>> a female inmate's outgoing personality comes in handy for shopping with other people's money. >> what girl doesn't like to shop? i love to shop. i'm just going about it the wrong way. >> i don't regret it. fighting. >> a gang member's injuries leave him especially vulnerable. >> there have been some issues

in the past of former gang members who wouldn't go anywhere near the accused child molesters. you didn't do that. you were putting somebody at great risk. >> a deputy takes a chance on putting sworn enemies together for an unconventional church service. >> hallelujah. >> hallelujah. >> problem with that is we are mixing everybody together. stuff could go sideways at any minute. >> and -- >> we wanted to be one of the leaders in this area. do something good for the earth. >> the jail's efforts to achieve a notable goal. >> l-o-c-k-u-p. yeah, say that. >> the santa rita jail consumes 113 acres of land in the foothills just outside oakland, california.

opened in 1989 it has bed space for more than 4100 inmates. while some have been convicted most are currently charged with crimes, and are awaiting trial or the resolution of their cases. men and women are housed in separate areas. but all wear jail-issued scrubs, eat the same food and sleep on the same thin mattresses. yet, as danielle benefield proves, individuality is hardly lacking here. [ screams ] >> she doesn't have a decibel limit. >> i knew you -- i knew you was -- >> she tends to be what i would call one of our problem children. >> girl, she told me yesterday, wake up. >> she likes a lot of attention. >> i know how to use my mouth, i mean, you know, talking.

i am just a people person. i am a social butterfly. this is how i do my time. i always have my makeup and my hair done, you know, radiant. that's the reputation i have in here. some of them call me diva. i am a bit of a shop holik. i like my things. that's why i am in here, grand theft, stealing people's stuff and shopping. >> benefield says she has had several prior convictions for theft and burglary but never served more than 90 days. this time the judge gave her five years and eight months. she is eligible for release in half that time. >> what girl doesn't love to shop? i love to shop. i am just going about it the wrong way. >> benefield says her primary m.o. was not to steal from stores, but from other shoppers. >> i always wanted to look the part when i go out. i always got dressed did my makeup professionally and then i

go out there and steal. so the attention wasn't drawn on me, because i look like an ordinary shopper. ladies would put their purses in the buggy, and they wouldn't watch their buggy at all. i would reach in their purse, and get the wallet and zip it back up and put it under my coat. mainly to get cards. if i sit up there and take all the time looking through clothes it's too much time. she might get the credit card turned off. i just hurried and get gift cards and i would leave. >> as benefield's confidence rose so did her boldness. >> this was in san francisco, a particular time, i took this lady's wallet. i was talking to her. just having a b.s. conversation. i had -- was talking to her and i had my hand in her purse. oh, she had a coin purse, i kind of felt it. so i got it and put it under my jacket and i zipped her purse back up and we was talking like two, three more minutes. this lady went to different aisles. i looked under my jacket. and got her wallet. and $800, all $100 bills plus one credit card. so i racked up again.

it was like i hit the jackpot. >> benefield admits her latest arrest might have been due to her wanting an even better deal in ill-gotten gains. she used the stolen credit card to buy groceries and then used her frequent shopper card to get a discount. >> got my discount. and it came back as -- danielle benefield. and that's how they were able to track me down. >> it's kind of a hoot that you were trying to save money on the stolen money anyhow. it wasn't even your money. >> i know. i know. but i was like -- when you make conversation and then you're nervous at the same time. i was kind of nervous doing that. but this wasn't, that wasn't my first time doing it. >> what if you hadn't messed up and got caught? >> i would still be doing the crimes. i never thought of the victims because my mind was set as to this is material stuff, they can get it back. i didn't care they will get over it. that was my attitude. i didn't have any remorse for it at all. >> jail does not allow for the

stylish lifestyle benefield enjoyed on the streets. but it hasn't suppressed her desire for it. it's just now, earrings come in the form of small stickers from her food trays. >> i take it off. then i take the sticker and i just kind of rip it in half. and rip it in half again. and then just stick it like -- like on my ears. this is kind of like yellow earrings. kind of look like, yeah. that's how i do it. >> far cry from nordstrom's jewelry. >> right! ha! yes. this is no nord storm's or macy'ss. but for now i have to settle for this. >> individuality is also alive and well in the men's protective custody unit. where laila arguetta is serving out his parole violation. >> i identify as a female.

i live my life as a female. i do lots of feminine things. still thinking about the sex change. it requires a lot of therapy, counseling, money. you know. budgeting is not the best thing i can do. >> but arguetta's means of obtaining money is what brought him to jail. three years earlier he was convicted of robbery. after serving nearly a year in jail he was released on parole. arguetta recently violated by being out past his court ordered curfew. plying another illegal trade. >> by violating my curfew, i am committing a crime. which is prostitution. i get in the car with an undercover, i'm thinking it's a john. and, hey, it's a cop. i get arrested. i'm thinking i am going home 30 days later. no they gave me six months.

