What was Jail like for you? (if you've ever been)?
84291
I was 19 when I got busted right after buying a bag of weed. one and a half ounces if I recall. (Minor misdemeanor possession, and Misdemeanor One Paraphernalia. It is ridiculous that I got in more trouble for having a pipe on me than I did for having drugs on me.) After having missed the court date for said tickets, I had a warrant out for my arrest. After evading it for about 3 weeks, I got tired of it and decided to "man up" to my mistake. Because I couldn't pony up the $48 dollars in bond required, I got stuck in county jail until the next court session, which was 6 days away. While I was in there, no-one told me when I was going to court, no-one told me IF I was going to court. Since this charge occurred in a municipality, there were no open lines of communication. I was crammed in a large two room cell with 24 other guys, and this room was obviously built for 16 people. The other prisoners got to calling me "Sonny-boy" after the little chicken boy with glasses from Foghorn Leghorn cartoons. There was one toilet, with NO barrier between me and the rest of the inmates. There was one shower with no curtain which no-one dared use, because of randy comments made by several of the other inmates. We had three square meals a day, food quality wise reminded me quite a bit of "free lunch" that I got from school because I was poor. There was a lot of bargaining and fighting over food in our cell, and I often had to wheel and deal to get people to leave me the F@#$ alone. There were about 16 beds, and everyone constantly argued and fought for them. I ended up sleeping on the standard issue gym mat right on the floor near a metal secured picnic table. There was only one window that showed the outside, and it was a sort of square park area about 20 feet big. The only thing in there was one lone tree, surrounded by a square of walls. I still see that scene in my mind as the perfect representation of losing my freedom. There was one guy in the cell that had a ton of paperback books, and that was what kept me sane in that place for 6 days. I did whatever I could to distract myself, I ended up reading 10 books in that 6 day time. At one point, one of my cellmates tried to forcibly remove my food from me, and I had to fight him. I feel horrible to this day, because this guy was like 60 years old. \n\n At that time in my life, I was losing myself to the drug scene. I was careening out of control and this experience started me on the path to sanity. After my court date and much pleading with the judge, I ended up with time served, a $900 fine (and court costs), and the order to "Consult a drug councilor". I did just that, thinking I could convince this person that I had no problem, and get back to my old ways. It did not pan out that way, and I spent 6 months in "Intensive Outpatient Rehab" with a 6-month sentence hanging over my head. Out of 32 of my peers in this program, me and one other person managed to come through the program successfully. About that time, I became involved with my future wife, and things have been great ever since. I came through all this without a scratch. It was tough for me, but his was what I needed to turn myself around. I have been drug free now for 8 glorious years, and I wouldn’t have changed this experience for the world. I often wonder how my life would have been had I not faced up to my mistake. Basically, jail sucks! It is a good punishment for many, but not for some. Do not get sent there if you can help it. (Unless that is what you need.)\nBlessed Be\nMyWifeRules2004
1148908
No but I've been arrested and called one a bunch of obscene names mad at him and very very drunk! He was/IS an asshole and I was mad at him because he was such a jerk. His name was officer KIND! lol....Kind he was not!
64526
it all depend on there behavior. if they have good behavior, and a job dutie they will get out early than what they suppose to do. trust me I know I been there to many time I know the jails and what they expect of you while you are there.
