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Ingham County Jail

630 North Cedar Street
Mason, MI 48854-1017
(517) 676-8348

Interview with Clinton and Brooke

JM: How long was your sentencing for?
Clinton: 1 year in county jail, 3 months suspended for me to go to CPI, a rehab in Pontiac.
Brooke: 30 days was my longest sentence

JM: Did you spend time in a holding cell after your sentencing? If so, what was that like? If you didn't where did they they take you instead?
Clinton: Yes. It kind of sucked. I mean, when I first got there they put me in a holding cell with 8- 12 other guys. I sat there for hours waiting to be booked in. From there, they put me in a solitary room for a couple days because they didn't have room in general population.
Brooke: Yes. It was very dirty, someone had urinated in the corner. They had a quarter glued to the ground and the officers were laughing at a drunk man attempting to pick it up. Just gross.

If you or someone you know is headed to Ingham County Jail, you may be wondering what life is like on the inside. Going to jail can be stressful, but it can really help to have the right information to help you prepare to serve your time.

We have interviewed former inmates of Ingham County, and they have shared their experiences. Links to the left lead to these interviews; take a few minutes to read their stories so you can know what to expect from day to day in Ingham County Jail.

Time Off for Good Behavior
Due to problems of overcrowding, many jails let inmates out before they have served their entire sentence. In Ingham County, you will most likely get a reduced sentence in court due to a lot of overcrowding issues. This is usually figured into your sentence right from the start.

However, there are ways to decrease your sentence even more. If you become a trustee through being a jail worker, you can get up to half of your time off. So it really pays to be on your best behavior and to work hard while you are in jail. Be careful because if you have any type of disciplinary action while you are serving your time, the jail can bump your sentence back up to the original amount of time.

Passing the Time
One of the hardest things about being in jail is figuring out how to pass the time without boredom setting in. Ingham County provides some options to the inmates to help them stay occupied. They have chess sets and cards that can be purchased from the commissary. They provide televisions in each of the living areas. They also offer church services, GED classes, and substance abuse therapy.

Books are available on occasion when the book cart comes around. Many inmates find that staying in shape while in Ingham County isn't too hard because you have a lot of time on your hands to work out.

Continue to the interview