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Once the cuffs are on

In the course of our lives, some may have watched as people — whether they know them or not — have been placed in handcuffs, led into a police officer or deputy’s vehicle and hauled off to jail. But what happens from there may not be as familiar.

Sergeant Detention Administrator Beth Price explained when suspects are arrested they are taken to a secure area along with the arresting officer. At that point, they are medically assessed and searched, even if the officer conducted a search prior.

Any property suspects have is then taken and they proceed through the booking process. Basic pertinent information is obtained, along with fingerprints and photos, before being taken to a cell. If suspects are intoxicated, Price noted, there is a detox cell in the jail where they are put until they register .000 on a breathalyzer, so their time in the cell can vary depending on the level of intoxication. After being released from the detox cell, they are put into general population.

Jail rosters are released daily, documenting any subjects taken in to the jail or released, as well as other pertinent information such as the arresting officer, crime for which they were arrested and where they are being held. While it’s typical to see a number noting a cell or “detox” for where they are being held, recently rosters have also been listing “kitchen.”

Price said this is something that hasn’t happened before in her 26 years working at the jail. She explained that, counting the two holding cells, the jail can hold 32 prisoners, and has been averaging 29 prisoners for the past year to 18 months. At this time there is one subject who is being kept separate from other inmates so he is actually taking up two cells by himself. In another cell, the door is not locking properly so it’s not being used; people are scheduled to look at the door.

Last Thursday, Price noted all of the cells full. That meant some cells, designed for holding two people, were used for three with one person sleeping on the floor. The pantry area of the kitchen was also utilized for two subjects who are also inmate workers in the kitchen. Price added the pantry is not a secure as the regular cells, though the workers are out and about most of the day anyway and in an area where staff can keep an eye on them.

It should be noted that the inmates housed in the pantry have since been moved to regular cells, and overall the population has dropped to 24, as opposed to 30 last Wednesday.

The jail has been hitting periods when there is absolutely no room left quite a bit lately, and at those times measures are taken if someone has to be booked, such as housing inmates three to a cell, putting more than one in a detox cell or using other areas. “The problem,” she said, “is eventually we run out of secure areas to put them and that’s not good.”

Sometimes inmates can be moved to other counties if they have space, Price said, with Washakie and Fremont counties being used the most. Likewise, Hot Springs County’s jail has also held prisoners from other counties.

There have been some discussions about expansion among the jail staff, such as how it might be possible; with the way the building is laid out vertical might be the only way to go.

Overpopulation isn’t just an issue on the county level, as Price noted the state penitentiary is picking up what they can but often leaving inmates at the county jails. Inmates, she said, are even being moved out of the state.

As for the daily routine of the inmates, Price said from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m. they are locked in their cells, but outside those hours they are in the day room area where they have access to tables, showers, television and a phone.

They also have access to an exercise yard and an extensive library, she noted, and there are activities in the day room such as pictures to color, and cards and dice for games. Price said she works hard to keep the library up-to-date and interesting. She’d like to get something to help inmates get their GED, she said, but such materials aren’t available here anymore.

People can also donate books to the library if they want, but they must be paperback and no magazines are allowed. “All they have to do is just bring them up here,” Price said. “Give me a call or show up with them. We’ll take them. We could also use someone that would like donated books as well. Sometimes I get three or four copies of the same book.”

There are some exceptions to the rule, Price added. For instance, if someone were working on his or her journeyman plumber’s license or doing something through a church they can certainly have that material as well.

People can also donate money to the inmates for use in the commissary for items such as food and clothing. “There’s quite an assortment of stuff,” Price said. “I try to change it up a little bit.”

There are church services once per week, and there is allotted time for any clergy who want to come and visit. The jail also has allotted time for AA meetings. As for visiting, there are scheduled times twice per week, though inmate attorneys can visit any time they choose.

As for the meals people get while in jail, Price said the inmate workers put together the menus and do most of the cooking, though jail staff cook as well. A dietician has looked the menus over, and a health inspector makes regular visits to the jail. “We make sure that they’re getting balanced meals,” she said, adding people might eat better while in jail than they would otherwise. “They get pretty good food here.”

An issue Price has seen come up is the medical. “We have not had a jail nurse or jail doctor in years. We have not been able to find a nurse or a doctor who is willing to come up here . . . I’ve tried everything I can possibly think of.” She’s gone through different agencies, but in the end it’s much like a regular household. “If they need something, we’re at the doctor’s office.”

“We don’t go for every little thing, but at the same time we’re not doctors. If you say you’ve got an earache we have to believe what you’re telling us. We have to have that checked out. A lot of the time we have inmates that fake it, we even know they’re faking it, but we can’t take that chance.”

Price said the inmates have been changing the past few years. “I’ve been here a real long time. It used to be we’d get your typical DUIs, somebody stole some tires or little burglary charges.” Now, there are people who are committing higher-level felonies so the jail staff has to be more diligent. “With so many people here — we’re averaging 29 or so — and we often work alone so you don’t have somebody to watch your back or somebody to go for help if you need it. We need to be very careful how we deal with things here.”

Price wants to have two people working all the time. “With this many people in here we really need that.” She understand that budgets are tight nearly everywhere, but also pointed out that it’s hard to find people who want to do this kind of work.

 

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