610898
I am a regular visitor at a California State Prison and at a County Jail.... At the Prison, things are both better and worse than I had imagined before this became a reality in my life... In order to visit, I had to fill out an application, and consent to a DoJ background check... once approved, I was pleasantly surprised at my first visit at how orderly the process was and how pleasant the visiting area is.... except for the Correctional Officers and the fact that the men were all wearing the same thing, it seemed more like a cafeteria than what I'd thought a "Prison Visiting room" would be like.... Some things that troubled me: At the prison I visit, there is a program that allows visitors to purchase poloroid photographs and the proceeds go to support things like keeping toys and games in the room for visiting children and helping to fund the prison library... There is an inmate who is assigned to take the pictures,(he is also responsible for keeping the room tidy) and I was shocked to learn that it was not allowed for me to buy this fellow a soft drink as a way of expressing my appreciation for the wonderful job he did both with the pictures he took for us and keeping the room looking so nice.... Seems to me that being able to reap some reward for a job well done is a key part of the rehabilitative process, not to mention the value of a moment of normal, polite, social interaction... and it's pointless to forbid such courtesies...what could it possibly hurt?\nDuring another visit, I observed a couple at a nearby table... I had been chatting with the woman while we were waiting outside and knew she'd recently had a death in the family.... At one point during her visit, she was crying and her husband touched her face, wiping away tears... The CO reprimanded them for "Inappropriate Contact".... How is it in ANYONE'S interests to teach a man NOT to express concern or compassion? Anyone could see that there was nothing "intimate" about that gesture, it was simple kindness...a thing that should be fostered, not forbidden.\n\nThere are other examples of pointless little meannesses that seem to me to be counterproductive, but I'll leave it here... except for a detail that the public is doubtless unaware of... In California's prisons, inmates are subjected to a strip search each time the enter or leave the visiting area...even to visit the restroom. I can see why a search at the beginning and end of a visit might be reasonable, but 4 or 5 in as many hours when the visitors were already searched before being allowed into the room? (No, not strip searched, but their belongings examined, shoes inspected, pockets turned out and a pass through a metal detector and, at random, a pass throgh a an ion drug scanner)\nFor anyone interested in learning more about the realities of our prison system, take a look at http://www.prisontalk.com\n\nPopular media paints a very unrealistic picture and before you form opinions about the system, it seems like a good idea to find out more about what really goes on.
367716
have you been arrested? then you do, if not then no
1148711
No, never, not even if I was awake.  \n\nI would even go so far as to consider it cruel and unusual punishment if I were in a prison or jail.
950111
Have you tried the old fashioned way and called the jail ??\n\nPublic Information is a wonderful thing.
1041361
I arrested this girl once that actually primped in the mirror before they took her mugshot.  Lots of eyes rolling in the jail that night.  ha ha\n\nOf course, all the way there she asked, "why are you doing this to me?"  Like I make her decisions.  Kids these days... no responsibility.
852025
I can tell you what happens in Illinois. You are transported by the Sheriff's deputy to the "processing" prison. In Illinois, that is either Graham, Menard or Statesville. Once there, you are immediately ordered to take off the jail clothes and put this green stuff in your hair to kill lice. then you are ordered to take a quick shower. After the shower, they place you in a cell for the next 2-4 weeks. During this time, you are processed through medical screening, psychological screening and physical screening. You use to be required to take an educational test. If you score below a certain score, you are required to attend school once you get to your placement prison. Where they place you depends on your escape risk, nature of conviction and time to be served. Once the processing is over after the 2-4 weeks at the processing center, then you are placed on a bus and transported to the prison that you will be staying at. However, the processing prison is similar to maximum security in nature. No movement, 2 showers per week, no telephone calls. You are allowed to receive mail and to write. Once you get to your permanant prison site, you are required to work at a job. Usually between .15 cents and .30 cents per hour. This is just enough to pay for the toiletries and personal items at the end of the month. Too many ignorant people sterotype prison as a place where people are raped every day. This is untrue. HOWEVER, inmates do have their own rules and it is definitely a world quite different from the outside. If you break those rules, then you will suffer the consequences. Remember that even if you are there for something petty as a drug conviction, there are murderers even at the minimum facilities. They are there because they have usually less than 5 years to serve on their sentence. It is a transitional period. Do not act as a bad a-s-s because those are the ones that find out the hard way. Do not call anyone a "b-i-t-c-h" or "p-u-n-k". Those two words can get you killed literally. Do not try to stare down another inmate. DO NOT get close to the guards on a friendly basis, otherwise, you will be considered a snitch and considered a danger to the other inmates. This could get you hurt.
