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43 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, January 27, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 26, 2004 Christmas at the county jail this year came with three changes for Chris McGee, who has spent the last four Christmases behind bars. There was a hot meal, McGee�s got a new daughter and inmates got visitation on Christmas Day. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Christmas behind bars It’s a day like any other, but this year the holiday was visiting day By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune Chris McGee got something this Christmas he hasn’t had in the previous three: visitors. "(I saw) my girlfriend and her son and my brand-new daughter," said McGee, 26, of Medford, who has two months remaining in a six-month jail sentence. This is the fourth Christmas McGee has been incarcerated, and he appreciates visitors. McGee is one of 84 of the 230 inmates in the Jackson County Jail who received visitors on Christmas Day, which only happens when Christmas falls on visitation day — Saturday and Sunday for men and Saturday for women. Otherwise, there are no exceptions for holidays. Jail shift Sgt. Shaun Granger said Christmas is no different than any other day on the inside. Advertisement "It’s just another day in jail," he said. About the only change is meals are often upgraded from sandwiches to hot dishes, such as turkey with gravy and rolls. McGee is also one of the cooks in the kitchen and said the evening meal Saturday was cold turkey sandwiches and baked beans. The kitchen crew had to resort to cold sandwiches because the kettle, which had been on the blink, broke. There was also some beef stew to go around. "At lunch we had roast beef and potatoes — it was a good lunch," said McGee. Granger said the other change they notice around the holidays is lower morale among the inmates and an increase in suicide attempts. "Some people tend to feel sorry for themselves, so we keep a little closer watch," Granger said. McGee, who has a criminal history going back to 1997, said he’s been in the Jackson County Jail 34 times. "This is my fourth (Christmas) in a row," he said. "I think it’s time to change something." He said he’s in jail this time for violating parole following a conviction for delivery and manufacture of methamphetamine. McGee said his daughter, Reigyn Christine McGee, is 15 days old, and Saturday was the second time he’s seen her. He said this Christmas brought him the best gift he could ask for: "Seeing my kid." Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers