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Leisure Time

Interview with Elise, Jack, Justin and Sean

JM: What types of facilities were available to help pass the time?
Elise: none
Jack: Most of the inmates spent a lot of time watching TV shows and sports. When there was nothing on, most people played card games and played spades. The only other things to do were to sleep all day in your bunk, sit and talk or possibly to talk on the phone if you have money on your account.
Justin: nONE REALLY, WE WATCHED TV THAT WAS DICTATED BY THE GUARDS USUALLY THE SANE CHANNEL EVERY DAY. ALSO THERE IS A LIBRARY CART THAT COMES AROUND WITH BOOKS IT IS SUPPOSE TO COME AROUND 1 TIME PER WEEK BUT YOU ARE LUCKY IF IT COMES 1 TIME PER MONTH. ALSO YOU CAN BUY PLAYING CARDS IF YOU HAVE MONEY
Sean: i honestly and truly cant think of one...i never had access to a book or anything....and if you complain it doesnt help....the gaurds dont listen to you anyway.....basically, if you wanted to pass time you had to become creative and make something yourself....its like being stranded in the middle of nowhere

JM: Did you have regular access to the entertainment or was competition fierce? Give details.
Elise: we had a TV. We all took turns
Jack: Everyone had access to the card games and to the tv. Since those were the only real things to be doing, most people just put their names on a list to play the winner of the card games and took turns with the cards. Everyone agreed on what to watch on tv and if they couldnt agree, the guards decided what to watch.
Justin: YES BUT THE TV IS CONTROLLED BY THE GUARDS, THE TV COMES ON AT 9AM TILL 9 PM BUT IS CUT OFF EVERY TIME A GUSRD COMES IN TO DO COUNT OR TO SERVE THE MEALS. NORMALLY THE DO LET US WATCH MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT BUT THE INMATES HAVE NO CONTROL
Sean: theyre basically was no entertainment like i said before.. the only thing you get is to watch a little thirteen inch tv thats stuck way up on the wall..its so small you cant see it and the room is so loud that you cant hear it anyway..that would be on a few hours a day

JM: Did you have a hard time staying in shape while in jail?
Elise: yes
Jack: Not really. I did some pushups and that worked pretty well for me. Most of the other people did the same thing or just waled around the dorm.
Justin: YES, ALL YOU DO IS EAT AND LAY AROUND, SOME PEOPLE DO PUSH UPS SIT UPS AND PULL UPS ON THE SHOWER RODS
Sean: absolutely yes...theyre is no recreational time set aside at all....and the dayroom is so stuffed packed with people that you can barely move....like sardined in a can...realy mad..unstable sardines

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?
Elise: I don't ever remember them ever going out. But I slept alot
Jack: Tuscaloosa County doesn't let inmates go outside. They said that they can't spare the manpower to watch the inmates. People just walked around the dorm and did pushups for the most part.
Justin: ABOUT 1 TIME PER WEEK THEY WOULD LET US OUT TO THE SO CALLED REC YARD WHICH IS A 20 X 20 CONCRETE BOX THAT U CAN ONLY SEE UP AND IT IS ALWAYS SO CROWDED YOU CAN HADDLY MOVE MUCH LESS EXERCISE
Sean: ive been in and outta there six times now between that one charge and we were never taken outside..theyre is no exersize..you get so otuta shape that you lose breath when you walk

JM: Did the jail offer church services? If so, what were they like and when were they held?
Elise: Yes.They would come in our dorm
Jack: They had church services once per week. It was a Baptist pastor once and a UMC pastor the other times. Services were held in the dorm.
Justin: YES, EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT VOLUNTEER CHAPLINS WOULD COME IN RO EACH CELL BLOCK AND GIVE VERY GOOD SERVICES I REALLY ENJOYED THEM
Sean: a preacher would come around one time a week for fifteen minutes and preach a little sermon...then they are ushered off abruptly

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