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Interview with Seth, Clark and Lisa

JM: Did you find it difficult to get along with other inmates? Please give examples to explain why you did or didn't.
Seth: yes mainly because they mix all inmates together both young and old federal and state both rapist and drunk driver's petty crimes and pre sentenced with people on their way to prison
Clark: Since racial tension is usually an issue in jail facilities I'll address that first. Me: I'm a white male, average build, in my 20's. Most of the Allen County jail population were black males in their 20s or 30s. I'd say the racial mix was about 75% black and 25% white. There was not too much racial tension, everyone seemed to understand why they were there and had enough complaining to do with the staff running the place that they didn't need to take it out on each other. I had 2 cell mates, both were black men and didn't have any issues. I spent most of my time on the floor joking around or playing cards with a pretty assorted mix of individuals and again, no issues.
Lisa: I am a very quiet person. So I did keep to myself. I was in a wheelchair so I was alittle helpless at times. I did not hang around the tv room. I went to substance abuse class and chapel. I connected more with the women who also attended

JM: What types of things did you have to do to avoid problems or fights with other inmates?
Seth: basically keep to yourself and try not to I guess get in the way don't get involved with the wrong people avoid the card games where people are gambling or betting trays( meals ) don't play chess for money don't bet on sports don't act overly tough just be you and don't try to be more than you are
Clark: The only few times that I had any sort of conflicts with inmates were when I found out one had been using my phone time/money to make his own personal calls and when another inmate and I got into a dispute over who won a particular card game. Both were able to be resolved without violence. There were other inmates who did seem to have a chip on their shoulder and would try to get in fights with people, I imagine they needed to keep their image as a tough guy. These people were usually ignored by most of the other inmates. I would say fights on the cell block happened about twice a week. It would take the jail staff about 5 minutes to respond to these incidents, I suspect they were just watching it happen and deciding if it was serious enough to intervene. During my stay only once was a bunch of blood drawn and an inmate needed medical attention.
Lisa: I read a lot. Stayed in my cell. I'm a christian so I connected with women who were not gossping and staying in the bible and attending biblestudy. I didn't spend a lot of time on the phone. I really wanted to change my life so I stayed away with women who wernt willing to make a change

JM: Were you able to choose an inmate as your cellmate if you knew one? How often would your cellmate(s) change?
Seth: no you were not able to pick your own cellmate weather you know them or not you take who you get also they would change how ever often someone went home or to the hole
Clark: No you do not get a choice who your cell mate is. Upon arrival on the block you are assigned a cell number and that is where you go. As a matter of fact, the entire jail was extremely over-crowded and thus most of the cells on my block had two cell mates including mine. There are only two bunks per cell, so the third person got a mat that they had to sleep on on the floor. The mats were very uncomfortable and funny-shapped so they were dubbed the 'boats'. Cell mates tended to stay with you until they were moved to another block / released, etc. You could request to be moved to a different cell if you did not get along with your assigned cellmate although I did not have to do this. A couple of people on the block who did have to change cells, it usually took a couple of days for them to process the request. Like any other inmate request at the Allen County jail, every request goes on an INMATE REQUEST FORM which has to be signed and go up the chain of command for someone to approve.
Lisa: No because I was in a wheelchair and to be in a medical cell. Most of the women were in there for a while the court dates were streched out

Read about time off for good behavior in the Allen County Jail