Bexar County Jail

Leisure Time

Interview with John, Raquel, Colby, Nikki, Lea and Hoyllwood


JM: What types of facilities were available to help pass the time?
John: T.V, basketball, arts and crafts. That's it.
Raquel: Computer classes ( a joke) bible class, GED classes, AA, NA, and MATCH or PATCH for the guys. To help you become a better parent. This was really good becuase if you can get in you actually get to have contact visits with your kids.
Colby: Library, Recreation, Games, Television, Reading, Spiritual Invitations,
Nikki: church, art, classes, library, outdoor recreation, visitation
Lea: chapel, rec
Hoyllwood: Um... You got to sit in your cell and watch the wall, or poke fun at the drunk people in the detox tank... And if we were lucky, we got to watch the cops eat a hot meal in front of us. That was about it.

JM: Did you have regular access to the entertainment or was competition fierce?
John: We didn't have a choice. We watched whatever the guard wanted to watch.
Colby: There were actually sharing going on in the A towers. These times will have to be agreed upon by vote or officer had made that choice if no resolution to avoid indifferences.
Nikki: no, only when the unit guard allowed it, and there is only one small TV and I did not get to pick what I wanted to watch. When I did go to the day room to watch TV, I could never hear it.
Lea: no
Hoyllwood: There was nothing there. Our entertainment was watching cops eat... And I don't think competition to watch that was very fierce.

JM: Did you have a hard time staying in shape while in jail?
John: No, there was nothing to do.
Colby: yes, You are not allowed to work out on furniture ( as these were heavy objects and provided resistance for training). But you can work in your own room or outside in the recreation yard (weather permitting)
Nikki: not really, but exercising in your unit is not allowed, only during outside rec.
Lea: Didnt eat so no
Hoyllwood: no... I wasn't in long enough to have to worry.

JM: How often did you get to go outside?
John: The basketball court was available for use everyday even though it was caged in.
Colby: weather permitting and at officers discretion if in A tower you are available to go outside. Once in a while you were aloowed to go to the 6th floor for a larger rec area with fooz ball tables and a basketball court..
Nikki: they ask you to sign up for outside rec. a few hours before you actually go. I think they offer it every other day or so, sometimes the unit guard will make every one go.
Lea: never
Hoyllwood: Never

JM: Did the jail offer church services? If so, what were they like and when were they held?
John: Yes they did but I never went.
Colby: Yes, there are plenty church services. There are some that can be daily (evening) at the pods visitation rooms or the jail provides mass church gathering on the 7th floor on Sundays.
Nikki: I went to church services to help pass the time, they were always "touching and emotional" for me and usually cried a little
Lea: yes
Hoyllwood: Not that I know of.