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All You Need To Know About Jail

All You Need To Know About Jail

What is a Correctional Facility?
The institution colloquially regarded as Jail is included within the classification of a penal system existing within a country or nation. The Department of Corrections within the United States is a governmental branchresponsible for the regulation and oversight of Federal correctional institutions and prison facilities.
Although jails and prisons are both classified as correctional facilities that provide the means of incarceration, a contrast between both jail and prison exists within a variety of factors – this contrast is typically found upon the examination of not only the administration structure belonging to the prison or jail in question, but also to the respective size of the institution, the population of inmates, the duration of incarceration within the facility, the capacity of the facility, and the nature of the resources available with regard to the facilities in question:

What is a Jail?

A Jailis acorrectional institutionthat exists outside of the jurisdiction belonging toa specific Department of Corrections, as well as the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Jails are typically utilized to incarcerate inmates on a more localized level; as a result, these types of facilities commonly exist withinthe jurisdiction of towns, cities, or counties. The following classification and detailing is common with regard to the classification of a jail in contrast to the classification of a prison:
A Jail is considered to house criminals for periods of incarceration that are far more brief than those taking place within the level of prisons
A jail typically houses individuals apprehended in the presumed involvement of crimes and criminal activities considered to be less severe than those incarcerated within a prison system
A Jails is typically regulated and overseen by the appropriate branch of local government in lieu of the overarching state government branch belonging to the state in which the jail resides
A Jail will typically house inmates for a period not exceeding a year’s time
Prisons are institutions that may exist within an individual states’ Department of Corrections; prisons may also be operated and regulated on a Federal level, which is typically under the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP)
A Prison – in contrast to a jail – may range from security level to the level of inmate population; prisons can house inmates who have been convicted for the most severe crime
Inmates incarcerated in a prison facility may be sentenced to periods of incarceration ranging from 1 year to life imprisonment – in the event that capital punishment is facilitated in a specific state, a prison can administer that process


What Types of Jail Exist?

The following types of jails are common within localized municipalities existing within the United States:
Local Jail: An administrative, penal holding cell – or an additional method of confinement – in which individuals requiring brief confinement may be held until the completion of processing
County Jail: A Jail that provides incarceration for inmates accused of crimes less severe in nature within the expanse of a county within a specific state

Inmate Receives 60 Years for Assaulting Correctional Officers

Inmate Receives 60 Years for Assaulting Correctional Officers


On October 16, 2012, the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announced that Antoine Wallace received another 720 months in federal prison for assaulting and injuring federal officers at the United States Penitentiary in Florence, Colorado.  He was currently serving a sentence of 218 months for robbing a bank in Maryland.  


According to court documents, Wallace was in a meeting with correctional counselors before the assault began.  The counselors told Wallace that his unit orderly job was being relieved, and he became furious.  The correctional counselors called off the meeting.  


Wallace became even angrier in the common area and soon returned to the area where the meeting occurred.  He proceeded to punch the first counselor in the face and knocked him to the floor.  The second officer went into a defensive position, but Wallace punched him in the face and made him fall to the floor as well.  


Wallace left the office, but as the second counselor the office and called for help, Wallace began a second attack.  He punched the counselor several more times in the face and caused his head to hit the concrete floor.  A large pool of blood began coming out of his head.  


Emergency staff at the prison responded to the call.  The first counselor was sent to the hospital for head injuries.  The second officer’s face was so badly damaged that he was unrecognizable.  He was life-lined to the hospital and remained in intensive care for days.  The second officer is now permanently disabled and can never work again.


U.S. Attorney John Walsh stated, “The defendant in this case severely injured a Bureau of Prisons counselor and caused him permanent injuries.  For that crime, Wallace will spend the next 60 years of his life in prison.”


Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation
 

Prison vs. County Prison

Prison vs. County Prison

In general, those that are convicted of a crime by the county courts, are held at county prisons. In addition, those that may be awaiting trial, may also be held at a county court. Individuals convicted of a crime will be held at the county prison in the county where they were convicted of committing a crime, not in the county where they reside.
The county courts handle different types of cases than the state and federal courts. In general, less violent offenders are held at county prisons. In addition, county prisons generally have a focus on rehabilitation to avoid those convicted prisoners from re-offending. A county prison may however also house violent offenders, but they are likely to have less restrictions than they would at a state prison. 
 
 

How to Become a Prison Guards

How to Become a Prison Guards

The process of becoming a prison guard is often similar to that of becoming a police officer. If an individual wants to become a prison guard, he/she should obtain a bachelor’s degree from a four year college or university. Though state prison guards often do not require a college education, federal prison guards need to obtain a bachelor’s degree. 
After locating an available position and applying to this position, an individual will be subject to a background investigation and a physical. Subsequently, he/she will be required to successfully complete a corrections academy program. This program can last from 3 to 12 weeks and involves military style training, much like that administered to police officers. He/she will be taught how to handle prisoners and how to use firearms, in addition to many other skills. Upon graduating from the academy, he/she must complete a probationary period, which will likely last for at least one year. 

