Orient Rd. Jail Visit

  Halfway from my car to the jail reception area, I wondered if I should bring my purse inside or leave it in my car.  Once I walked inside, sure enough, I had to turn around and leave my valuables in the car.  The jail was a structured place.  They didn't fool around.  We had to sign in and get a tour badge before going in to the facility.  I found it surprising that none of us had to walk through a metal detector, considering the jail's high security rules. 
  I learned that only one door can be opened at a time so no one can escape.  Although, the officer informed us that escapes have occurred in the past. 
  "The inmates have 24 hours a day to figure out ways to escape."  I found this statement to be very powerful.  It makes so much sense when you stop to think about it.
  It never occurred to me that we may be in close quarters with the inmates.  Right after the tour began, we saw a line of orange jumpsuits walking down the hallway in front of us.  They kept to themselves, but they stared at us like a pack of wolves stares down their prey.  I felt a little apprehensive from that point on.
  We went into the jail's control room where all the cameras were.  All the video is public record.  The officer said the booking area is the monitor to watch the closest because that is where most fights break out.
  We then visited a pod where an officer had the inmates on lockdown so we could enter.  I could see the inmates staring out of the small windows on their cell doors, watching our every move.  The officer was in a hurry to get us in and out of the pod because he said the inmates don't like to be on lockdown any longer than they need to be. 
  The reason the jail is perceived as "clean" and humane in comparison to what we see on TV is because in jail, most inmates are innocent, whereas in prison, the inmates have been found guilty.  Prison is for inmates serving sentences over a year.  I am happy we did not visit a prison.
  Because I am minoring in behavioral health, I was intrigued to learn how many inmates have mental disorders.  It was disturbing to learn than inmates have poked out their eyes, cut off their testicles, and committed suicide while awaiting trial.
   When we entered the booking area, two inmates had to be put in holding cells because they spoke words to us.  One officer said, "This isn't a playground."  I knew she meant business and I knew this was a place I never wanted to end up.
  We learned that information is not public record while under investigation because it is evidence until the case is closed. 
  It was a powerful trip.  I felt apprehensiveness among all my classmates.  We took away more than just information about public records.  I believe everyone took away a new appreciation for the system.