Clackamas County Jail

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Leisure Time

Interview with Lisa, Bill and Ron

JM: What types of facilities were available to help pass the time?
Lisa: The newspaper and used books. In the evening women played cards.
Bill: Donated books, cards and dominoes were available to play. No TV.
Ron: Other people and books. You can purchase cards. NA & AA & Church one hour a week...Maximum 4 of the 26 to a cell block go, so unless you've done some time, those spots are claimed. The "rec" was simply a square room instead of a rectangular room, and access to one blue handball sized ball. Apparently somebody escaped the outdoor one, so they shut it down...He tied some sheets together, tied that to a pillow with some books, and scaled the wall...Was caught though after 30 minutes and was sentenced, according to lore, for 20 months, when he was originally facing 4. So that didn't work out for anybody. You also get visiting two hours a week, through a phone and window...But they were installing monitors and phones, to make visits like video court.

JM: Did you have regular access to the entertainment or was competition fierce? Give details.
Lisa: No
Bill: I had regular access
Ron: I was somewhat the kingpin of my pod...Not through violence or aggression, but everybody got along with me, and I also had tons of food each week that I bought. I also let it be known that if you f*d with me, I would snitch, and you would go to the hole, there was 14 emergency buttons in the place, 1 like every 6 feet...but since everybody liked me, they respected what I said...It was like I'm doing only this much time, I'm not going to do anything to make it worse.

JM: Did you have a hard time staying in shape while in jail?
Lisa: No
Bill: I wasnt in long enough to know
Ron: I don't work out. It's the 21st century, The only point in benching 150 pounds, is that it will make it easier to bench 160. I'm in good shape, it's boring as hell.

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?
Lisa: Not at all for a weekend stay.
Bill: 1-hour per week each cell block was allowed to go out in the yard.
Ron: Never, unless you are transported to court or another jail.

JM: Did the jail offer church services? If so, what were they like and when were they held?
Lisa: Unknown
Bill: Yes but I hadnt attended
Ron: Never went, but once a week for one hour...Though only 4 of the 26 possible inmates to a block could go...So basically just people who have been there for awhile.