>> starting at age 18, arguetta has had numerous days at santa rita, robbery, prostitution, drug possession and parole violations. >> i sell my beauty. >> you sell your beauty? >> i sell my beauty. >> that's another word for prostitution. >> arguetta found a confidant in his new cell mate, john mcfarland. >> i know to ask for what i want in a very seductive way. >> how do you do that? >> it depend. it depends on the individual when they pull up, what kind of car they're driving. >> pretend i am pulling up in a buick. >> i'm going to run from you. pretend you are in a mercedes-benz. >> mercedes. >> you look like a drunk white man. >> they don't ask, i won't tell. >> tell what? >> that i was a guy. i will jump in. i will do my job. as quick as possible. satisfy them and get out. no talking. no nothing. it's been several times where, i

can see them from the corner of my eyes they were, you know, looking at me like, what's going on here. something is not right. >> have you ever surprised a client. >> yeah, i surprise guys all the time. >> do they get upset? >> yeah. >> it pays good money, you know. and it pays the bills. you know? >> does it? >> it also got me locked up. >> coming up -- >> first of all, she was kind of rubbing on my leg. >> danielle benefield lands in segregation for fighting, but says it was the other person's fault. >> and -- >> this is how it came to be. god said go to the gang bangers, these guys here who don't like me. >> accused of a heinous crime, one inmate finds a way to bring natural enemies together for a peaceful gathering.

let's go. starting over here.

>> measuring a half mile fence to fence, the santa rita jail near oakland is a sprawling mega jail and it serves as the temporary home to more than 3,000 men and women assigned to housing units based on whether or not they're charged with violent crimes and their disciplinary histories within the jail. there are also about 190 male inmates assigned to the jail's protective custody or pc units. >> protective custody is basically any inmates they can't walk on the main line or general population because they will get assaulted by other prisoners. >> most inmates move to pc housing voluntarily. they all wear red uniforms to be quickly identified by staff and also have significant differences they include openly gay inmates those who turned on their gangs and face retribution and accused sex offenders who are almost always targeted for violence. >> by housing people appropriately we make it safer for the inmates themselves and make it safer for other inmates and makes it safer for the staff.

>> in fact even in pc where violence is rare, the jail takes no chances. it has separate units for gang dropouts and accused sex offenders in order to avoid conflict. gang dropout, gabrielle taylor's attitude toward sex offenders is typical. >> rapist or a child offender is a piece of [ bleep ]. that's the scum of the earth. i have been to prison. i hear them yelling on the tier. they're just getting bumped up. i don't have no remorse for them. >> there have been some issues in the past of former gang members who couldn't go anywhere near the accused child molesters. you just didn't do that. you were putting somebody at great risk. >> but once a week, predator and prey congregate in the same space for an unusual inmate led church service. >> when i say hallelujah, say hallelujah after me. >> hallelujah. >> hallelujah. >> hallelujah. >> hallelujah. >> hallelujah. >> hallelujah. deputy vails helps facilitate

the service. >> with this church these guys have gone from judging other people based on their crime, to judging them as the men they are in here. which i have never seen. >> when i am there, i am there for the sole purpose of jesus, i'm there to right my wrongs. i mean wrong is wrong. sin is sin. i am not contradicting myself. but i even shake some of their hand. >> you guys have been studying the bible. how far back do you think prejudice goes? >> i have never had an issue. i have never had an argument. i have never had a problem. slowly as these guys would talk to each other they realize that the person you are inside has nothing to do with the color of your skin. because you are accused of a crime doesn't mean you did it. so the gang dropouts would sit with the homosexuals or sit with the child molesters, sit with the rapists they could put their differences aside while they sat and read the bible. >> while deputy vail supports the service others on staff remain cautious. >> i have been here before.

