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Can You Explore Your Hobbies In Prison?

Can You Explore Your Hobbies In Prison?

During the National Prison Association Congress in 1870, the members changed the definition of prisons from centers of punishment to rehabilitation centers. Ever since prisons have laid down strategies to make the prison environment friendly and rehabilitating to the inmates. In this regard, the Bureau of Prisons came up with a mission to offer the incarcerated individuals work and personal development opportunities.

Currently, all correctional institutions in the United States offer inmates programs to engage in during their free time while serving their sentences. The programs aim to reduce the high recidivism rate in the US and kill the boredom amongst the inmates. Additionally, there are hobbies that the inmates can partake in to ensure a smooth transition from prison life to community life. Like the famous inmate influencer Kali Muscle, some prisoners can turn their prison hobbies into their lifetime careers.

Once you are incarcerated, you can find numerous hobbies to engage in while in Prison. However, it is imperative to note that different correction facilities provide various hobby programs and facilities. The programs depend on the facility’s security level, available funds, and the needs of the inmates. Regardless, whether you serve in a federal or state prison, you are sure to find opportunities to explore your hobbies.

Can you engage in Sports while in Prison?

Sports have numerous benefits to our physical and mental health and create a platform for people to socialize. In this regard, prisons have recreational yards, which are primarily situated outside the prison cells. Depending on the facility’s security level, there may be watchtowers for jail guards to man the inmates. The yard houses courts for basketball, handball, bocce, volleyball, etc. More so, the yard may have fields for soccer, horseshoe pits, football, softball, and other games an institution may deem appropriate. Round the yard is a track where prisoners can walk while socializing or run to keep fit.

The yard is open during the morning hours and in the afternoon. Prisoners can visit the recreational yard during these hours as far as they are off duty. Other prisoners who work in or outside the Prison do not have access to the yard while on duty.

Though the incarcerated individuals violated the law, they have talents that they can utilize while in Prison. Inmates who are passionate or talented in certain games are free to join the respective teams. Prisoners usually arrange sports leagues for inmate teams to compete against each other. Common leagues you can find in Prison include soccer, basketball, football, volleyball, softball, and frisbee. You can engage in these leagues directly as a player or indirectly as a fan. The leagues create room for prisoners to socialize- which improves their social skills. For the players, it is a golden opportunity to showcase their talents and reduce their stress levels.

Reading and Writing in Prison

Federal and state correctional institutions provide libraries for inmates to find resources to read. The Federal Bureau of Prisons and the US Department of Justice control the libraries in Federal prisons. On the other side, the home state department of corrections manages the state prison libraries. Local jails also partner with community-based organizations and local libraries to provide library services to the convicts.

Prison libraries provide inmates with educational materials like newspapers, magazines, and books. The gained knowledge reduces the recidivism rates. For example, the Changing Lives Through Literature program started in 1991. The program engaged prisoners in literature discussion groups. The first CLTL program members in Massachusetts showed a 19% recidivism rate compared to the 42% rate in a control group.

Prisoners can visit the library to find reading materials, including legal literature, they can use to find defensive methods to their crimes. The library also provides prisoners an opportunity to strengthen the bond with their loved ones. A good example is the Jessup Correctional Institute in Maryland. This facility offers inmates books to read to their loved ones, especially children, during the visiting days.

Many inmates escape from their reality by reading fiction and non-fiction books in the library. More so, inmates can spend their time writing letters or books. You can write while relaxing inside your cell or in the prison library. For example, Shaun Attwood read over 1000 books within six years of imprisonment and became a well-known author of numerous books later in life. Prisoners who love reading and writing can explore these two hobbies to the maximum while in Prison.

If the book you wish to read is not available in the prison library, you can request a loved one to send it to you. However, each Prison has rules on the publications they allow into Prison. Enquire from the correctional authorities first before requesting any publications.

Can you Practice Music and Arts while in Prison?

In Prison, music and arts are used to rehabilitate prisoners and prepare them for release. From orientation day, correctional facilities engage the inmates with cultural activities such as drama, playing musical instruments, and singing. These leisure activities kill their boredom and allow inmates to engage in such hobbies as acting and singing. More so, correctional facilities have indoor recreational facilities that provide tools to practice art.

Indoor recreational areas house arts and crafts programs such as painting, beading, leathercraft. In addition to these, you can find pool tables, ping-pong tables, and a band room equipped with such equipment as guitars, drums, keyboards, piano, and microphones. You can use the equipment available to practice music and arts as a hobby in Prison. Inmates who wish to record their songs can purchase access to music rooms fitted with state-provided instruments. However, the prison authority defines this as a privilege and reserves the opportunity to model prisoners.

You can also join a band or choir in the Catholic or Protestant churches in Prison. For art lovers, you can use the facilities in the indoor recreational area to engage in beading or painting. Contrary, you can use your commissary to purchase art tools such as:

  • Crayons
  • Painting brushes
  • Oils
  • Paints or ink
  • Sketch pads
  • Drawing books

After crafting different artworks, an inmate can decide to sell the work to make some cash. The artwork gives inmates the room to express their emotions and rehabilitate themselves. You can also enroll in the Hobby Craft programs that your host prison provides. These include:

  • Woodwork
  • Painting
  • Drawing
  • Sculptures
  • Ceramic pottery
  • Origami
  • Mosaics

The music and art hobbies and equipment you can handle will depend on your custody level and the institution’s protocols.

