Macon — Many people have heard of the "jailhouse workout" - pushups, sit-ups and pull-ups all done in the confines of a jail cell or jail block. It is a way for inmates to exercise while locked up, but one woman asked us to verify whether or not inmates could exercise outdoors.
Claudia Griffin's son is in the Bibb County jail and said she is concerned because she never sees inmates working outside like she used to. To her, it does not matter what an inmate did, they should still have the opportunity to be outside she said.
"Everybody needs some air," Griffin said. "Even though they've done something wrong, they still deserve some fresh air, to get outside and get some fresh air every now and then. I don't care what kind of crime they did or whatever, still give them a chance."
Colonel Henderson Carswell with the Bibb County Sheriff's Office Special Operations Unit said that by law, the jail has to let inmates enjoy some sunshine.
"We have to take them out," Carswell said. "We try to, twice a week for at least 30 minutes, to get some sunshine, sunlight."
It is called "yard call." Inmates in the jail will not have access to things like gym equipment or a basketball court, but do have the opportunity to get outdoors and walk or run.
There are three areas in the jail designated for yard call - the West Wing, which can be seen from the First Street and Hawthorne Street, the East Wing, which is behind a brick wall and cannot be seen from the road, and the G-Wing, which is smaller, but can be seen on Hawthorne Street. The G-wing holds nonviolent offenders, many of which are on work details, according to Carswell.
Those work details include beautification projects like picking up trash, washing cars, and training bondable puppies for adoption. Carswell said the jail cannot force inmates to go outside or to volunteer for work detail. He said there are inmates who choose to stay inside.
"We offer them the option to go out and oftentimes, some refuse because, for whatever reason, they would prefer to stay inside," Carswell said. "So not all of them go out on the yard call, but it’s offered twice a week."