i have seen a lot of people come to the church service they all enjoyed it. the problem with that is we're mixing everybody together. stuff could go sideways at any minute. >> this service begin when deputy vail noticed moana ofahengaue, known as big mo, reading the bible in his cell. >> i would go by big mo's cell, i could see him praying. he'd spend a lot of time with his bible. other people were noticing it. he would notice people who needed help. he would seek them out. and he would just talk to people. >> we started a church. about 50 people to come to the church. >> it didn't happen overnight. it started with four guys around a table. turned into ten guys around a table. ten turned into 20. 20 turned into 50. suddenly, the whole pod has been asking if they could come out and study the bible with big mo. >> and this is how it came to be. god said go to the gang bangers, these guys who don't like me, who don't like "c," "d" and "e" but today we have a break in the

barrier, mr. vails, we put the gunsown. we put prejudice down. we put the gang down and we meet and embrace one another. >> when the missionaries came over from tonga, my grand dad and they gave him the name that means love to work. he worked with the missionaries. i just want to be me, to the best of my ability. to be some positive influence. like in the midst of my trouble. >> and ofahengaue's troubles are significant. he is charged with molesting two girls under the age of 10. he entered a not guilty plea and is awaiting trial. >> what is your statement about the charge, guilty, not guilty, innocent? >> not guilty. i'm son of the most high god.

i may look like an idiot, i am not that crazy. >> ofahengaue was denied bail and has been at santa rita for 2 1/2 years while his case works its way through the courts. >> they consider me a danger to society. yeah. >> he's in on a serious charge. he appears to be a genuine nice guy. but that could all be an act. deep down inside, who knows. we don't know. personally myself, i act as if everybody in here is dangerous at all times. >> coming up -- >> they're blood cousins. fabian rose was actively trying to kill jimbo. >> the church service reconciles two cousins. its future takes an uncertain turn. and -- >> i found out then. the windows is busted out. i heard beyonce playing in the car. i was time to run the world so i

got in the car and i just drove off. >> john mcfarland learns that even beyonce doesn't make stealing cars legal.

>> twice a week there is a late night ritual at the santa rita jail that makes life just a little easier for many of the 3,000 inmates incarcerated here. >> this is the food that they get every week. they can purchase with their own money. they can buy hygiene products, any snacks they want throughout the week. yeah, anything they need. other than the basic meals they get. >> commissary. >> since inmates are not allowed to carry cash they purchase commissary with money. friend or family deposit into jail-managed debit accounts. >> that's what they look forward to throughout the week. other than visits. this is it. their big thing for the week. on friday i believe it is they fill out their order forms. whatever they want. today we pack it out in the morning. we bring it in our carts, all set up in separate sections. they come out one at a time after we call their name. and they sign a form saying they received their commissary and that's it. >> you are a popular guy? >> yeah, the most popular guy here.

>> you guys come out, grab your bag. make sure when you grab the bag, check it. >> marcelino ramires. rodrick crawford! >> -- realize he didn't come back. >> i'll look for it. >> the jail provides minimal commissary kits to inmates like john mcfarland who have no money available to them. >> this is indigent. basic stuff they need for all the week. they get this one free if they don't have money. it has stamp, envelopes, toothbrush, a razor, toothpaste, soap, pencil. this little package for them to get through the week. >> other inmates have plenty to get through the week. >> cereal for the morning. these are my noodles. chips. cappuccino cookies, peanut butter cookies. muffins. my mom and dad support me. they put money on my books. and i am able to get everything i need.

>> danielle benefield is no stranger to shopping with other people's money. she is in jail for stealing wallets from other shoppers. >> on a weekly basis you can spend the max $125. i shopped $115 last night. got all my stuff. i am trying to lose weight. but however i am not going to cheat myself. >> inmate benefield she is a character. she loves drama. she loves drama. >> benefield recently had drama of the wrong kind. >> inmate benefield was in a fight in her cell. it was between her and another inmate who is actually not assigned to her cell. >> benefield said she was trying to facilitate a romantic encounter for her cellmate. >> my bunkie wanted to be downstairs. because they're not roommates. so we switched at pod time so they could be together and come out at breakfast and we'd switch back after breakfast. >> is that allowed? >> no. >> benefield says the woman who temporarily occupied her cell had some romantic notions of her

