JM: What types of facilities were available to help pass the time? Ryan: They had books and checkers. I did a lot of
push ups, and just sat in my cell with a pencil
from a roommate. I wrote songs. We would argue
with the officers to let us play basketball. I
only got to play 3 times in the 15 days I was
there. I got paper from my homeboy. Angel: Read and sometimes rarely watch movies Dale: They have programs that are in the back of the
Facility. Like Diesel Mechanics, Auto Body,
Welding, Carpentry, and a Fish Farm, Farm, that
are sponsored by MTI and you can actually get a
Certificate after so many hours completed. Which I
think is all a big scam because they stopped doing
it but still got the Instructors out there and
classes but it's more so a Profit thing. Peter: This particular facility offers very little in
terms of leisure 'activities'. You stay in your
pod all day if you don't work and maybe get
exercise yard once a day for an hour or so. Other
than that you just sleep, eat, read, write and
play cards. This is the reason for many of the
fights.
JM: Did you have regular access to the entertainment or was competition fierce? Give details. Ryan: No TV unless you are in P pod. The books are
right there but people make spitballs out of
them and make them into weights with pillow
cases. It was competetive to get a checkers
board. The mexicans get rowdy over the
checkers. Angel: No Dale: No access, No TVS or Radios. Newspaper was scarce
and very hard to come across unless you ordered it.
Books are alright. But generally you want to get
your own stuff sent in. It is a good idea to get
Magazines and stuff. I've read probably around 200
books. It's like watching a movie haha. Peter: There is no entertainment at all, unless you
count the newspaper, then yes the competition was
fierce. People who don't ever read the paper in
the free world would fight over it in jail. It's
like throwing one bone under the door to 75 dogs
and wondering what the problem is. Even the dog
who doesn't like that bone is going to fight over
it.
JM: Did you have a hard time staying in shape while in jail? Ryan: I don't really want to stay in shape. My
nickname is Fat Boy Fresh and I don't want to
lose the fat. But I can run out of a situation
if I need to. As long as I got a big stomach I
am cool with it. I don't want to lose the
nickname. I kind of stayed in the same shape
while I was there. The food was kind of
nasty. Angel: Yes Dale: Yes in county jail. Because your activity is limited
and your laying around bored munching on chips and
soups. I gained 60 pounds. Peter: No, not at all but I was way too underweight
going in to jail. I found a lot of ways to work
out.
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? Ryan: During 15 days I went outside on 3 days total.
Twice on a Sunday and once on a Wed for a
sargeants birthday. Angel: Yes we were aloud to play basketball Dale: Every day there is a fenced in part of the pod with
block walls and a fence top. With a basketball and a
Hoop. Probably around 20x20 maybe. Peter: If the guards were in a good mood, we could go
out daily for about an hour. The only thing we
could do for exercise was play basketball.
JM: Did the jail offer church services? If so, what were they like and when were they held? Ryan: Yes they did. They were held every Wed around 8-
9pm. It was upstairs in the corridor and there
is a space where they meet. It was a meeting
with 4-5 other guys. Angel: I think it was once a week Dale: Everyday. Volunteers come in and do church and Bible
Studies. Atleast every other day. Different
religions and studies and stuff. Peter: They kind of did. A person from the church would
come into the pods but it was hard to worship or
even talk with all of the other inmates right
there.