Jones was a student and professional athlete—she played several sports in high school, received a track scholarship to Fresno State University, came in sixth in shot put at the 1988 Olympic trials and "won 15 world arm wrestling championships"—and for the role she drew on her experience from having worked "four and half years in lockdown at the Juvenile Hall in Fresno with adolescent offenders".
Jones var studerende og professionel atlet, spillede hun flere sportsgrene i gymnasiet, fik et spotsstipendium til Fresno State University, kom på en sjette plads i kuglestød til de Olympiske Lege i 1988 og "har vundet 15 arm wrestling verdensmesterskaber" Hun trak på sin erfaring fra at have arbejdet "fire og et halvt år i låsning ved Juvenile Hall i Fresno med unge lovovertrædere".