own. >> first of all, i'm not gay. she was kind of like rubbing on my leg and i just wasn't feeling it. like i was not feeling it. and i was like, you know, stop. so she threw one of my personal books in the toilet. i was pissed off at that point. and i kicked -- i kicked her really hard. and then she started hitting me. i believe i got the best of her. because she was like really short. and i'm really tall. and i kind of like dominated her. >> and really the two of you weren't lovers? >> no! first of all if i am going to be that way it will definitely be with somebody my height, somebody i'm interested in. this lady was like 4'11", 5 foot, rhyme 5'8". no. >> the skirmish temporarily landed benefield in a single person segregation cell, 23 hours a day. >> i have to take the bitter with the sweet. it -- it's only what i make of it. >> laila arguetta, a transgender male inmate with 42d breast implants says he also knows something about unwanted attention.

>> i am not here to attract any attention. i don't want none of these guys. i don't want no sexual play. i don't want none of that. i seen other homosexuals in here and they use the colored pencils, and they do their little makeup, their lips, and that's too much. where are you going? they already expecting for us gay boys or gay girls or whatever to come over here and be [ bleep ] because there's all these men. you come here and be so flamboyant. they're really going to like take advantage of that. you don't want that. good boys are not in here. >> so why would you -- >> i just like the attention. i like to control people. >> arguetta's cell many john mcfarland says attention is good but he craves something more. >> it says legend. everybody remember me and my career because i will be famous. >> i'm like, where can i go?

who can i see? then i wake up in jail and i realize that i am in jail. >> mcfarland has been in and out of santa rita several times. not all the charges stuck. but he does have prior convictions for grand theft of personal property and more recently for being in possession of a stolen vehicle. >> i found a van and the windows is busted out and i heard beyonce playing in the car and playing "who run the world" and i got in the car and i drove off. there was also some checks in the car. i tried to stop and do, like, write it for me and try to cash a check. then i got arrested in the parking lot of the check cashing place. >> mcfarland was eventually released on probation but is back in jail now for a violation he committed while shopping. >> i stole two letterman jackets and 12 hats and three pairs of underwear from urban outfitters. i was popping the beepers off. in the midst of popping the beepers off the bike police rode up and i was like taking off my clothes, putting on these new

clothes, trying to look fresh and fit, you know. i was just be swagged out, right? so i got caught with my shirt off. pants on the floor. >> the violations sent mcfarland back to jail for another six months. as his tattoos indicate, getting into trouble might be hereditary. >> l.b. lucifer's baby. when my grandma died i kind of turned away from god all the good stuff. and like the bad people always have the most fun. so -- >> we out here. that's all we could do in jail really is have some fun. coming up -- an admitted gang member says his injuries won't put him into retirement. and -- >> behind us is our solar panel system. it was installed 2001 when we started our push to be one of the greenest county facilities in the country.

oakland, california is a city of contrasts. it is consistently ranked in the top ten american cities for both its outstanding environmental practices but also for crime. at the santa rita jail the two worlds come together for an environmentally friendly corrections facility. >> so we are on top of housing unit 33 right now.

and behind us is our solar panel system. it was installed in 2001. when we started our push to be one of the greenest county facilities in the country. so the ones here on the roof don't move or anything but take the sun in to create energy. the ones behind us on the hillside, those go ahead and rotate with the sun as it passes over, to be more efficient. we then installed more on the services building and those actually heat up the water for the entire facility. >> in all santa rita has 9,000 rooftop solar panels and another 1,100 installed on the hillside behind the jail. to maximize use of renewable resources the jail installed five wind turbines and hydrogen fuel cell power plant it serves as a pollution-free source of electricity and heat. >> we wanted to be a leader in the area and do something good for the earth. >> in the jail's protective custody wing, an unusual church

service might be doing some good for inmates who otherwise would be enemies. they are former gang members, gay men and accused sex offenders. >> they all sit together and it's -- it's very powerful. >> trust me this is not happening in other houses. but it is happening here. so you ought to be grateful to god he allowed you to be a part of what's happening here. >> they put aside race. they put aside what their crimes and classifications are. the things you just don't see in this institution. >> jimmy silva, known as jimbo is a gang dropout who in the past has followed the convict code that virtually requires inmates to assault accused sex offenders. >> whatever those guys did they have to answer for that. before when i was on the line, we would, we would do things to those guys. without even thinking about it. >> silva said the fellowship helped build a relationship with another protective custody inmate who is also an old enemy, his cousin, fabian ruiz.

