This story was told by a person incarcerated at Orange County Central Men’s Jail.
UCI: So what facility are you currently housed at?
Caller: Orange County Men’s Jail.
UCI: Okay, and what has the COVID situation been like at your facility?
Caller: Not friendly.
UCI: How so?
Caller: Deputies are pretty mean. We’re not convicted, we’re still awaiting trial and it feels like they don’t care about any of us in here.
UCI: And then in terms of programs and just daily life in prison, how has COVID-19 affected all of that?
Caller: We don’t have any programs here, they’ve stopped everything. We don’t even have a Chapel.
UCI: And what has it been like for you to have reduced visitation or any at all and programming?
Caller: Very depressing. Lots of anxiety. Poor health conditions.
UCI: And how have you been coping with the crisis?
Caller: Just trying to read and draw and that’s about it. We don’t even get, I haven’t had sunshine in at least a year and a half.
UCI: And given what you have said, what do you think would have made the situation at your facility better?
Caller: Being able to go outside.
UCI: So in, so are incarcerated folks at your facility not allowed to go outside at all and just confined to like inside the building?
Caller: Inside the building yes, only.
UCI: Are there any other activities being offered?
Caller: No.