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Leisure Time

Interview with Carrie, Michael, Roy, Tiff, Lela and Manuel

JM: What types of facilities were available to help pass the time?
Carrie: There was a library with magazines, boring books that noone read, sometimes they had a bible study in the library. There were bibles sometimes available upon request, there was a tv area with 2 couches, where you had to sit and hope that you wanted to watch whatever was on cause majority rules. There was a gym where you could walk, jog, run, play basketball, and area where you could play cards, write leters, or just sit and talk quietly.
Michael: excersise library dominos and work
Roy: Not sure, I didn't look around at all. I just remember tables to play cards on or talk.
Tiff: tHEY HAD THINGS LIKE BIBLE CLASS AND SOMETIMES THEY OPEN THE GYM AND GAVE U A FLAT BALL TO SHOOT HOOPS OR U WALKED AROUND IN CIRCLES DOING LAPS. mOST OF THE TIME READING. THEY OFFERED CARDS AND DOMINOES TO PLAY OUT IN THE DAY ROOM. that's IT THATS ALL.
Lela: They had a little library with plenty books although not many good options. My cellie did find Hunger Games but took it with her when she got transferred to prison. Which I assume is a big problem - people taking books out of there. The gym is opened maybe 3 times a week for an hour or two and there's a basketball if its not popped and if the officer will go get it from the men's dorm across the way. The gym was located in the middle of our dorm and a men's dorm, so it was shared. There were windows with shades but people would mess the blinds up on purpose so they could get a look at the opposite sex. Some people would pass notes back and forth but you have to be very careful doing that because I believe you can be sent to segregation for doing that.
Manuel: If you where sign up for school then you got to go to school every day.but they take the inmates to the gym three times a week.then every sunday you sign up to go to the chapel.you could sign up to go to the law library to do research on you're case.

JM: Did you have regular access to the entertainment or was competition fierce? Give details.
Carrie: I had regular access, everyone pretty much watched the same thing everyday, and did the same thing everyday. Like it was an unspoken order of things.
Michael: fierce there were limited supplies if you didnt get them then you were outta luck
Roy: Not sure.
Tiff: THERE WAS NO ENTERTAINMENT. tHIS WAS JAIL. YOU WERE LOCKED IN MOST OF THE TIME DAYROOM BARELY LASTED 2 HOURS AT AT A TIME. nO ENTERTAINMENT . IF YOU WANTED TO LAUGH U CRACKED JOKES AMONG THE INMATES. there WAS AND IS NO ENTERTAINMENT BEING LOCKED UP AND TOLD WHEN TO EAT SLLEP AND SH**
Lela: The TVs would be on every time we were out in the day room (except for meal times), but it was always difficult to hear it even when you asked the officer to turn it up and most of the time it was just VH1 on or the news. Little clear, personal radios are available for about $32... for one that would probably cost $5 at walmart. But I highly recommend getting one if you have a good amount of time because it helps A LOT to pass the time.
Manuel: The only problem was with the tables there was always inmates that had there specific tables to play cards or what ever games they played and the tv there where always conflicts as to what tv sshow to watch.and the spanish speaking inmates could not watch spanish speaking channels and that's why there where always conflicts.

JM: Did you have a hard time staying in shape while in jail?
Carrie: No, there wasn't much more to do, so why not exercise, this way there is some benefit from being there.
Michael: no lost weight the food was bad and excersise was one of the main things to do
Roy: Not there long enough.
Tiff: yES. NO EXERCISE ROOM WAS GIVEN. I WALKED MANY LAPS EVERY TIME GYM OPEN TO STAY IN SHAPE. ALTHOUGH MY BREAST SAGGED BECAUS EOF NO BRAS.
Lela: I mean they let you in the gym every other day, maybe. But if its really hot outside then the gym is super hot too. Because there are like 'window' type shutter things that they'll open when its comfortable out. But in Milwaukee, most summers are so hot and humid that its not usually too comfortable in there. Its just stuffy in general so its hard to really work out when its summer.
Manuel: The only time you get to do exercise whas when you go to the gym especially at the house of corrections they did not allow inmates to work out in the pods.

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?
Carrie: Never
Michael: twice
Roy: Never.
Tiff: THER WAS NO OUTSIDE. EVER. THE ONLY EXERCISE WAS WALKING UNLES U DID SIT UPS IN YOUR CELL. THER WERE NO PRIVELEGES BEING LOCKED UP
Lela: There is no option to go outside. All you have is a basketball - if that. They won't even let you take the mats down off the walls. Most girls just walk around the perimeter over and over.
Manuel: The only time you get to do exercise was when you go to the gym at the time I was doing time was in the winter time so they never took us outside in the winter time.

JM: Did the jail offer church services? If so, what were they like and when were they held?
Carrie: Bible studies were held once a week, church once a week.
Michael: no i did not have any
Roy: No. Not that I was aware of. There should be church if there isn't though.
Tiff: yES THE CHURCH SERVICES WERE INSPIRING IT WAS THE ONLY THING THAT KEPT YOU GOING AND MOTIVATED TO CONTINUE DOING GOOD AND NOT LETTING YOUR MIND SNAP
Lela: The jail did offer a bible study group that would meet in the library. Some girls just went to get free pencils and paper. I never went so I don't know what they were like and when they were help. Probably 2 or 3 times a week tho. They would bring bibles and other religious reading materials.
Manuel: The church services where only on sundays and to me it was ok.but other inmates took the time to have there gang meetins and meet up with their friends.

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