Prison Routine

There is a routine or schedule followed in every prison. The routine varies from one prison to another. However, all prison schedules involve similar activities. Inmates wake up, take their breakfast, go to their designated work or leisure/recreational areas, take lunch, and participate in afternoon activities, take dinner, and go to sleep.  

The activities in a prison and the rules and regulations in each are determined by the Department of Prisons. The activities can range from work and prison duties to school, entertainment, and exercise. The table below shows an example of a prison routine. 

Prison Routine Table Example 

Prison Routine Options 

In prison, inmates have the opportunity to engage in various activities as part of their routine. For example, those with knowledge in various skills may be employed to work in prison industries. Prisoners who wish to purse an education can get their GEDs, associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and so forth.  

Take note that all these activities are determined by the prison and the facilities it has to offer. The facilities determine the type of workouts and activities you can do in the yard and/or gym. They also determine the type of education you can get and the type of jobs available in your prison. Last, but not least they determine the activities that can be carried out in the dayroom.  

There are four main categories of activities you can indulge in as part of your prison routine. They are: 

1. Prison jobs 
2. Education programs 
3. Yard/gym activities 
4. Dayroom activities 

Prison Jobs 

All federal inmates are required to work in the prison industry. They are responsible for creating a billion-dollar industry. However, the inmates get little compensation for their labor. For instance, most of them make less than a dollar an hour. In fact there are some states that don’t pay prisoners for their labor.  

With this in mind, it’s hard for prisoners to earn money while they are serving their sentences. This is the reason why most prisoners may lack a bus ticket or cab fare when they are released. On the upside, there are several jobs a prisoner can try to find when they are in prison. These jobs are a bit better paying and you don’t have to be a rocket scientist.  

They include: 

Textbook Transcription to Braille 

Transcribing books, works of literature, and other printed documents into braille is a great job option. The pay is quite low and some prisons don’t pay for this position. You have to be altruistic to work on such projects.  

Textbooks rank highest when it comes to books and documents that need translation. It’s the reason why the NPBN (National Prison Braille Network) is dedicated to offer these services. Even if you aren’t paid for the job as a prisoner, you are likely to get hired when you are released. Why? The organization helps inmates get similar jobs when they are released. 

Making Military Uniform and Equipment 

Some inmates manufacture military equipment and clothing for the United States military. Companies like FPI (Federal Prison Industries) are awarded contracts to make gear including body armor. 

Build Office and College Dorm Furniture 

Prisoners are responsible for making various goods that are sold nationally and internationally. If you spent some time in a college dormitory, it’s possible the adjustable bed frame and/or mattress were made by UNICOR. It’s a program committed to inmate reform. They do this using practical work skills and job training.  

Prison-made furniture including mattresses can be found in hospitals, dorms, and even the prisons themselves. You can shop online for mattresses and other types of dorm or office furniture using their official website. If you are looking for high quality and affordable office furniture, check out their website to see what’s on offer. 

Farming

Yes, believe it or not, prisoners engage in farming by planting various crops such as corn. The good thing about considering such options is you get to spend time outdoors. If you are in prison and miss the fresh air, find out if you can get such a job. 

Inmates in Colorado are always privy to this opportunity. Colorado convicts have been farming and working with crops since 1874. The Colorado Correctional Industries has about 560 acres of farming land. It employs about 800 prisoners every year to work on the farm. The majority of the land is used to plant corn. 

Recreational Activities 

Inmates in the United States are regularly allowed to access recreational programs as part of their prison routine. The workouts are normally done in the prison gym. Recreational activities such as card games, board games, and so forth can be done in the dayroom.  

Let’s take a look at some of these activities and how they work.   

The Yard     

Virtually, every general population prison under the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has a “yard.” This is a large recreational area used for various activities. It includes, but not limited to, workouts, football, basketball, and so on. 

Some prisons have tracks that surround the yard. Inmates are allowed to walk or run along the track. Although not many, some federal prisons feature tennis courts, ellipticals, and treadmills. Of course most of these are normally found in prisons designated for white collar crimes.       

Sports 

A variety of sporting events are offered by each general population correctional facility under the federal prison system. For example, you may find organized leagues for prison flag football, street hockey, softball, and prison basketball. One of the most popular recreational activities in prisons is sports programs. 

In the prison system, you can find virtually any team sport being played. Such leagues are highly organized with inmate commissioners, referees, and coaches. Usually, there are some levels of competition designed for popular sports.  

One of the advantages of participating in such sports is instant acceptance to various institutions when you are released. Take note these are institutions where team sports are taken seriously. The same case applies for workout groups in prison. Surprisingly, some prisoners get informal sports contracts and they are paid for the same!  

