Seminole County Jail

Leisure Time

Interview with Jessica, Sarah and Curt


JM: What types of facilities were available to help pass the time?
Jessica: In the cell we had books available to us. A lot of my cell mates had playing cards in their possession so I played a LOT of card games. You could get pens and paper from commissary but it took a really long time to get anything if you were indigent. My bunkee let me have some paper and pens so I never had to order them and wait. I would also just shower and nap to pass time. Sometimes we would have "rec time" which is when they let us go outside where there were some basketballs and basketball hoops.
Sarah: books, games with missing pieces, newspapers, classes to better yourself that would also take time off your sentence if you completed them and NA and AA
Curt: playing cards.

JM: Did you have regular access to the entertainment or was competition fierce?
Jessica: There was not really any entertainment outside of what my cell mates provided or what I provided myself. There was no TV at all and the newspaper never came to our pod when I was there. We did get one newspaper from one of the girls that worked in laundry.
Sarah: Everyone seemed to share ok. But they would give it to their closest to them before branching out to anyone else.
Curt: no it was alright everyone got along pretty well.

JM: Did you have a hard time staying in shape while in jail?
Jessica: It was a little difficult to stay in shape since there was no room to jog or anything and they fed us two pieces of bread three times a day. You could always do crunches or leg lifts if you wanted but the food wasn't my forte so I didn't eat much.. which isn't necessarily staying in shape, I just didn't get fat.
Sarah: They gave men rec time twice a week and they only took the women outside once every two weeks.
Curt: no i lost 12 lbs. it was great!

JM: How often did you get to go outside?
Jessica: We got to go outside maybe a couple times a week. It really depended on the weather and the corrections officers working.
Sarah: once every two weeks. I was working in the laundry so I only went out once.
Curt: twice a week.

JM: Did the jail offer church services? If so, what were they like and when were they held?
Jessica: The jail offered church services every single day. They were nice and offered hope to those who change their ways and forgiveness to those who haven't... however still consequence.
Sarah: Yes but I'm agnostic so I didn't attend. I enjoyed the quiet while everyone else was gone
Curt: yes, but i did not attend.