What is it like in jail ?

Jail seems like the movie "Groundhog Day". Every day is exactly like the day before and the day before that. Even holidays lack any substantive change. Inmates with a long sentence has a sense of hopelessness and will find it hard to see optimism in anything. Make no mistake, jail is lonely. Inmates are isolated and have to cope with boredom. The longer they are locked up, the easier it becomes to deal with - you get used to the routine. But, it's no joke and it's not fun. The other inmates who are in the same position as you really do help you deal with the day-to-day. But being told when to wake up, when to sleep, where to go and what to do can grind on a person's psyche. The food is bland and limited in selection. A big day of the week is when they can shop at commissary (if there is money on the books) and buy some snacks and comfort food. Reading is the best escape for an inmate. Reading can provide a source of entertainment, a source of inner strength and a source of hope (when they take the position that they will try and learn something new).