Recreational Opportunities: Playfulness with a Purpose

CCA's large offering of recreational activities is an aspect of rehabilitation that is sometimes overlooked as a necessary part of helping inmates achieve a balanced life while incarcerated and preparing them to re-enter society.

Recreation time is an opportunity for inmates to discover and cultivate personal interests and hobbies, and participate in healthy, vigorous physical activity – all while building self-esteem and social skills. Inmates can participate in up to four hours of recreation time each day, although time allotted varies from one facility to another. Recreation takes place both indoors and on outdoors, and includes tournaments, contests and in-cell activities. These activities offer inmates stress relief, discipline, structure and teambuilding. Since access to recreation opportunities can be withheld as part of disciplinary action, recreation can also function as an incentive for good behavior. The trained CCA professionals who run facility recreation programs ensure that all activities have specific goals that transcend the recreational aspects. As a result, inmates learn values such as sportsmanship, peaceful conflict resolution and cooperation.

CCA’s recreational offerings include:

Arts and Crafts
  • Playing musical instruments
  • Dramatic arts and theatre
  • Drawing
  • Painting
  • Beadwork
  • Paper mache building
  • Crocheting
Board and Card Games
  • Chess
  • Checkers
  • Dominoes
  • Spades