Harris County Jail

Leisure Time

Interview with Julie, Inmate's Sister, Houston, Claire, Jim, Smyth and Ken

JM: What types of facilities were available to help pass the time?
Julie: We had rec. either go to the gym or to the law library
Inmate's Sister: he's in school,church,and imate trustie
Houston: They had AA and NA meetings, church on Sundays, rec , and the law library.
Claire: There was the "gym" or rec room, but we only got to go in there once per week. I never went to rec because I didn't want to be subjected to strip searches any more than absolutely necessary. Each pod had a television (no cable, of course), and the library cart came by once per week.
Jim: Recreation and books to read
Smyth: 1 weight bench you didn't use unless you wanted to fight and one basketball court you didn't use unless you wanted to fight.
Ken: There was a large recreation room downstairs under the cellblock. They had a TV, newpaper, domino's. A few times per week you could go outside and play basketball or volleyball for an hour or so.

JM: Did you have regular access to the entertainment or was competition fierce?
Julie: Yes we did we had certain days they we could watch things
Inmate's Sister: yes
Houston: The ghetto people doing some time always had first dibs. It was supposed to be whoever had the assigned cleaning that day , but it never worked out that way.
Claire: The inmates pretty much had free run of the TV remote (which was shared with the "B" pod) as long as we all agreed on what we wanted to watch. There were never any fights over the TV in my pod. The only thing I hated about that was that the deputies used the TV to their advantage. If they felt that we were "misbehaving," they'd cut it off. But we were a pretty well-behaved group.
Jim: it depended on the mood of the deputies
Smyth: Like I said.. if you want to fight use one.
Ken: No competition. The only issue would be what to watch on TV. I personally didn't care to get involved in dealing with that.

JM: Did you have a hard time staying in shape while in jail?
Julie: yes
Inmate's Sister: no
Houston: No, we worked out (most of us) regularly and ate mostly fruit.
Claire: Yeah, I did. All I did was eat. Especially once I started getting commissary. I think I gained 7-10 pounds while I was in there. That being said, whatever exercise you wanted to do, that could be done within the confines of the pod.
Jim: No
Smyth: No.. starved cause food was slop.
Ken: Yes, not that easy to work out, almost no cardio.

JM: How often did you get to go outside?
Julie: none
Inmate's Sister: everyday
Houston: Funny. never
Claire: We did not go outside. The closest we got to outside was going to the "gym," where there were a couple of large windows (with bars over them, of course), where sunlight could come through.
Jim: the roof is the outside rec. It depended on the deputies
Smyth: Probably an hour in 3 days if you're lucky.
Ken: For an hour or so a few times a week

JM: Did the jail offer church services? If so, what were they like and when were they held?
Julie: no they did not
Inmate's Sister: sundays he states thats the only thing that keep him going in there.
Houston: Yes , people repenting and crying . It was rather upsetting.
Claire: No, not that I was aware of. It's rather unfortunate, but I guess they figured no one would have attended, anyway.
Jim: Yes the were quick
Smyth: Yes.. that is where all of the gays go to chat with their girlfriends on different blocks.
Ken: Yes, they had a pastor come into the cell block and meet with inmates.