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Leisure Time

Interview with Milles, Preston, Lauren, Rosa and Dallas

JM: What types of facilities were available to help pass the time?
Milles: there wasn't much. we got exercise in an empty room for an hour three times a week. there were books to read although the selection was very limited. we also had a television in another room.
Preston: In the Justice center there was AA/NA meetings and inmates were allowed to attend recreation three times a week. Or if an inmate was located at Inverness, then they could spend all day in the dayroom where they can play cards and gamble commissary or dinner desserts from dinner meals, or just bet a whole meal.
Lauren: Law library, religous activities, amd an outdoor area to walk or do whatever.Jail was very limited, but prison had many more options and activities and facilities.While in the county jail you are requoered to work prison as well, but in jail you either work in the kitchen, work as a trustee, or if you already have been sentenced you can be eligible to work on the work crew.
Rosa: There's dip bars and pull out bars and a library but it's small. There aren't a lot of amenities in jail just the basics like rec and reading ummm yeah I read a lot of westerns and I expanded my criminal horizons that's really about it what else do you need
Dallas: They had some fitness equipment, a library, they had a tv. Nothing extravagant. I spent a lot of time just in my cell. There weren't any "facilities" to speak of except the library, and the fitness equipment. I liked using the library but there wasn't a lot of material in it.

JM: Did you have regular access to the entertainment or was competition fierce? Give details.
Milles: we had access to the tv and new books during our hour of free time. there was a lot of competition for the best books and fights about who wanted to watch what on television. but in jail watching anything or reading anything was better than nothing
Preston: Yes there were televisions available, but there were competition for who controlled the programs. There were even fights over television programming, black inmates wanted to watch music videos while someone wanted to watch other programs. But most white inmates were intimidated by black inmates, so no one would speak up because of a possible fight.
Lauren: Jail was very limited, i nelieve there was one tv and we did not get to choose what to watch.prison had 4 televisions per dorm and inmates ere responsible for creating a schedule of what we would watch on which tv amd then it would have to be approved by the officer. We also could by radio walkmans just radio no tapes or discs.
Rosa: There was a tv and there were fights over the tv I've seen so done get their nose broke over it cause the kid started talking shit about what was being watched and this chick just Freaked out and started beating the other person. They watch a lot Of cops and locked up
Dallas: Yes, I had regular access to television, but I've seen fights over what to watch on tv, and they watch a lot of shows about being in jail and I think it's kind of stupid to watch them while you're in jail. Everyone wants to pick what to watch on tv.

JM: Did you have a hard time staying in shape while in jail?
Milles: yes the food was very starchy. and being in your cell 23 hours a day made exercise almost impossible. i would roll up my bed and tie a sheet around it to lift weights and i would jog in place or do push ups pull ups etc.
Preston: No, not alt all, because I worked out daily.. I did pushups and sit ups while others may choose to lay around and put on weight if they fed you right.
Lauren: Yes, i gained probably 20 lbs. In the time i was incarcerated. The food is just mainly all starch and so most inmates would often gain weight.
Rosa: Yeah I get extra fat cause We're locked up like chickens and we can't move and uh so we gain a lot of weight
Dallas: Not really. I mean, I ate what they gave me, and I walked when they said I could walk. You don't get out of shape, you just don't feel good.

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?
Milles: three times a week if we were good as a block. for one hour at a time
Preston: I wasn`t allowed outside due to my attempted escape. So I`d do exercise in my cell or do pull ups during walk time because the institution does have pull up bars in every block.
Lauren: Jail was limited to a small enclosed outdoor area just big enough to walk in circles, but we were provided some exercise equipment inside of the dorm.
Rosa: I went outside so much like twice a week and I walked around Strutting my stuff on the catwalk, yeah I did a little turn On the catwalk. Jesus.
Dallas: Twice a week I got to go outside. I played basketball outside. If I was inside I could do pull ups and dips, and sit ups in my cell.

JM: Did the jail offer church services? If so, what were they like and when were they held?
Milles: I'm not sure if they did. i would not have gone anyway. i think finding god in jail is a little hypocritical.
Preston: The jail offered volunteers to come in and have a small service which was strange to watch a pimp praising the lord then get back on the unit to talk about pimping ho`s.
Lauren: Yes but you would have to sign up on a sign up sheet. There were several different religious activities of all different religions. They weee offered maybe 2 times a week. Most people would participate because it would give Them something to to pass time..
Rosa: Yes there was so church services like on the weekends. It was a 45 minutes maybe service time. It was dull
Dallas: Yes, the offered church services on the weekend. Not a lot of inmates went, but it was more entertaining then being in the cell I guess.

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