>> they're blood cousins. fabian ruiz was actively trying to kill jimbo. >> out on the streets. i was looking for him to hurt him. when i saw him in here and i was going to beat him up. and he, he didn't want to fight. >> god has brought a lot of things back to me. friends, family, who want to kill me. >> it was probably just the right time for us to see each other and talk about it. >> coming to this church it made me step back and -- and like try to -- focus on what am i doing wrong with my life. >> you know, he's my cousin. i love him. so, i mean, really -- whatever goes on on the streets. it ain't that serious anymore. >> because of this they were able to pull all of that aside. maybe that's two guys that just got saved that might have been dead on the street. >> but the church service deputy vails helped foster along with inmate moana ofahengaue could be coming to an end.

>> before we start as always we'll give it to our ceo, mr. vails. deputy vails is leaving for another job within the sheriff's department. this is the last service he will be supervising. unless another deputy volunteers to step in, the weekly gatherings will cease. >> i am taking all of you with me just like i always did every night when i left. what i'm leaving here is the tools that i've been given to make your lives better. some people would say these guys are monsters or animals. who cares what they have to say. i do. with everything bad that's ever happened in your life, you can always remember you can learn from it. it doesn't have to consume you. just move forward. that's my challenge to you. >> amen! >> deputy vails says he helped start the group, not out of a religious calling, but because it's important to offer a positive experience to inmates.

most of whom will inevitably return to the community. >> please bow your heads, gentlemen. >> my mother raised me to be catholic. in spite of all of her best efforts, i resisted. i don't really have a religion per se. my church is the beach. and when i hear waves crashing on the ocean, that's god talking as far as i'm concerned. >> i give thanks and praise. in jesus' name we pray. amen. >> amen. >> i listen to what they say. i envy their faith. i envy their conviction in what's going on. i wish i had something like that. right now i think they need it more than i do. >> hold hands together. put your hands together. >> i think his time and his purpose is now, he has to move on. >> of all of the inmates. ofahengaue might misdeputy vails the most. >> they may have called you names. you could be branded as a monster or an animal or a killer. >> he is awaiting trial on

especially heinous charges two counts of molesting girls under the age of 10. but deputy vails still allowed him to form the group. >> mr. vails, he sees within. it's like he saw me. he would go out of his way to do things for people. i guess it's just part of him. >> i want to say thank you, to i guess your superior service, i got to thank you then. thank you for making this possible. >> i try and treat these guys the way they treat me. they come in here with a clean slate. they didn't do anything to me here. they may have done something horrible on the street. if they did, the courts will punish them for it. that's their job. my job is to make sure they're taken care of while they're in here, care, custody, control. >> alex, you did good. >> okay. >> you're welcome. you earned it. >> i hope they can continue doing this every week. it really gives these guys something to look forward to. these guys need this. >> while the church service brings together two sets of inmates normally kept apart.

there are parts of the inmate population that will likely never integrate, the most dominant gang at santa rita is the nortenos, the northerners, they are for the most part hispanic inmates from northern california. >> the nortenos are a prominent gang. minimum yum, medium, maximum, they're a prominent gang. you can have a minimum, a norteno in for petty theft, put you put nip general population. >> their arch-rivals made up of hispanics from southern california, are vastly outnumbered. >> when they come in here to our facility because we are up in northern california, this is all considered norteno territory. we have to keep them separate from both the general population, and other gang members. for the most part. >> takes heart to be a soreno in northern california. >> miguel, a soreno from san diego depends on heart. because he can't rely on much else. >> well, anybody could beat me up, you know. it has happened before.

