Rikers Island

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?
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?
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