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While I was incarcerated in the NY State Corrections System between 2003-2006, I averaged roughly 5 hrs a night. You must get up early if you are programmed to a job such as cafeteria or custodial help. When I say early, I am talking 4:45-5:00 AM. If you have a medical call-out, you must usually get up at 6-6:30 AM. REMEMBER : IN PRISON THERE ARE NO ALARM CLOCKS ! The only way the inmates know when to get up is with a buzzing alarm system. So they may ring the buzzer at 4:45AM. If your lucky enough to fall back to sleep, you are awoken with the 2nd alarm at 6:00 AM. They usually call for chow (breakfast) at 7:00 AM. If you are smart, you would usually get up between the 6 AM and 7 AM alarm to wash your face and brush your teeth before breakfast as to not disrespect anyone else. After breakfast, every inmate is either programmed into a job or school. That usually begins at 8 AM and runs until roughly 11 AM. After going back to your cell or dorm, chow (lunch) is usually served around Noon. If you are lucky enough to not have a program between lunch and dinner (1pm - 4:30pm) you can catch some time in the yard or gym. It's too loud and crazy between 5pm and 11pm (which is lights out) to catch any sleep. So, like me, if you are lucky, you can catch about 5 hrs of solid sleep a night... That is unless you are in a dorm of about 50 guys who snore and fart and cough all night... Hope this helped !