Holidays in Prison: Understanding the Counting and Celebrations
Life in prison is a challenging experience, and holidays can play a significant role in the routine. However, they are counted and celebrated in ways that may differ from what one might expect outside the prison walls. Here's an in-depth look at how holidays are accounted for and celebrated in different correctional facilities.
Definition of Holidays
Holidays in prison refer to recognized national and religious holidays. These can include Christmas, Thanksgiving, Independence Day, and state-specific holidays. Correctional facilities often have their own set of policies regarding these occasions, which can vary significantly from one institution to another.
Counting Days
While holidays are observed within the prison walls, they do not serve as a means to reduce a prisoner's sentence. Essentially, these days are treated as regular days in terms of time served. Inmates and staff may have different schedules on holidays, often mirroring weekend arrangements. For instance, on Memorial Day, Labor Day, and other federal holidays, the recreational yard might be closed early due to limited staffing.
Special Programs and Activities
Many prisons host special programs and events during holidays to provide a sense of festivity for inmates. These activities can include:
Special meals with festive foods such as Thanksgiving feasts, Christmas ham or hens, and summer barbecues. Game tournaments, both board games and sports, with prizes that are often simple like Gatorade powder. Free refreshments such as popcorn and snow cones. Institutional movie nights with access to new releases and occasionally R-rated films.These events aim to lift spirits and create a more celebratory atmosphere, although they do not alter the fundamental counting of days served.
Holiday Meal Traditions
Holiday meals are a highlight for inmates. Thanksgiving usually features a traditional spread, while Christmas can offer special treats like whole ham or Cornish hens. Summer holidays may have hot dogs and hamburgers, and occasionally, steak or ribs. Desserts include pies for winter holidays, and on some days, the jail may even distribute whole pints of ice cream.
It's worth noting that these special meals often result in a “give and take” situation. For instance, such treats might mean that the kitchen workers receive less food that day, maintaining a balance within the institution.
Inmate Entertainment and Celebrations
To make holidays more memorable, many prisons offer entertainment through institutional movie nights. On holiday weekends, these movie screenings are often more numerous. During Christmas, inmates might have new movies playing every day for the entirety of the month, culminating in some R-rated films that inmates typically wouldn't have access to. Here's an example flyer from a prison that I worked at:
During Christmas, inmates also receive holiday bags, which are put together by Keefe, the leading company for prison commissaries. These bags contain a variety of food items, including cookies, cakes, chips, and crackers. The size and quality of the items in these bags have been seen to diminish over the years, leading to the internal joke that the gifts are smaller and of lower quality each year.
Conclusion
While holidays in prison may not alter the fundamental counting of days, they do offer moments of celebration and provide some respite from the routine. The way holidays are counted and celebrated can vary widely depending on the facility and jurisdiction. Understanding these nuances can help provide a more comprehensive view of life behind bars.