Rikers Island

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Leisure Time

Interview with Blunt, Charles, Patrick, Ryan and TJ

JM: What types of facilities were available to help pass the time?
Blunt: the yard and library were the available facilities
Charles: There was a nice yard for use in C95. The MO yard was tiny and worthless. The C95 yard had a big track, basketball courts, handball courts and weights, and a football. As I said before many Hispanics passed their time making beautiful pictures on bed linen. Some were really nice. Some guys played chess or cards or watched TV. I found it much better in C95 than in the MO ward. Once there was a basketball game between prisoners and guards while I was in C95. Some read magazines. The NY Post and the Spanish news paper were brought in to the dorm every morning. Some guys wrote letters.
Patrick: none
Ryan: Television, cards, chess.
TJ: law library, rec,gym

JM: Did you have regular access to the entertainment or was competition fierce? Give details.
Blunt: i had regular access
Charles: The house gang controlled everything. The house gang were recognized by the guards. The house gang members for some reason had power and influence.
Patrick: no not at all we had a tv in our house and we always had a dominoe game running
Ryan: it was ok
TJ: entertainment = tv, bothering correction officers and each other,playing chess skellys reading

JM: Did you have a hard time staying in shape while in jail?
Blunt: no i worked out with other inmates
Charles: In C95 I exercised but not in the MO ward. It was very hard to exersise while on the meds.
Patrick: no it was easy since i had free time thats all i did most of the time
Ryan: no
TJ: no that is the #1 form of entertainment

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?
Blunt: i was low risk so i was outside everyday
Charles: In C95 about 3 or 4 times a week and every day for the MO ward
Patrick: everydayto go to work or if you wanted to go to the yard
Ryan: everyday
TJ: a few times a week

JM: Did the jail offer church services? If so, what were they like and when were they held?
Blunt: yes but i never went
Charles: If so, what were they like and when were they held? There were church services for Catholics, protestants, Muslims and Jewish. There are very few Jews in jail. I think I saw one Jew in the MO ward. The Hispanics are mostly Catholic. The Hispanics would wear the crucifix and wear white t shirts. I attended catholic mass on Sundays. I can pass for Hispanic especially with my van dyke. There were always a lot of guards in the chapel and the mass was always crowded.
Patrick: yes they did according to your religion and there was mass everyday
Ryan: I think
TJ: yes,chapel