Lancaster's population, which fluctuates daily, is 4,142 inmates, says prison spokeswoman Diane Gonzalez. The overflow crowd sleeps in a gymnasium. Here, in cell block B nicknamed Bravo it's a typical day. Others are free to roam the yard or loiter in the lobby. On this morning, two TVs placed high on one wall are largely ignored.
Most inmates prefer to talk, pace or just sit quietly and observe the workings of a caged culture.
That's when trouble occurs such as a fight between inmates and guards force inmates to stay in their cells 23 hours a day. Then, they're fed in their cells and prohibited from showering. This can go on for several weeks. The only forms of rehabilitation occur in a rectangular building a few yards from the cell block. The dining hall, like the rest of the prison, is sparsely furnished.