528407
I spent three days in a county jail with a 6 foot tall very angry woman who had just shot her husband in the face.  ummm.. yeah, can somebody please call my daddy???....  the worst part about it was that mine was such a petty crime. horticulturist should never be jailed, i was doing my part to produce more oxygen and eliminate global warming ;O)
505005
I did once. I was on vacation in Florida,the bouncer driving me home was arrested for D.U.I,and I was hand-cuffed to the Blazer door til they figured out what to do with me. They wouldn't uncuff me cause I'd take off walking so I pulled up the skirt,dropped the panty hose & let it fly right on the side of the highway. Could'nt hold it any longer & I knew I'd never see these people again. Terrible huh? True though.
1187882
Hi M_money,\nI met the IncarceratedDude once, a few weekends ago. I was walking to the corner market for a loaf of bread when I had to pass by a neighborhood church. I was somewhat acquainted with the structure as it was always mentioned in the newspaper's community section. Known as "The loft," folks would gather there on Thursday evenings for poetry readings.\nHowever, this day happened to be a Saturday afternoon and a pair of gentlemen greeted me as I walked by. They invited me inside to sample an hour of their presentation. Ok, I went inside and found myself to be a prospective new recruit for their brand of religion.\n\nMost of the pews were filled with hooded monks chanting a haunting rhythm. There were others who like me, were wearing their regular denims. The service began like most others that church-goers would be familiar with. A grand master of ceremonies led the group through some songs and gave a sermon. Near the end of the hour it was time for their ritual of "laying on of the hands." Some of the parishioners would come forward and ask for prayers for their ailments or for a sick grand mum who fell down in the tub. All the hooded dudes whose faces could not readily be seen would all place a hand on the person and their combined energies were presumed to have a strength and expedite a solution to the problem.\n\nOK now, there was another new guy in the pews who was watching eagerly. I recognized IncarceratedDude from a wanted poster viewed earlier at the post office. When he saw a chance, he approached the ring of conspirators and described how he was always moving around and never able to settle down. The hooded goons closed in upon him, all to make a physical connection. The master of ceremonies began a prayer, a dogmatic mix of logic and pure hocus-pocus. I immediately saw the effects of the procedure as the tension went out of IncarceratedDude's body. When the beseeching was near an end, the master asked, "Are the brothers ready?"\n\nA suspenseful few moments passed until he almost shouted, "NOW!"\n\nOn that cue, the brothers began to pummel their hapless victim. Continually delivering blows over head and to the solar plexus until IncarceratedDude was down on the floor getting stomped. After another minute, the grand Pooh-Bah decided the treatment administered was sufficient to induce a relaxing calm that would assuage the nervousness of IncarceratedDude for a long, long time.\n\nI can't say for certain if IncarceratedDude got the comeuppance he deserved as I had a loaf of bread to buy and some other errands to do that day. I hope for you M_money, that you do find a sense of closure to this difficult episode of life.\nor, just send an Email to incarceratedDude@cabarrus.com\n\nBrett
621952
Sometimes...most of the time...yes.  Absolutely.\n\nBut there have been many times over the years where I have been quite certain the arrest is going to have a devastating effect on the person, their family, or others.  I don't enjoy those times at all.\n\nThen why do it?\n\nBecause it's my job; the one I was sworn to do the day I accepted it, and because I don't arrest people on a whim.
861033
I have known a couple that have been sent to prision,  they are determikned as to male or female by thier birth certificate and how they are determined.\n\nBut even in prison, they are keep in lock down, protective custody and will not be ever in general population.\n\nThe one "gentlemen" I knew was in there for a simple drug crime but was doing his 5 years in complete lock down.
249995
Yes, this is hard!!! I have two people I care about locked up...one serving life for something he did not do, the other awaiting trial and it sucks rocks....one thing that keeps me sane is this place http://prisontalk.com/forums/\nIt is a support and information community for people with loved ones in the system. Check it out.
798182
Depends on the state but it's a serious crime in every state.  In my state it's 10 to 40 years and if you're a good inmate you only have to serve 85 % of if.
25236
There is a wonderful support and information group at http://prisontalk.com\nSomeone there will have your answer.\nI've got a "someone special" locked up, too, and this group has helped me a great deal.