JM: What types of facilities were available to help pass the time? Jake: T.V.,books,walking area misty: WE COULD WALK OUTSIDE DURING OUR OUT TIME AR
WALK UNDER THE COVERD AREA AND WE WERE ALSO ABLE
TO PARTICIPATE IN CLASSES Sam: Inmate worker program. Single man cells. Read
books, watch television, walk the track, play cards,
write letters, programs for reading, art, decision
making, GED, computers. Bruce: books, T.V., and your bed Brian: In general population, several tables were laid
out in the common area for playing cards, board
games or socializing. Two TVs controlled by the
guard station were also set up in each gen pop
pod. A 50' by 20' concrete "yard" was also in
place for each pod, with six 30-45 minute sessions
each day for "out time" along with 30-minute meals
three times per day. Small libraries were also
available in each pod; reading was permitted in
your cell until lights out.
JM: Did you have regular access to the entertainment or was competition fierce? Give details. Jake: yes they had a big yard and two tv misty: THE ENTERTAINMENT WE GOR WAS WITH THE T.V OR
CARD GAMES OR JUST JOKING AROUND WITH EACH OTHER Sam: We made group decisions. Took majority vote to
make it fair. But you had bullys! Bruce: Every so often two would want the same thing and
get a little heated but most of the time it was cool. Brian: There were two guards in the pod at all times when
we were outside of our cells. Their presence
maintained order among inmates, limiting the
arguments over access to the TV, to the yard, to
the library, to the phones and to the showers. The
few altercations I saw were broken up immediately,
with the instigating offender taken straight to
solitary for 30 days minimum, which did not count
toward time served on their original sentence.
JM: Did you have a hard time staying in shape while in jail? Jake: I lost weight misty: YES .. CAUSE WHEN YOU EAT THAT MUCH STARCH AND
YOU CANT GET AS MUCH EXERCIZE PLUS WITH
COMMISARY YOU BLOW UP Sam: Yes I lost weight due to lack of food. I lost 20
pounds. Bruce: no Brian: No; in fact, I lost 30 pounds of body fat and
developed muscle tone I hadn't had in years. With
plenty of time for pacing in my cell, doing push-
ups, sit-ups, stretching and eating on such a strict
schedule, it was easy to stay in shape.
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? Jake: daily misty: USHUALLY WITH EVERY BRAKE TIME , SO I WOULD SAY
ABOUT 3 TIMES A DAY Sam: Everyday. That's where the walk yard is. They had
covers on them. Bruce: bout once a day Brian: We could spend out time in the yard, though no
running or competitive games were allowed. Exercise
was achieved almost entirely on my own in my cell,
as there was no gym or weight-lifting room.
JM: Did the jail offer church services? If so, what were they like and when were they held? Jake: yes i didnt attend misty: YES WE HAD CHURCH SERVICES AND IT WAS HELD IN
THE CORNER ROOM I THE POD Sam: On Sundays but I didn't attend any of them. Bruce: yes I did not attend Brian: Yes; there were spiritual services held in a
community room also set up for use as a class room
or for AA meetings.