have to wait in line. Usually everyone followed that general unsaid rule, but some have their favorites and try to squeeze them in a few more times than others.
Oscar: when it comes to entertainment there are more arguments and fights over the tv, over card games, over gambling and theft becomes prevalent in them atmospheres. There is not much provision for these accesses to true entertainment, there are no longer movies really unless you have your own tv and a good spot to receive digital reception
Marshall: Yes they have a tv butt alot of inmates watch it and it is always very crowded so i chose not to watch any tv during my stay in hartford county.. i found my entertainment in reading alot of different magazenes or books or just laying on my bunk and thinking

JM: Did you have a hard time staying in shape while in jail?
Ray: I do everything I can to stay in shape and keep my mind off the situation at hand. Everyone can relate to working out at some level, so it is not hard to find someone to workout with.
Oscar: Yes I did due to the fact that there was limited space in the cells to work out and the fact that the facilities are overcrowded and limit gym access
Marshall: No its easy because they feed you crap and alot of people exercise in jail i didnt do it often but i wasnt unhealthy

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?
Ray: We were allowed to go outside at least once a day sometimes twice and that all depended on the weather and how the guards were feeling at the time.
Oscar: we went outside as the weather permitted, if you went out side you had to play basketball or just do walking around the yard and ther was no true exercise if you werent picked to play ball
Marshall: we got to go outside mostly every day if the dorm was in trouble we wouldnt be able to but we could walk outside ot plsy basketball

JM: Did the jail offer church services? If so, what were they like and when were they held?
Ray: Yes, they were held at least once a week and were small. In county jail most go just to get away from the living area or go to see friends that are in other blocks. Depending on your upbringing services offered may or may not what you like but that is all you get.
Oscar: there are church services pretty often and the volunteers tried to give us the best service they could in complying with the jails stipulations and restrictions
Marshall: yes they offered church services they were held in a small room i only went to one of them it was like every other normal church server except with inmates

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