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Jail Layout

Interview with Karl and Wilford

JM: How many different blocks were there?
Karl: There were about nine different blocks and four "pods." There were also dormitories, but I never had any experiences staying in those. From what I understand, the jail has a capacity of just 514 inmates, male and female.
Wilford: niagara county has 4 pods, 2 dorms, and 5-10 "blocks"

JM: Did they have names? If so, what were they?
Karl: The blocks were "named" with an alphabetic letter, such as "C," "D," "E", "H", "I", or "J."
Wilford: pod 1,2,3,4. i forget what the dorms were called, the blocks went by letters, a block b block etc..

JM: Which types of inmates were housed in the different blocks?
Karl: Generally "H" block was used for protective custody male inmates, and "K" block was used to house the protective custody female inmates. "I" block was generally used to house the male youthful offenders (16 years old, on the average) and "J" block was used to house all inmates initially upon admission to the jail. You remained in "J" block for anywhere from 3 days to several weeks while waiting for an opening on a block or in a pod or dormitory.
Wilford: your regular everyday inmate would be placed in a pod usually. the inmates that always cause problems would be housed in the actual "blocks". the SHU was for people who are detoxing from drugs or who have a very high profile case.

JM: What do you remember being the nicest and worst parts about the different blocks?
Karl: I liked the quietness of "H" block, plus the fact that you could walk around. In "J" block you are locked-in 23 hours per day. While I was there, a young inmate completed a suicide attempt and died. I'm not sure just exactly what block he was on - I think it was "J" block.
Wilford: on the pods there is alot more freedom. the bars or "blocks" are depressing, more dirty, less movement, no microwave, loud at night with inmates yelling back and forth.. you feel more like your in jail being on the bars.. the open dorms have no privacy at all, although if you dont like being locked in a small room then the dorms are ideal for some inmates.

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