What’s It Like Inside?
There are reality shows about being in prison and even a couple about being in county jail. The outside world can get an idea of how the dorm-style rooms are set up, how the toilet is stainless steel and how everyone hangs around, watching TV. But, there are just so many things you don’t think about or imagine until you are here.
Different county jails have different rules in place, but as for the one I am in waiting to transfer to prison, here are a few things you might find surprising.
We have lights out at midnight and we are woken up at 4:00. Breakfast is at 4:30. Because of this, pretty quickly you get used to eating breakfast and going back to sleep again right afterward. Our beds are bunk style, lined up all around the room. Most everyone spends a lot of time sleeping, trying to pass the time.
We eat, sleep, shower, use the restroom, and stay in this one room all the time, except for our rec time once a week and our 20 minute visitation twice a week, if we are lucky enough to get a visitor. I usually have 1 visitor a week.
All we get to drink is milk, 3 times a day with our meals, and tap water that is room temperature. I like drinking water, as a general rule, when I was outside I drank it a lot. And, lucky for me, I like milk. But I would pay a lot for a Dr. Pepper right now. Just something that wasn’t room temperature would be great.
It’s very cold. They keep the AC cranked way down in county. This is supposedly because it is better for the typical over-nighter in the drunk tank, and also to keep fighting down and disease down. You get used to it after awhile. When I got here I had no underwear, t-shirt or shoes on, just shorts and flip flops. Those items aren’t issued so I had to spend the first 2 weeks with the same jumpsuit on and no underwear, t-shirt or socks. I was miserable, cold and I smelled bad. I had to wait for someone to deposit money into my commissary so I could buy myself underwear, t-shirts, socks, and deodorant. These items are not handed out freely to inmates.
It’s very boring. At this county jail we get 20 minutes of “rec” one day a week. That means we are brought to a room with an open roof, so we can see the sky, and we can walk around. There is no sort of equipment to exercise with or anything to do but at least you can see the sky and it’s a change of scenery from the room we live in 24/7. Personally, I am doing push-ups and sit-ups in my area to keep my strength up and try to stay healthy. The meals are OK but they are high fat, and boring, and not a lot of variety or green stuff. I can buy chips and candy in the commissary. We place our order then some days later get our stuff for the week. The prices for chips and candy are about what they would be outside.
We also are not allowed to own playing cards, chess pieces or other such things. There is a book cart of donated books that comes around and we can choose something off of it. Sometimes it is pretty slim pickings. I can have a bible and a rosary, which is given to me. I can also have up to 4 photos that are sent to me. They have to be real photos, not ones printed on the computer.
My family cannot send me books, or any printed items off of the computer or any printed documents. They can not order me books via amazon or other sites like this. Once I am in TDC I will be able to get books ordered for me, and I can receive printed information from the internet. I think this is going to be much better. I also think that chess games and card games are allowed in TCD, although of course, gambling isn’t. I haven’t heard music since coming here, and I think that in TDC I can get a radio through commissary. I think this is a privilege you have to earn over time, not right away. It would be awesome to hear the radio.
Most fights break out over the TV. We have one TV and most of the shows are crap, like soap operas and game shows, but tensions run high over the TV and what is on it. It’s very loud almost all the time. Everyone talks loud and the TV is loud. Every minute here is long, but somehow the days go by. I can’t believe I have already been here over 3 months. The time stretching ahead of me seems like an eternity but I know it will pass.
Don’t worry Magnum, I was in TDCJ for 13 years. You’ll get the hang of it and before you know it things will smooth out and you’ll catch yor stride. You seem pretty intelligent, so I doubt you’ll have many problems. Most of the drama on the inside involves idiots, icluding both inmates and officers. There’s really only one cardinal rule inside: MIND YOUR BUSINESS. What qualifies as being “your business” are boundries you will determine along the way. I wish u peace bro.
Hey Magnum,
It’s great to see such a good post. I have a feeling I’ll be spending some time in Montgomery soon for a probation violation. I’m worried sick about it, but at least it’s nice to have an idea of what’s it’s like before I go.
If you’re still available, maybe you could answer a few questions for me. Do they let you take a shower every day? What about brushing your teeth? How often do you get your laundry done? How often are there fights and what can you do if someone starts one with you, besides getting in trouble for fighting back?
