DAILY LIFE OF AN INMATE
*Daily schedules vary on the type of facility and prison's level of security. However, here's an idea of what a typical day may look like:
6:00-6:30 AM: Inmates wake up
6:30-6:45 AM: Time to shower, dress, make up their bed or do morning exercises
6:45-7:15 AM: Morning telephone calls
7:15-7:45 AM: Breakfast/ Travel to work site
8:00-11:00 AM: Work
11:00-11:30 AM: Lunch
11:30-2:00 PM: Work
3:00-4:00 PM: Off duty/ time in prison yard
4:30-5:00 PM: Dinner
5:00-7:00 PM: Time for religious/ specialized programming (ex: anger management classes, narcotics anonymous etc)
8:00-10:00 PM: return & remain in housing area, still allowed to spend time in adjacent dayroom space to watch television or play games
11:00 PM-12:00 AM: Required to get in bed, lights dimmed
Inmate Work Assignments
Facilities Department
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Electrical Shop clerks
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Plumbing Shop clerks
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Paint Shop clerks
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Landscaping/ Grounds crew
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Maintenance Shop clerks
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A few clerks over the whole department- handle work orders, and scheduling and assigning of the various shops
Food Service
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Cook
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Baker
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Line preparation
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Line server
Education
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Librarian
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Tutor
Compound Department (the central grounds of the prison, mainly walkways)
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Clerks- handle inmate pay sheets, safety notification sheets and sanitary equipment check-out sheets
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Orderlies- trash pick up and compound sanitation
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Snow crew
Recreation Department (includes arts & crafts, music programs and sports programs)
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Equipment room assistant
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Referee
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Umpire
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Instructor
Commissary Department (the prison store, employs inmate clerks)
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Inventorying merchandise
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Filing inmate orders
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Updating “out-of-stock” lists
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Cleaning
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Stocking shelves
Laundry Services
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Alter and mend clothing
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Washing, drying & returning of inmate clothing
Religious Services (employs chapel orderlies)
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Janitorial tasks
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Setting up/ assisting with services
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Help inmates check out books from chapel library
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Help inmates sign up for special classes/ religious programs
*Pay is based on longevity, performance & specific duties
*Most inmates can expect to earn between $10-$25 per month