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Since You Asked: Inmates have structured day at Jackson County Jail Friday Mar 23, 2018 at 2:01 AM What do people in jail? Do they just sit on their bunk all day? I don’t know anybody who’s ever been to jail. — Katherine H., Talent Jackson County Jail inmates have more to do than mark their calendars and twiddle their thumbs, according to Capt. Dan Penland, who commands the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office corrections bureau including our county jail. If you’ve never been, it’s located at 787 W. Eighth St., adjacent to the Jackson County Justice Building in downtown Medford. For starters, inmates have to clean two times a day. Though the jail never closes, Penland outlined the structured days that start at 6 a.m. and end at 11 p.m. every day, along with weekly activities. Cell doors open at 6 a.m. every morning, which allows inmates to come and go from their shared cell to a larger, locked, common area about the size of a living room with tables, chairs, card and board games and a small TV, among other meager amenities. Inmates are served breakfast by 10 a.m. in the common area, then it’s cleaning time. They have to tidy up the common area, straighten up their cell and make their bed. They’re allowed to lay down on top of their bed in the middle of the day, but they can’t get under them until the evening. Inmates have access to books through the Jackson County Jail, and can also purchase other books and audiobooks through the jail’s commissary service. Once chores are done, inmates get access to free TV over the air and access to collect-call-only phones until lunch, typically served between 11:30 a.m. and noon. During this window, different inmates have court appearances done by video inside the jail, meetings with lawyers, doctor appointments or visits with mental health practitioners. Afternoon court appearances usually start about 1:30 p.m. In addition, inmates have access to books through the Jackson County Jail Dinner is usually served between 5 and 6 p.m. After dinner, it’s time to clean again. Inmates are allowed to get under their covers at 7 p.m., and at 11 p.m. they’re locked in their cell. Depending on the day of the week, inmates have different activities. Twice a week, inmates get fresh air and exercise with recreation time lasting two hours in an open area on the top floor of the jail. On Wednesday nights, there’s Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous 12-step meetings, and on Sunday afternoon there’s non-denominational church services. Some inmates hold small jobs at the jail, where they’re allowed to earn money they can spend at the commissary. Only men can work in the kitchen, and only women can work in the jail laundry. Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them.