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Leisure Time

Interview with Todd, Katie and Burl

JM: What types of facilities were available to help pass the time?
Todd: Games and television. A deck of cards was available for purchase in the commisary (I had my first deck stolen). There were two Tvs, one had a sign on it that it was a silent tv, however volume (low) was frequently allowed so naturally inmates pushed this rule as much as they could and kept raising the volume.
Katie: None...you just got up at 5am every morning did your chores ate breakfast watched tv ate lunch ate dinner then lights out at 10pm...boring. I wasn't there long enough, however, was told that they had a Sunday church service and also a library to get reading material or computer access.
Burl: Reading.tv.plaing games with your cell mates. Drawing church rec. Going outside. Making phone calls writing letters. Doing hair sometime you have to make your self entertained it can get boring and lonesome at times but you have to make the best of it while u in there. Its hard but you can do it

JM: Did you have regular access to the entertainment or was competition fierce? Give details.
Todd: Access was pretty regular and the inmates were fair to one another, their was a sign up for tv preference and this was generally respected among the inmates. My one complaint was that the loud obnoxious behavior of one ethnic group caused removal of tv privileges from everyone.
Katie: There was ususally one person who would pick what to watch on tv everyday...person with senority and that's what you had to watch..didn't have a say unless you wanted problems..I just went with it to avoid confrontation. There were times when individuals would have it out because someone was watching something someone else didn't want to watch.
Burl: At the start of the week we would have sign up sheets for who wanted to watch what and what time it came on and for how long the show would be on and if you are caught aruging they will lock the whole pod down untileverybody knows how to act

JM: Did you have a hard time staying in shape while in jail?
Todd: No. I exercised regularly as did others.
Katie: No..did push ups and sit ups on my own just to pass the time. You also had morning chores to keep you in shape to such as mopping the floor.
Burl: Staying in shape should be the last of your worries. They food you on a schedule and oveer time your body gets use to it

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?
Todd: Not at all. I did not have Huber privileges
Katie: Never got to go outside...had to do situps and pushups on your own...there was no workout room. Saw people do chinups in their cell blocks.
Burl: We got to go outside once a month we could play basketball walk around the court or just sit there and look at the birds and nature

JM: Did the jail offer church services? If so, what were they like and when were they held?
Todd: Yes. I did not attend nor feel a need to attend.
Katie: Wasn't there long enough. However, have been told that there is a church service on Sundays that inmates can go to.
Burl: Yes they offered church sundays but you have to sign up on Sunday when they do vistation sign up and its held on Tuesday and Thursday its alright for a catholic

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