Hobby Craft Activities 

The federal term for arts and crafts is hobby craft. This includes activities such as beading, pottery, leatherwork, and painting. The majority of federal correctional facilities have diverse prison recreation programs focusing on arts and crafts. 

If you are interested, you need to enroll in a prison leather class, art program, or something similar. Some prisons allow inmates to join if they demonstrate proficiency and interest, or if space allows. The materials used can either be delivered to the prison commissary through special purchase orders or provided by the prison.  

One of the advantages of such programs is it allows inmates to mail personally created items to pre-approved visitor(s). This is a great option for those who have loved ones such as a spouse and/or children.  

Additionally, inmates participating in the program are allowed to sell their products to staff and members of the public. Although the BOP says it is only allowed through a pre-approved authorization process, it’s rarely permitted in practice. 

Dayroom Activities 

The dayroom is a popular area in any prison. This is where inmates come to hang out and pass time. In some prisons, the dayroom is equipped with various board games. Prisoners can use such games to pass time or embark on various challenges. For instance, chess is a great game for those who enjoy creating strategies. 

Watching movies is another popular dayroom activity for prisons without a TV room. If you didn’t know, prisoners are allowed to watch commercial movies that are pre-screened using the institution’s CCTV network.  

The reason behind using a CCTV network is federal regulations don’t allow inmates to show movies that are rated NC-17, X, and R. if NC-17 and R rated movies have been edited for general public viewing, they can be shown. The restriction usually allows “airline edit” versions that are popular on commercial flights. 

There are many foreign language movies that are not rated. These have to be pre-screened before they are shown. The pre-screening ensures the films don’t contain any nudity, graphic violence, or profanity. 

All federal correctional institutions must adhere to all copyright requirements and licensing agreements. That said, there are popular movies that prisoners can’t be allowed to watch. In most correctional institutions, a video distributor enters a licensing agreement with the institution. A good example is Swank Motion Pictures Inc. that brokers such deals.      

Education Programs 

That’s right! You can get an education in prison. So what is prison education? It can be placed under many categories from the arts and physical education to vocational training and basic literacy.  

Some of the education programs require inmates to pursue a high school diploma equivalent or a GED. They also allow inmates to pursue programs that offer access to college courses. This can either be done through mail correspondence or through email. Most of the prison education programs are done onsite at both federal and state prison facilities.  

Now let’s take a look at the options available: 

Online Degree Programs 

Prison online degree programs vary from one facility to another and from state to state. In each context, prisoners are required to work within strict parameters. Earning a degree as an inmate is quite challenging. Prisoners must maintain a balance where they manage their education responsibilities without affecting the prison routine.  

The majority of state and federal inmates don’t have access to internet regularly. This makes it difficult to attend any online courses. In turn, this makes it almost impossible to get a degree from an online institution.  

To make matters worse, the high cost of college education is a deterrent even to the most committed inmates. Furthermore, there is a decline in the funds allotted for post-high school education for prisoners. As this is not enough, prisoners need to clear high hurdles before they are considered for (not given) student aid.  

Although there are limitations, inmates at state and federal levels can access a high school education. In some state and federal prison systems, participation in education, even if it’s GED, is mandatory.  

GED Programs 

For any prisoner, getting a GED is a mandatory step if they want to get a bachelor’s or associate degree. It’s common knowledge that prisoners have a higher probability of lacking a high school diploma than other members of the public. Additionally, people who don’t have a high school diploma are more prone to recidivism, incarceration, and criminal behavior.  

Research results from the Center for American Progress shows that more than 40% of people in the U.S. have a high school diploma. The same research shows that only 18% of prisoners have a high school diploma.  

With this in mind, a GED is a necessary document for any inmate who desires to get an education. Some prisoners may be required to attend basic remedial courses. This may include ESL programs for non-English speaking inmates or literacy training.  

College Degrees 

The best option for inmates who don’t have access to onsite-college level options is through distance correspondence courses. These are designed specifically for students in the prison system. There are colleges that provide correspondence courses to prisoners and people on the outside. 

Programs that are considered the most accessible are identified by the Prison Education System. In the majority of instances, such universities and colleges provide mail correspondence courses. This is done to award credits, proctor exams, facilitate learning, and furnish degrees. 

Conclusion 

The prison routine is more or less the same in most prisons. Every prison has a sleeping time, wake-up time, eating time. The difference comes in the recreation and productivity activities and facilities. Take note that federal prisons usually have better facilities meaning they have better rehabilitative opportunities.