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Leisure Time

Interview with Seth, Ellen and Isaac

JM: What types of facilities were available to help pass the time?
Seth: ged classes resource classes watch tv go to the library you watch tv they would have chapel services drug classes and if you were the type to get in shape then you went outside and exercised sometimes the officers would let you do some on the inside depending the weather outside
Ellen: WHEN OR IF WE WERE ALLOWED OUTSIDE IT WAS A FOURTEEN BY FOURTEEN CONCRETE BLOCK MESS WITH WIRE ABOVE SO THERE WEREN'T ANY OPENINGS AT ALL. THERE WAS ONE CAMERA OUTSIDE TO WATCH US AND ONE DRAINHOLE. IT WAS USUALLY FULL OF BUGS AND DEBRI BU THE SUN FELT GOOD
Isaac: There is really nothing in the orientation dorm. There is a television that is turned on during recreation time, but there are no books. Books can be found once you are classified and sent to another unit but they are still hard to come by. The time goes by very slow there.

JM: Did you have regular access to the entertainment or was competition fierce? Give details.
Seth: no why would you have entertainment in prsion or jail if you get in trouble and wind up in jail you should do something to keep occupied so you do not get into any trouble you dont go to jail to see friends you go there to get rehab and hope you dont ever go back
Ellen: REGULAR ACCESS WAS HARD BECAUSE THERE WAS SO MANY OF US AND ALOT OF THE WOMEN HAD STAY SEPARATE ORDERS PLACED ON THEM FOR FIGHTING OR LESBIANISM WHATNOT SO WE HAD TO GO OUT BY SECTIONS SO THE OFFICERS FAVORITES ALWAYS WENT OUT FIRST STARTING EARLY MORNING OR AFTERNOON TIME
Isaac: The television is viewable by everyone so there was no competition there. Competition can get fierce for time on the phone during some days. There are only 3 phones to a unit and depending on the unit, one or more of those might not work, so it can be difficult to get on a phone at time.

JM: Did you have a hard time staying in shape while in jail?
Seth: i never exercised while i was at the richland county jail because why would i get in shape just to gain the weight when i go home
Ellen: I DID NOT DO ANY EXERCISE IN THERE. ITS EASY TO LOSE WEIGHT THERE FOR THEY DO NOT FEED YOU MUCH
Isaac: No. They feed you poorly and exercising in a cell is sometimes the only thing there is to do to pass time.

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?
Seth: everyday if it did not rain if i did not go out side i would read or study to take my ged test in a few weeks
Ellen: WE COULD WALK UP AND DOWN OUR LITTLE AREA BUT THATS IT. IF WE WERE ALLOWED TO GO OUTSIDE WE COULD WALK AROUND THE SQUARE AREA IF NOT ALOT OF WOMEN WERE OUT THERE. WE COULD ONLY GO OUT IF CO'S LET US WHICH VARIED DAY TO DAY
Isaac: We were allow to go "outside". It was basically a high walled room with an open ceiling. There are no basketball courts or anything. Most people just walked in circles, talked and did pushups.

JM: Did the jail offer church services? If so, what were they like and when were they held?
Seth: yes and on sundays there was this preacher from bible way who was in the word and teach you the right from wrong
Ellen: YES THEY HELD CHAPEL SOMETIMES ON WEDNESDAYS AND MOSTLY SUNDAYS IF SOMEONE SHOWED UP. WE WERE SUPPLIED WITH BIBLES IF AVAILABLE. IT WAS DEEP PRAYING AND SINGING AND HEARFELT MATTERS DISCUSSED
Isaac: The jail did not offer any church services that I am aware of. However I did not seek those services out either.

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