Incarceration can be a monotonous experience, with a staggering 80% of inmates reporting boredom in jail, according to a study by the Vera Institute of Justice. What happens in jail often involves long hours of idleness, as activities are scarce and most of the day is spent in confinement.
Unlike prisons, which are designed for long-term sentences and housing inmates convicted of federal crimes, jails typically serve as short-term holding facilities for local or county detainees, individuals awaiting trial, or those serving sentences of less than one year.
Understanding the daily routine in jail is crucial for recognizing the challenges faced by those within the criminal justice system and the potential impact on their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
A typical day in jail can begin with a new prisoner turning himself in to police or otherwise being detained. He or she will be booked, and all of the prisoner's belongings will be confiscated; they will be returned upon release. He or she will then be put into a holding area while processing is completed, and the prisoner may then be given a medical check to ensure he or she is healthy enough to be held in a jail with other prisoners. Once all the preliminary registration is complete, the prisoner may or may not be issued prison clothing.
A prisoner will be assigned to a specific pod, or holding area, in which several jail cells may be located. The jail cell will contain a bed, toilet, and sink; otherwise, the cell will be very bare. A common area is often located in the center of the pod, with the cells lining the perimeter of the pod. The common area will feature tables and chairs, which are almost always bolted to the floor to avoid violent behavior and injuries. Many common areas will have a television set up for prisoners to watch, though the television will be controlled by the guard on duty. This common area is where a prisoner will spent most of his day.
Stints in jails are usually limited to about 45 days, though many inmates will spend far less time than that in the jail. He or she may be locked up for only a few hours, or he or she may spend the entire 45 days in the facility. Either way, the time spent in jails is quite boring, since there is little to do but watch television, talk to other inmates, sleep, and otherwise bide one's time until his or her sentence is completed.