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Life Inside the Chowchilla

Sonia Chopra

For the next 45 days, home for Manjit Basuta will be a cell in the Chowchilla maximum security prison.

Her days will be tightly structured in the reception center, where all new inmates spend their time undergoing a battery of tests to determine their psychological, academic, physical and mental levels. After these evaluation tests are completed, the state will decide whether she will remain in this facility or be transferred to any of the other three women's facilities in the state.

Basuta will wear a burgundy uniform, a shirt and pant, similar to "hospital scrubs," prison officials said. She will also wear state-regulated white sneakers with white laces. Inmates are allowed to wear only one pair of earrings and one medal, if it is of religious significance.

The status of an inmate's health and mental state are considered confidential but officials did say that Basuta is not under a suicide watch or in isolation.

Basuta's room is 11 feet and 10 inches long and 6 feet and 6 inches wide. It has two beds and a stainless steel combination of a toilet and sink. There is also a stainless mirror and another stainless steel shelf, which can be doubled as a desk. There are lower floor shelves to put clothing in and a narrow window, which has an unbreakable security glass. There are no curtains, bars or blinds.

She has a roommate for the moment but since all inmates may be there on a temporary basis, it is not certain that she will have the same person for the remainder of her time there. If Basuta stays on, she may be moved to dormitory housing where eight inmates share a room.

There are two beds in the room and there is a big overhead light with four light bulbs, each 32-watts. When this light goes off at 10 pm, a six-foot tall night-light comes on and there is just enough light to see look around clearly. At no time is the cell completely dark. The lights are programmed to come on at 3 pm and go out at 10 pm.

Basuta' s day will begin at 6.30 am and before she lines up for breakfast, she will have made her bed and tidied up her room. The cells, the windows and the floor must be cleaned before she leaves the room for meals. There are to be no pictures or decorations on the walls of the cells.

At breakfast, she will receive a boxed lunch, which she can eat at any time during the day. The lunch box will have fruit, meat, eggs and bread. Each person will be served only once, while in line.

If they miss an item, they may not go back. The line has to move forward for everyone to be seated. Only one beverage is permitted per person. A staff member will serve water once during the meal.

Basuta must shower everyday and must do so either before noon or before 8.30 pm. There are five counts which are conducted at 12.30 am, 2.30 am, 4.30 am, 4.30 pm and 10 pm. Inmates must be in their cells during these times. During the am checks, they must have a portion of their skin exposed such as arm, leg or foot. The 4.30 pm count is a standing count and all inmates have to stand next to their beds.

Each inmate can use the yard for three hours a day, either in the morning or afternoon. The inmates are rotated according to the schedule they follow, for instance if they spent time in the yard in the morning, the day before, then the next day they will have time in the afternoon. They also have access to the day-room for three hours in the evening.

EARLIER REPORT:
Basuta Sentenced To 25 Years in Child Murder Case

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