Cook County Jail

Leisure Time

Interview with Jason, Kat, Brian, keke, Teabag, Crystal, Edward, isaac, Lucky, Laydie, Kathy, Lisa, Apache, Janet, Ron and Ryan


JM: What types of facilities were available to help pass the time?
Jason: None
Kat: Played cards -- forced to listen to a woman tell me all about Jesus -- I am an Atheist -- you have NO RELIGIOUS freedom. You have to go and sit and listen.
Brian: In the processing cell where I was there wasn't anything - just phones, no tv.
keke: we get a busted a* tv 25 have to share thats a arguement waiting to happen
Teabag: Television, other than that unless you were an asskisser (and worked for the sheriff's department (sweeping mopping passing out meal trays)) there was nothing to do but like i said watch t.v., sleep, read, play cards, exercise (calastetics) or fight...
Crystal: Essentially none. Most units have a TV, playing cards, some books available from libray, and some units have board games. Illegally inmates generally never see fresh air or are allowed to exercise outside of unit. Its too crowded and there are not enough guards and they constantly use the excuse that it is too cold outside. There are a few yards with basketball courts and inmates occasionally go out there. Many of the max security units don't allow inmates out at all into the yards. Cermak prohibits all mental health and medical unit inmates from leaving the unit and going outside even if you are there from months to years.
Edward: we had the yard once aweek were we could go out side and walk,run around or just play basket ball and if the weather was bad we had a weight room we would go in.in the dorms you have a tv that would and could stay on 24 hours out of the day.we had games,cards stuff like that.some inmates familys would send books to read so that help out alot.
isaac: read tv work
Lucky: cards, t.v., books, sleeping.
Laydie: you were able to play cards or watch television
Kathy: The gym (overcrowded) and sometimes church.
Lisa: none for me due to the fact i had no case in Illinois
Apache: gym school art library
Janet: YOU GO TO REC,YOU GO TO THE GYM WITH ALL THE OTHER BLOCKS ON YOUR FLOOR, CHURCH AND WHEN ITS NICE OUTSIDE YOU GET TO GO OUT IN A FENCED IN YARD.
Ron: reading
Ryan: not many. we wuold play spaids or poker or dominos.

JM: Did you have regular access to the entertainment or was competition fierce?
Jason: TV
Kat: NO
Brian: No entertainment for me.
keke: fierce
Teabag: Television from 8am - 9pm
Crystal: No, at Cermak the guards control the TV.
Edward: no it was regular,never did have a problem
isaac: no
Lucky: regular access
Kathy: Fierce, because of overcrowding.
Lisa: no
Apache: wait your turn
Janet: THE ONLY ENTERTAINMENT IS THE T.V AND MAJORITY RULES ON WHAT IS WATCHED.
Ron: competition was fierce
Ryan: reg. access

JM: Did you have a hard time staying in shape while in jail?
Jason: No
Kat: NO
Brian: Just a couple of days - I would think it would be hard, though.
keke: yes you go to gym once a week and they feed you all this processed a* food full of filling
Teabag: unless you can improvise (weights made from trash bags full of water
Crystal: Yes, due to inadequate medical care that amounted to malpractice I deteriorated greatly.
Edward: i never did,in fact i got into shape.when there is nothing to do and your couped up in a place you get alot of energy
isaac: no push ups situps and alot of walking in circles
Lucky: your hungry all the time.
Kathy: Yes. Nothing to excercise on, to crowded.
Lisa: no because the food is horrible so i ony at bread
Apache: no
Janet: YES
Ron: no
Ryan: no my affiliation would regularry work out.

JM: How often did you get to go outside?
Jason: Never
Kat: Didn't it was winter
Brian: Just once - when I left :)
keke: once a week if its hot
Teabag: there was an outdoor rec area attached to the tier i was on.... never went out
Crystal: Never except when transported.
Edward: once a week if the weather was good
isaac: none
Lucky: if its nice out usually every other day.
Kathy: once a week
Lisa: twice a week
Apache: every day
Janet: WEATHER DEPENDING 2 TIMES A WEEK 1 HOUR
Ron: once a day
Ryan: 1 a month if lucky.

JM: Did the jail offer church services? If so, what were they like and when were they held?
Jason: Dont know..
Kat: Yes you had to go
Brian: Not sure.
keke: yes they did they were nice
Teabag: Sundays and only 50-75 Division 11 inmates could attend weekly they were Baptist services geared more toward the black inmates. Catholic Services were never offered.
Crystal: Never allowed to go. Grievances never responded to for over three months.
Edward: the jail did but it was limited,you had sunday and sometime wensday church.it was ok but i wanted to learn about god instead i learned out how to kick a drug habit and that wasnt good cause the worst thing i ever did was smoke.
isaac: yes dont know
Lucky: I didnt go but they had it.
Kathy: Yes. In the gym.
Lisa: no
Apache: yes gang meeting place in church
Janet: YES THEY ARE NICE THERE HELD IN THE GYM CATHOLIC,MUSLIM AND BAPTIST SERVICE
Ron: yes didn't go
Ryan: yes all denominations.