Imagine yourself driving back home from a great party with several people and alcohol. Now, imagine yourself getting stopped by the police for drinking and driving. Do you know what happens once you’re taken to jail? Most people don’t, but our class got to see firsthand how a person goes through a DUI jail stay.
Lieutenant W. Addison and Captain R. Stein conducted the tour of the facility to let us have a basic understanding of the typical DUI bust.
Capt. Stein explained to us that when a person receives a DUI, they usually go through the typical field sobriety test, and if they fail, they get arrested. That is what most people know. When they are taken to the jail, they are first sat down for a 20 minute observation period to see how the person is after being arrested.
After the 20 minute observation period, you are then taken into the testing room to find out what has you intoxicated. That room has a camera and microphone and everything in that room is recorded and that tape can be used for a story if requested because it is a public record.
Once you are done being tested, you are then taken to central booking. Your property is deposited and recorded. Then you are photographed and fingerprinted and those also are public records once in the police archives.
Deputy Santana, the booking deputy, explained to us that the arrestee fills out an inventory form giving the details of their possessions. For example, they would fill out how much money they came in with and the exact possessions they have on their person. Santana also explained that they usually book 200 inmates a day.
They are also given fact sheets that explain to the officers who they are, what they are in jail for, which pod they are in and any other information necessary.
Once they’re booked, they are taken to their assigned pod. Each pod holds up to 72 inmates. The pods are also assigned based on behavior. If you’re on good behavior, you tend to have a little more freedom and be able to roam around the pod. But if you’re on bad behavior, you’re put in isolation and you are put on 23 hour lockdown and only an hour to shower, eat and have yard time.
From this visit, it made me realize that I never want to be arrested for anything as I don’t ever want to go through the process that we learned about. It was a rewarding experience to understand what goes on after being arrested.
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