>> i got dropped one time. passed by nortenos. i said something, they flipped my chair over. i fell over. yeah. >> nieves has served prior jail sentences for crimes, including residential burglary, burglary of a vehicle, and illegal possession of a firearm. now he has nine months for possession of ammunition by a felon. he lost the use of his legs eight years earlier while engaged in gang activity on the street. >> i was banging on the street. i got hit with a car. i got dragged for a block and a half. >> did you see the car coming? >> no. no, i didn't. i was too busy fighting. >> nieves passed out after the accident and woke up in a hospital. >> i didn't feel nothing until i woke up with morphine. i was like whoa. that's when it hit me, that it

[ bleep ] happened. tubes and everything in my throat. you know what i mean? he was there when he went to the hospital, you know what i mean? >> javier moscedo, also a serrano, is nieves' cell mate. his presence during the interview is required by the gang. their policy is to have a monitor whenever one of them speaks to the media. >> what are you listening for as far as what he can or can't say? >> you know, the basic stuff. just stuff you can't say. you know. like the lifestyle, you know. prison politics, jail politics, it stays with us. it doesn't go nowhere. >> the gang life has led to more serious implications in nieves' life, such as his mobility, he doesn't regret. >> i don't regret it. i don't regret it. the only thing i miss is fighting. that's it.

fighting because i could defend myself. i could defend myself against anybody. coming up -- >> he made a statement that we don't have to speak. we're just two inmates in a cell. >> so you are not talking to each other? >> no. >> two cellmates have a falling out. and -- >> you just told all over on yourself. >> i am in jail anyway. >> danielle benefield comes clean about the skirmish that landed her in segregation. ♪ oh

>> some inmates at santa rita jail fill the void in their lives through religion or keeping a large stash of snacks from the commissary or dedicating themselves to gangs. regardless of the cost.

>> am i shining bright? >> you are shining bright. baby. >> am i shining bright like a diamond? >> shining bright. shining bright. >> or by finding a friend, like laila arguetta did with his cell mate john mcfarland. >> he is very open minded. he's a young individual. he has a lot of experience from the streets. >> but now the two have had a falling out. >> he made a statement that we don't have to speak. we're just two inmates in a cell. >> so you're not talking to each other? >> no. >> and it is kind of, you know, tormenting -- it's mentally torture. >> arguetta would not say what caused the rift. but mcfarland was willing to give his side of the story. he says it had to do with the free of charge indingent commissary bag he receives from the jail. >> he told me i am nobody because i don't have a commissary bag. she thought that she was better than me. and i told her you are still a man, just like i am. and she said do something about

it, bitch, so i picked up her bag and moved it towards the door. she pushed me, i pushed her back. i slapped her. punched her. she punched me. she kind of like fell and then she busted it open. and on the floor. and she's kicking me like this. and flailing like a whale trying to get away from me. and i'm trying to hit her. then the police came and stopped it. >> arguetta is ready to put their differences behind him. his release from santa rita is days away. >> if i am not in oakland, i can guarantee you i won't be coming to jail. i want to be a waitress. sort of like prostitution. serving tables. interacting with people. you get your tips daily. if i want to refuse service to somebody, i will refuse service to somebody. >> for the time being. danielle benefield need not worry about getting along with others. >> would you like yard today, miss benefield? >> yeah. >> okay, get dressed. >> okay, i will get dressed.

>> she is in segregation for fighting with another female inmate who she says was making advances towards her. but this isn't benefield's first time in trouble. >> benefield is the center of attention. she's very loud. she manipulates other inmates. when she is in her cell or out of her cell it is just, everything is on her. attentionwise. >> benefield says she can't help being the center of attention. and says she has a stash of letters from her inmate admirers. >> she wrote me and she's like what is really going on with you, my lady. i just got out this hard ass bunk after taking a nice, hot shower while thinking of you smiling. no, sweetness, i didn't [ bleep ] off, ha, ha, ha. but just the thought of you made me day dream. pfft. it's just funny how people come to jail and start trying to have these little jailhouse relationships. it's just -- it's just funny.

i'm flattered that the same sex is interested in me. >> benefield's social life has greatly decreased in segregation. she is only allowed out of her cell one hour a day by herself. she can either shower or spend time in an enclosed rec yard. what little interaction she has is with staff. >> she and i have a pretty good rapport. but she likes to have good rapports with all the deputies in the house. it's just part of her manipulation. >> some here have been skeptical of benefield's claim that a recent fight was to defend against unwanted advances and not a lover's quarrel. but sometimes segregation can lead to the truth. >> have you been in any interaction with her? >> what kind of interaction? >> any type of writing interaction? >> writing, yes. >> screaming interaction? >> yeah. all what she said. >> how? >> writing interaction. screaming interaction.

