Another participant, a housewife named Barbara, told Business Insider that new inmates were especially vulnerable.
"When you go into jail and you're an inmate, and it's your first time, the other inmates automatically take advantage of you. They can sense it," she said. "I had things stolen from me. There were issues with taking a shower, trying to sleep, and where to sleep."
Over the course of two months, the participants said, they experienced violence and sexual harassment from fellow prisoners and witnessed drug use and deals between inmates. About 80% of the jail's population were there on drug-related charges, according to Noel.
Participants also confirmed to Noel a long-held suspicion: that some inmates had purposely gotten arrested because drugs were cheaper in jail than they were on the street.
Another participant, Maryum Ali — the eldest daughter of boxing great Muhammad Ali — said that the experience was "the most scared I've ever been in my life," People reported.