Working Out in Prison

Prisons are equipped with gyms or gym equipment places in the outdoor yards. However, the prison gyms do not have the equipment you would find in a typical gym. The authorities restrict the equipment to prevent inmates from using the gym equipment as weapons. Most prison gyms, nevertheless, has such equipment like:

  • Benches
  • Treadmills
  • Stationary bikes
  • Cardio equipment
  • Resistance bands

The dumbbells, barbells, and lifts are usually chained to the wall to minimize theft and injury among inmates. Most correctional facilities have limited gym equipment, and inmates have to improvise. Improvised ways of working out in Prison include:

  • Doing push-ups and sit-ups in the cell
  • Using buckets filled with wet towels for curls
  • Running along the yard tracks
  • Using bottles filled up with water as lifts.

Some prisons offer workout programs to inmates to keep them healthy and fit—for example, Graham County Adult Detention in Safford, Arizona. The detention center invites contracted physical fitness instructors twice a week to run the fitness program. The program reduces inmate-to-inmate injuries, provides stress relief, reduces inappropriate equipment usage, and helps improve physical and cardiovascular health.

To survive in the harsh prison conditions, inmates must develop a muscle to protect themselves. Therefore, most prisoners take working out seriously every day. They utilize the available resources to work out and maintain body health and fitness. An example of an inmate who utilized the available resources to build huge muscles is Kali Muscle. The current inmate influencer used filled-up water bottles and fellow inmates as weight lifts while serving at San Quentin State Prison.

Can you Watch TV in Prison?

In Prison, you can spend most of your free time watching TV. The prison authority provides TV sets in TV rooms situated at various points near the cells or dormitories. Mainly, the TVs are in general lock-ups and communal areas like activity rooms or day rooms. You can watch educative programs, movies, or sports events jointly under the supervision of guards. The authority allows inmates to watch programs like Big Bang Theory, The Price is Right, and the news. Though you have access to the TV, you do not have the freedom to switch channels unless you agree with fellow inmates. Prison TVs do not have internet access, and the channels are limited.

Some prisons permit inmates to have a TV in their cells. Most jails in Alabama and Georgia allow inmates to own TVs on their cells. In New York, prisons do not permit TVs on cells. You can purchase the TV from the commissary and enjoy around 50 channels on your private TV. Additionally, you must buy headphones since prison authorities do not allow one to watch without headphones. One can watch various TV shows, but violence or sexual content is prohibited. Staff prisons allow inmates to have TVs on their cells depending on their behavior and needs.

Listening to Music in Prison

Music is not only entertaining but also therapy for many individuals. In Prison, you can enjoy music but with limited access. Prisons do not allow inmates to own iPods or tablets. However, companies like JPay and GTL have recently developed special prison tablets. Prisoners can purchase these inmate tablets via the commissary, but in other cases, the authority issue them freely. With these tablets, you can buy albums and single songs.

Inmates must use headphones while listening to music to minimize noise. However, inmates break the rule by putting the music on speaker so that fellow inmates can listen in. Most federal prisons allow inmates to buy personal mp3 players and music. The music help inmates kill boredom, stress and spend their free time in a better way.

Another way to access music is by purchasing a portable CD player in the commissary. After this, an inmate can buy CDs from a vendor catalog, but no explicit content is allowed. Inmates who cannot afford to buy mp3 players can listen to music using computers in the library. However, one must have headphones to use the computers.

Religious Activities

Religion offers a spiritual way for inmates to spend their time behind bars. The Chaplaincy Services Branch provides inmates with religious programs. BOP allows inmates to spend some of their time praying, praising, and worshipping. Inmates can also conduct Bible study programs and perform their beliefs.

Chaplains also conduct guidance and counseling sessions that inmates are free to join in. Religion plays a huge role in shaping new behavioral patterns of individuals. It prepares inmates for life after release and ensures that they live to be law-abiding citizens.

Which other Hobbies Can I Explore in Prison?

Many people think that prisoners spend all their days sleeping in their cells. However, there are numerous hobbies that inmates engage in while behind bars. Besides those mentioned above, inmates can spend their time playing cards and various board games. Puzzles like Sudoku and Crossword are viral among inmates.

While indoor, inmates can use the pool tables in the recreational area to compete against each other and have fun. Other inmates explore talking as a hobby. By talking and sharing experiences, inmates encourage and motivate each other. Some incarcerated individuals study legal materials available in the prison library. The knowledge transforms them into inmate legal advisors. Fellow inmates can approach such individuals to seek legal advice on their cases.

Other games popular among the inmates are dungeons and dragons and ping pong tables. No matter the Prison you are incarcerated in, you can always find a hobby to explore. These hobbies assist in your rehabilitation process and community reentry. Further, they are therapeutic and provide a way to rediscover your full potential while behind bars.