Interview with Ricardo, Lori, Carlos, Kirk, Tyler, Tami, Enrique and Anna
JM: What types of facilities were available to help pass the time? Ricardo: A ftop floor called sun porch maybe twice a
week, weights basketball and wallball are
available. Law library and regular library. Lori: reading/reading/outside I think once in a
while..book cart with some of the older classics.
We did not dance/move/cause any more problems. So
I read and shared the others about the Bible....i
read preached and shared with very few...it was
considered very little to do inside w/ no games to
do...nothing other than read and read the bible.. Carlos: Handball boxing basketball ta Kirk: I would spend my day usually playing card or dominos
sometimes watch tv read a lot of books a lot of people get
creative and make jewelry drawing helps writing letters
working out we would make dice out of wet toilet paper and
shoot dice I would write poetry for my wife a lot too Tyler: there weren't any facilities this time im not
sure why .we usually have chess games cards and
checkers but this time there was nothing not even
a television ,, I was pretty surprised besides
they would take us outside to get fresh air and
play basketball volley all and run around Tami: they had time to go outside 2 times per week where
you can exersise and get some sunligh, you can work,
go to church, aa meetings, they had a law library
and a library cart that would pass by. we also had a
tv.ther were not that many options that were
available for entertainment. Enrique: There was classes for GED and to learn English but
since i had my GED and knew English i could not
attend. I read books to pass time. The only bad
part was to get a book you have to turn one in so
you have to hope another inmate will give you one
or if one is leaving you can ask for his. Anna: There really isnt too many options that one may
have to pass the time. They allow you to go to
sun porch (outside) for about an hour or two
twice a week, and the only other alternative is
to work on the floor or either in the sewing
room to pass your time.
JM: Did you have regular access to the entertainment or was competition fierce? Give details. Ricardo: No competition at all the gang controlled the tv
and if you were not gang related then no
touching the tv for you. Lori: no and TV shared only...no outside items we all had
to watch or decide on the same show...novellas and
talk show shows were all we did get to see. may be
others did not agree on shows...did not
matter...mostly I think we agreed. I do not think
we changed the tv station ever. Carlos: Tank boss control everything Kirk: The tv is turned on at 8 am until 10 30 pm and its only local
channels most tanks have a 3 day cleaning schedule so
whoever a turn it is to clean has control of the tv or its a
majority vote as to what we watch although duri g football
season games are mandatory Tyler: like I said this time there was no access to
entertainment and besides the basketball outside
and volley ball they had out there, other than
that it was okay, they would take us out there
every other day, sometimes twice a day, depending
who was working the shift that day Tami: every option for entertainment that was available
was usually available to me as well. Enrique: All tanks were different some would chose the tv
or radio there choice depending on which cell had
the cleaning. Our tank was more relaxed we pretty
much let who ever was awake watch tv as long as
there were other people that wanted to watch it if
there was movies on that took over any show request. Anna: Well the t.v. has always been a issue in the
jail. People argue and fight over the t.v. alot.
The rule in most of the cells is that whoevers
turn it is to clean the tank for that day (each
room would roatate) had control of the t.v. that
day.
JM: Did you have a hard time staying in shape while in jail? Ricardo: Not at all. Lori: I gained 20 pounds while in jail...got really sick
with fibromyalgia after. no exercise/eating and
stress of being in there...no one really exercised. Carlos: Yes food sucks Kirk: No with all the free time you have you work out a lot just to
keep from being bored plus your not consuming any toxins so
you get healthier quicker Tyler: no I didn't have a hard time , pretty much you
have all the time you want to do what ever you
want in there.. Tami: yes the tank was small so there was not much room
for exercise and i did not like to get my uniform
sweaty because you can only get a clean one once per
week. i lost weight due to not eating much Enrique: NO the food was horrible so you never gained
weight but there was nothing but time to work out
and keep in shape. We used our mattress as weight
also 5 gallon buckets filled with water then there
was push ups and sit ups. Anna: yes, the tanks are not too big to walk around
in, you are pretty much confined to a small area.
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? Ricardo: 3 times a week if we were lucky. Lori: not often..occasionally.three times a week may
be...only time to see the sun and get outdoors. I
aided each as we would go out and do small talk...I
thought it was very little going to get some sun. Carlos: You got to go out about once a week
there was basketball and you could run
laps. Inside all you can do is push ups
and sit ups Kirk: You are supposed to be allowed outside rec 3 times a week
for one hour a time but usually they only offer it once a week Tyler: I went outside once every other day. sometimes
twice a day , we would play basketball volleyball
and hand ball, there was drinking water outside
and a exercise station Tami: we were given the option to go outside twice per
week. Enrique: Three times a week sometimes the guards would call
it really early and quit so you didnt get a chance
also if it rained or was too cold you could not
go. There was a basket ball court and wall ball
court mostly we walked in a square and took in the
fresh air. Anna: You were allowed to go outside twice a week,
they had volleyball, basketball, handball, and
you were able to walk around a much more open
space. There isnt really any other type unless
you do confined exercise in your room.
JM: Did the jail offer church services? If so, what were they like and when were they held? Ricardo: Yes i did not attend but were available on
sundays and wednsday. Lori: I do not recall..possibly! I think one to two times
someone came by to ask if wanted to participate...I
did not attend as I recall. Carlos: I never saw any Kirk: Yes the do offer Christian and catholic services if you request
another religion they will get you the religious service you want Tyler: no the jail did not offer church services, only
the inmates there would have a bible sometime and
talk about the bible Enrique: They did offer services there was a class room
where they were held but i did not participate in
any of them so i am not sure what they were like
they usually lasted and hour. Anna: Well the church volunteers would usually come
every sunday, but if the capacity reached about
20 females before they reached your tank to
announce it then you couldnt go.