Hey Jesse,
This is the Editor, I will forward your questions on to Texas Magnum. He has to get this stuff and reply via snail-mail! I am sorry to hear you are going through this. You will make it just fine though. I think the worry beforehand is one of the worse aspects of this situation. How long will you be looking at?
I will tell you what he has told me, in regard to your questions. He says it is not anything like what you think it is going to be like. In some regards better and other regards worse. The food is bad, and it’s very boring. I do believe in Texas he is allowed to shower daily and to brush his teeth daily. The laundry is weekly I believe, but my understanding is MANY inmates do their own clothes in the toilet tank. Gross right? But apparently that is what they do. And, in fact, you will find once in that various inmates have various services they offer, laundry being one, and you can trade commissary items or magazines you have or something like that for getting your clothes washed if you want them done more regularly. Regarding fights, well, of course avoid them, but I am sending you an email on that.
I also want to mention that there is a site out there called http://www.prisontalk.com. There is a GREAT forum with sections on everything you can imagine. You can find the appropriate state and sections for yourself there and get a TON of good information. If you have family members that will be waiting for you outside, they will also really find that site helpful. It has a family support section that I have found to be extremely helpful and informative. It has been a lifeline for me.
Also, if you have a family member that can send you a little money in commissary it will help you, to buy necessities like toothpaste and deodorant and even a snack now and then. Magnum can receive books ordered for him from Amazon, including used ones, which saves a lot of money. This helps the time go buy. I am not sure what the rules are in Montgomery but probably you can also get books and magazines sent.
Try not to worry too much. I know that is easier said than done. I will send your questions to Magnum and email you with his direct responses.
Take care ~ Editor
You call this doing time for the crime. It will make you think the next time, maybe!!!!!! Keep your nose clean and you’ll be out soon. Hope you don’t do something dumb and end up back in there. God bless you
1 st. time here, been on Prison Talk and they made it almost impossible to sign in, I decided to try this place. Have a son in Tx prison, he has been in and out for 19 years of his life. I am in my 70’s and it’s hard to know I probably won’t be alive by the time he gets out. enjoyed reading some of your messages. smitty
Hi Smitty, I am the Editor and a family member of Texas Magnum who helps him post to this blog. I wanted to thank you for your comment and also say that I also visit Prison Talk and I have found it to be a GREAT source for the family members of incarcerated people. I am sorry to hear that you had trouble registering because I think that if you can figure it out, you will really find some great support on that site. Most especially, there is a section called “Parents of those Incarcerated” which is VERY good. I would be happy to help you register if you would like. Just send me back a message and I will try to help you with it.
I can’t speak for everybody. Every pesorn’s experience is unique. I was married to a military man for seven years. Those were the worst years of my life. He was an arrogant, overly religious, self-righteous, and controlling. His life revolved around religion and military image. I would like to give you an insight some of the abuse I endured at the hands of my ex-husband then tell you about the life I have with my new husband.My military ex-husband controlled every aspect of my life. If I wanted to have friends, they had to fit into this criterion: female, Christian, married, and what he considered “moralâ€. I was not allowed to have friends that were male, homosexual (male or female), unmarried, non-Christian, or anybody he felt would “corrupt†me or “immoral.â€While we lived overseas in Europe, he did not allow me to own a vehicle or have my own monies. (For those who are not familiar with policies overseas. Dependent family members are not allowed to own / register a vehicle, rent apartments, renew / obtain military dependent ID, obtain employment, or any legal / official duties without a power of attorney and the active duty member’s military orders.) I wanted to work. I have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing but could not utilize my degree. He refused to give me the proper documentation in order to obtain employment. When I disobey or “was bad†he made me walk without food, water, or money (to buy food or water). I did not report him because I did not want to ruin his career. Every day was a nightmare. He criticized me in every way. The bulk of his insults were directed to my intellect and my spirituality, “I can’t believe a pesorn as ignorant as you has a degree. You don’t deserve it. Agnostic people are not moral enough to make good medical decisions. They lack morals and compassion. They should never be allowed any degree.†After seven years of this abuse, I left and returned home to Las Vegas. I was told that an old friend of mine was in prison for for burglary and drug charges. My first thought was “he can’t be worst than my ex-husband.†I wrote his a letter and the relationship started from there. When he was released from prison, he and I were married. He went back to school and worked as a janitor. Within three years of his release, he obtained an Associates of Arts in general studies. After obtaining his degree, he began working with trouble youths. At the moment, he is waiting to be accepted into any university. He told me, “Even if I can’t get into a university to get my bachelors, I have a great life and a great job.†Because of his past it’s difficult. I admire his dedication to change. He went from being a felon to a college graduate. I went back to school and specialized in pediatrics. We have had good time and bad times. The most important thing is to support each other. When we have a problem, we talk about it and resolve it. We do not use name calling, hitting, or any type of abuse to control or end an argument. My husband compliments me on the smallest accomplishment. He supports me 100% in all my endeavors. He does not criticize or attempt to control me.I can have friends without fear of being abused. In fact, all my friends and colleagues love him. He accepts and loves me as I am. His love and support has given me the courage and strength to pursue my goals without hindrance.Be advised, not all people released from prison are ready to dedicate the time and effort necessary to change. It is wise to examine any relationship. Relationships formed on the outside can be just as or more destructive / abusive than prison-started relationships. It is my pesornal belief that not all bad people are in prison. My ex-husband was a religious-law-abiding military man and he abused me worst than a convicted felon. Any pesorn can be abusive, not just convicted felons!Hope this helps.