fighting interaction. touchy feely interaction. whatever. >> since the fight, you have been? >> what do you mean? >> have you had interaction with her since the fight? >> oh, no. i thought you were talking about -- >> no. you just told all over on yourself. that's all you. >> well, i am in jail anyway. >> is she a special friend to you? >> oh, my god. a special, oh, my god. i like how you threw that in there. at that particular night i really didn't want to switch. i am being honest. i did not want to switch. but i took one for the team. that's all i am going to say. >> with your special friend. >> with my special friend. you know i think i became weak at one point. because she was like bragging abut her skills. so i wanted to test them. i feel like a sudden weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

>> coming up -- >> take care of yourself. >> thank you. i hope i won't come back. >> i hope you don't come back too. >> change is in the air for miguel nieves, john mcfarland and the protective custody church service.

there are daily occurrences that can be counted on at the santa rita jail. for instance, the 1,100 solar panels installed in the adjacent hillside will slowly turn to keep track of the sun. one other thing you can count on is change. every day, new inmates arrive and others leave. and today -- miguel nieves will return to the streets. >> it feels good just to have,

this fresh breath of air. instead of just stuck inside the housing units. >> take care of yourself. >> thank you. i hope i won't come back. >> i hope you won't come back, too. >> nieves once lived for a short time in georgia. he says now he would like to return there. >> a lot of trees. fresh air. it's different from california. california is fast, fast, fast, fast, fast. and georgia is calm, slow. day by day. >> change has arrived for john mcfarland as well. it's been two weeks since his former friend and cell mate laila arguetta has been released. ♪ he is now housed with a friend from the streets, cardia fitzpatrick. and so far it has been nothing but good times. ♪ >> how we knew each other. we went to dance school. now that we are here we became

best friends. and we see eye to eye. we might have our differences but we still come together as one. and i enjoy every minute of it. >> every minute. >> every single minute. >> right. >> you my bestie. >> you mine too. >> for real. >> fitzpatrick serves as a sounding board for mcfarland's budding music career. ♪ ♪ like the dollar bill set on the front cut ♪ ♪ like the dollar bill set excited. >> one-hit wonder. >> one-hit wonder -- this is a thing. >> but a one-hit wonder is something that comes out and never comes out again. >> i understand that. >> say what you mean and mean what you say. >> well --

>> it's going to be wonderful. >> no -- take into existence and you're not going to do that. >> my apologies. >> why, thank you. >> mcfarland will soon have a chance to find an audience in the real world. he has just one month left on his sentence. but few changes at santa rita will have as much impact on the majority of men in the jail's protective custody unit as the one involving deputy vails. ♪ amazing grace how sweet the sound ♪ >> several months earlier, deputy vails helped start an ongoing church service between protective custody inmates who are usually kept separate from each other for safety reasons. but he recently left the jail for another position within the sheriff's department. the services could only continue if another deputy volunteered to take them over and risk bringing

enemies together. but that hasn't happened. >> deputy vails left. and the church -- we haven't had no more church in here. but -- >> it's kind of sad though. i think the authorities, they're going to think about the safety of, of their job. and everybody in general. >> they get so many different minds in one place. wanting to do something wrong. people are here, they are here for protection. they're separate for a reason i would rather just keep them separate. if we have church service it is with "a" and "b" pod together or with "c," "d," "e" and "f" together over there on that side where i'm watching them. >> deputy vails knew others on staff did not think the church service was a good idea. some felt it was naive or unsafe. as vails explained just prior to his departure, he was always aware of the risk, as welt as the potential benefit.

>> i have been doing this a long time. i'm not a fool. i know that some of these guys did it. it's not my job to punish them for what they've done. it is my job to try to contain their bad behavior best i can while in this facility. if the guys did something horrible on the street, i am very sorry it happened. there is nothing i can do about it. as long as they're here, if i can provide them with something that will allow them to feel better about themselves so maybe they don't reoffend make they can make amends for what they did. i know is sounds very naive, but if i can just get one guy to never come back here again who used to come back all the time. i think it is worth it. >> amen! >> amen

at your age i was already in a juvenile detention facility for stabbing another individual because i liked his bicycle. >> local high school students get an earful from an inmate. a group of inmates are entrusted with potential weapons but for the benefit of others. >> like these boots, too? >> one of them hopes this assignment will end in a life long bond. at the jail an inmate brawl