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Leisure Time

Interview with Striker

JM: What types of facilities were available to help pass the time?
Striker: We had two steel picnic tables in the middle of our cell for eating and game playing. The guards would pass out decks of cards, chess/checkers boards, books and magazines, and other miscellaneous items. There was also a television in the center of the wall, but for some reason, the inmates always wanted to watch COPS and Judge Judy. I never really understood that one. On Sundays, they provided a church type of service, but from what I understand, most inmates only attended it because they could actually see sunlight through the incredibly high skylight. Aside from that, you never saw the light of day.

JM: Did you have regular access to the entertainment or was competition fierce? Give details.
Striker: Access was fairly regular. The television was basically a Democracy, with the majority ruling. I personally played cards so much that I didn't touch another deck for close to a year, and I ran out of people that would play chess with me because everyone was sick of getting beat.

JM: Did you have a hard time staying in shape while in jail?
Striker: Heh, I don't even stay in shape OUT of jail, so it wasn't really an issue that I had, but I know several inmates that would regularly work out in the cell doing push-ups, pull-ups (on bed frames), squats, crunches, running in place, etc.

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?
Striker: Unless you were a longer term trustee, you never went outside. You never even saw the light of day unless you went to the church service on Sundays. Most inmates however would work out in the cell on a daily basis doing whatever exercises they were capable of given the limited quarters.

JM: Did the jail offer church services? If so, what were they like and when were they held?
Striker: Yes, church services were held. The jail held the services on Sunday mornings. I attended them once. The "preacher" was a joke, seeing as that I am an atheist, and I knew more about the bible than he seemed to. He wasn't amused, but the other inmates were.

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