A day in the life of an inmate isn’t too sensational. Many people are curious about what it’s like so let’s dive into some of the day to day basics.
Travis originally started out assigned to a bunk in an open dorm-style housing area which housed 60 people. During his time in this space it was never at full capacity, but it was common for new people to be moved into the area. From my understanding his assigned space had a bunk, what I would call a wardrobe, and a plastic chair. There was one phone located in this open living space. It was next to someone’s bunk, so this phone was only utilized if no one was occupying that bunk.
Other phone “booths” are located in commons areas on each floor. Phone calls are limited to 15-minute calls, and the system disconnects the call at 15 minutes and 1 second. Inmates are able to wait 15 minutes and make another call if they choose. The systems will reset after a 15-minute break. This means they can use all of their minutes for the month in one week if they so choose, but once their minutes for the month are exhausted they do not have access to phone calls until the next month.
The commons areas where these phones are located can be noisy and unruly. We have had a difficult time hearing each other at times because whatever the guys are doing in the background has been so loud. This is not the norm but can be the environment on one of the two floors he’s been assigned to at times. The effect of this chaotic environment has on Travis is always very apparent on his energy level. The phone system is far from ideal for being able to communicate. The system regularly cuts out for 5-10 seconds at a time where you simply cannot hear anything and end up repeating the conversation over and over until you piece it together. And a recording plays every 5 minutes reminding you the call is from a federal prison, just in case you have forgotten. Whenever the recording plays, which is approximately 5 seconds long, you have to stop talking because it again cuts out the conversation. Not only do you have a limited number of minutes to communicate each month, but it’s even more limited by the communication system. All calls of course are recorded.
There were fans (ceiling?) and lights in this room. The group of individuals assigned to the room would have to agree on what time the lights would go out and what speed the fans would be utilized. I didn’t ask details about the fans, but I know they existed because Travis mentioned how they dried out his lips. Travis was able to remain in this space for the first five weeks. He enjoyed the openness of the room and the fact it had windows all around it.
Without much warning, Travis was moved into a four-man cell. He was told the day before he had to move so there wasn’t a lot of notice. Originally, he was going to remain on the same floor, but when move day came he ended up being moved to a four-man cell on the 2nd floor. The four-man cells have two bunk beds and a wardrobe type unit for each person to store their belongings.
The bathrooms and showers are community and shared by a number of inmates on each floor. Aside from saying they are really gross, we haven’t discussed any additional details regarding the shared hygiene space.
The facility has count multiple times a day at specific times. This means every inmate has to be at their bunk (or assigned area if they have a job) during the specific count times. Staff members go through their assigned areas of the facility and physically account for each human being present. The counts which happen during the night include having a flashlight shone on you to ensure you’re really in your bunk. If you are not where you are supposed to be during count, you can be written up with a misconduct report and be disciplined accordingly. Only one time have we been on the phone when it was close to count time. The conversation ended incredibly abruptly, and I’m quite certain Travis ran to where he needed to be upon hanging up.
In addition to counts, the facility has designated move times. These are blocks of time where you can move throughout the facility, for instance from the housing unit to the rec area. Once you are at your destination you have to wait for the next designated move time to again move throughout the facility to go the library, back to your housing unit, or wherever you desire to go. Inmates are able to spend time outside on the “yard” during specific times.
Then there’s chow hall. Meals are served during set hours, but each housing unit is released to eat in a regimented order. The exact time that the housing unit might be released to eat can vary slightly from meal to meal and day to day. They are only allotted around 8-10 minutes to get their food and eat. Travis hasn’t said a lot about the food aside from the fact he relies on the commissary for his nutrition. Travis’s choice to purchase packaged food from commissary and the fact prison food is commonly known as slop probably speaks for itself.
There are community areas, or commons areas, on each floor. This space is an open area the inmates can take the plastic chair that’s been assigned to them to watch TV or sit at some of the counter areas (desk) and write letters. They are able to utilize this space throughout the day and night with the exception of count times. The TVs in this area are broadcast over radio waves. In order to hear the voice on the TVs, they have to purchase a radio from commissary and tune to the proper radio frequency with their radio and headphones to hear.
The commissary is the prison store, and they are assigned one day a week where they can go purchase personal items. When Travis first arrived, he had to wait an entire week to go to commissary so was only able to have the government items issued to him until his first commissary day. The commissary sells things such as food items like Raman noodles, tuna, and crackers. It sells the radios I previously mentioned, a couple different types of Adidas shoes, and sweats. An inmate having cash available to them on their books makes the prison experience completely different. Those sweats are far more comfortable than the government issued clothes. However, there are limits to how many things an inmate can purchase each week. For example, Travis can only purchase 10 tuna packets and 10 rice packets each week. If he desired to eat it every day twice a day, he is not able to purchase enough to do so for everyday of the week.
Mail is handed out after it’s inspected during the week. When sending mail to an inmate, it cannot be written in colored ink, there can be no inserts in the envelope, no cards, and all addresses on the envelope must be handwritten. For Travis to mail a letter out, he has to go to a separate building to print the address on a specific label with his inmate number. While incoming mail must have handwritten addresses, outgoing mail must be sent with this particular label. I don’t think Travis anticipated how much he would enjoy receiving mail. He’s always left in awe when someone he doesn’t know takes the time to send him a letter. He’s returned a letter to every person who has taken the time to write him, even if he doesn’t know them.
There are not enough work positions for every inmate to be able to work. Travis did not work for the first six or seven weeks. His first job ended up being in laundry. He knew a few of the guys working there, and I thought this would be a good fit for him since he does enjoy doing laundry at home. He would work five hours four days a week folding sheets the entire time he was there. Standing on the concrete floor for five straight hours didn’t agree with his body. He’s exploring other job opportunities. The pay is an hourly rate and Travis was paid $.12 per hour for folding sheets. There is a pay scale and some jobs pay as little as $.05 per hour. He said the head chef is one of the better paid positions and makes $67 a month.
Travis has sent some of his time at the rec area, but admits he likes watching TV over there more than he likes working out. He said the TVs in the rec area are nicer than the ones in his commons area. Based upon how he’s explained it to me, I would guess the size of the gym area in the rec to be equivalent of two Subway restaurants put together. Most of the equipment is broken, and he said some of the weights are taped back together so they can be used. Travis has indicated the facility he is in has stopped allocating funds for gym equipment.
I know there is a library, but Travis hasn’t said anything about it. So that’s what I know about that.
I hope this inspires gratitude for all that you have even on the mundane days and especially on the days when things aren’t going well. You can call your loved ones whenever you please. You can eat whatever you desire. You can send text messages, wear comfortable attire, and sleep without fear of falling off the bunk. It’s the simple pleasures in life which truly make it magical!
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Peace & Love,
Janessa