I know when my sweetie was in TDCJ he was able to purchase a radio but it took awhile before he got that privilage.Until then and even after I sent him song lyrics.It was better then nothing.What kind of music do you like?
You certainly deserve a round of applause for your post and more specifically, your blog in general. Very high quality material.
Dont worry, when you get to TDCJ you wont be cold except in the winter. We dont have airconditioners except at the Psyche wards. You will have plenty to do like work unless you go milk some medical restriction out of the quack doctor so you dont have to work like the other 80% of the population which explains a lot about why they were
robbing and stealing instead of working in the free world. You are job security for me. Thanks. See ya behind the wall.
Hey Bossman, You don’t worry either, I was a hard worker in the free world and I will be a hard worker inside too. The reason for that is because of who I am, not who you are or what attitude you put up against me. Holding a job has never been my problem.
I have heard there are 3 kinds of CO’s. The ones that believe if inmates are rehabilitated and educated during their incarceration, they may not return through that revolving door, the ones that are just there doing a job and working towards their retirement, and the ones that seem to have a grudge against the inmates because some kid beat them up back in middle school or something. Which group do you consider yourself to be a part of?
By the way, I heard there are budget cuts so don’t be so sure on that job security. I appreciate the note and the information about what to expect.
Bossman may be slightly distorting the facts. The guards do have A/C in the pickets, the guard mess hall, and the offices. The prisoners don’t have it anywhere except the infirmary.
During the days in the Summer at the newer units like Gurney and Holliday the temperature is well over 100, the metal on the bunks/racks is to hot to touch, and the guards may bring around cold water once or twice a day (enough for a cup for each prisoner).
From what I’ve seen in the newspapers lately it looks like there are a lot of guards who will soon know what it feels like to be in the white or orange suits. Not as many as should know though.
How long do you have to spend on the computer every day? Do you have to wait and take turns?
From the Editor: Magnum does not have any computer time while incarcerated. He writes his posts out with pen and paper, mails them to me snail-mail, and I post them on his behalf. I also copy the comments left to him and mail them back to him via snail-mail. He is being transferred sometime very soon and will be out of touch for 2-3 weeks while that happens, so there is going to be a little gap in posts then. If you ever wish to, please feel free to send Magnum a personal email which I can then print out and mail to him. Thanks!
My son spent 9 months in the county jail. He would call home every now and again just to hear some music. He would call and ask if I could find a certain CD and could I please put the phone down next to the speaker~ just 10 minutes of music soothed his soul.
I hope you can find a good long book to read. I was allowed to donate books to the county and son got first choice, it made his time there bareable. God Bless you
Hey Tex,
Sounds like rough going.
A/C down cold, trying to make you all hibernate.
High fat food, rec 20 minutes a week, no wonder fights break out over the tube.
Hope you hear the radio soon.
This will all be over one day.
OW
You know Oren, it ain’t so bad. They’ll have to keep it more than cold to keep my spirits down!
Texas magnum I’m looking at 30 days in comal county jail what’s that like