Becoming a Prison Guard

Becoming a Prison GuardTo become a prison guard, one should have a general interest in law enforcement. Furthermore, there certain aspects of the career that must be taken into consideration. A certain personality is necessary in order to be a prison guard, for it is inherent that one may deal with dangerous criminals, particularly in positions in state prisons. One must also have excellent awareness and have outstanding physical health as well. 

The path to becoming a prison guard begins with the application process. In certain cases, this may require taking educational and training classes, though it is not always required. Furthermore, because a prison guard is a civil service career, a background check, drug and alcohol testing, and physical testing will be part of the application process. Exams will also be administered in order to evaluate the applicant’s overall understanding of the position, as well as applicable laws and prison regulation methods. An interview will also be part of the prison guard application process, where the applicant will be assessed in terms of how he/she is to deal with specific situations that may occur in a prison. 

Legal jobs has more information on becoming a prison guard.

An Inmate And Cell Search in Jail

An Inmate And Cell Search in Jail

Depending on the jail will determine the amount of time an inmate search occurs. Generally, some type on inmate search will be conducted on a daily basis. Often these searches are quick and will involve a prison guard observing the cell. 
 
 
More thorough searches will involve the inmates being removed from the cells and a prison official searching in all the areas of the cell, including under the bed and behind any other pieces of furniture. When inmates enter a jail facility they will be initially searched. In some jails, after an inmate has a visitor, they may be searched again. Inmate searches are determined and conducted by the staff at the jail. If an item is found, that is illegal in the jail facility, the inmate could receive punishment. 
 
 

The 4 Security Levels in Prison

The 4 Security Levels in Prison

According to the United States Department of Corrections, there exist 4 primary levels of prison security levels; these levels are the following:
1.       Maximum Security: This prison security level is the highest and most stringent; only the most violent offenders are incarcerated within a maximum security prison. Within a maximum security unit, there exist sub-units such as solitary confinement, protective custody, and special housing units (SHU). In most cases, maximum security prisoners are confined to their cells for up to 23 hours a day and are under strict monitoring. 
2.       Close Security: This prison security level is akin to maximum security in its construct – consisting of single cells and close monitoring – yet close security prisoners are entitled extended outside of their cells.
3.       Medium Security: This prison security level most resembles a large residence hall which houses as many as 70 inmates in large, bunked sleeping quarters, as well as group toilet facilities. Although there is consistent monitoring, medium security prisoners are afforded various work assignments, which permits them to be out of their cells for longer periods of time.
4.       Minimum Security: Akin to the medium security prison, minimum security prisoners are housed in dormitories, but are considered to be the lowest risk to the public. As a result, these prisoners are afforded the opportunity to participate in groups, sessions, and rectification projects in order to reform themselves.

Washington County Jail

Washington County JailKing County Jail

The King County jail is located in downtown Seattle, and acts as the city’s primary correctional facility. The King County jail not only confines thousands of inmates, it also offers numerous programs to facilitate an individual’s re-entry into the community. The facility also provides numerous educational programs and therapy-based programs to pinpoint the inmate’s problems and offer a solution to overcome them. The King County jail has a fully operational website that offers a user a full roster of inmates, their permissible visiting hours, bail options, and their respective booking date.

Snohomish County Jail

The Snohomish County jail is located in Everett, Washington. The correctional facility offers numerous programs for both the incarcerated individual, and his or her family. The correctional officers and employees of the jail also offer incarcerated individuals medical services, commissary accounts, and educational programs that provide classes designed to further an incarcerated individual’s knowledge in religion, treatment methods, and other educational topics. The Snohomish County prison is a highly organized correctional facility; each inmate is classified and subsequently housed by a full evaluation method which takes into account the individuals history, his or her crime, and their behavior while confined. All pertinent information concerning an inmate’s rights, visitation hours, an inmate roster, and anything else pertaining to the correctional facility can be found at the website of the Snohomish County Sheriff’s office.

Pierce County Jail

The Pierce County jail is located in Tacoma Washington. The prison is a medium to maximum facility that consists of two separate facilities: the New Jail and a Main Jail. The Pierce County jail presently confines 1,300 inmates. As a result of its size, the prison must be highly organized to run efficiently. The Pierce County Jail has an extensive classification system that groups its inmates based on a 1 thru 8 ranking system. Level 1 is reserved for the most dangerous individuals while the 8th level is the minimum security or work-release portion of the facility. The Pierce County website contains a comprehensive jail roster, which lists all inmates confined in the facility, their respective charge, booking date, and bail amount.

Whatcom County Jail

The Whatcom County jail is located in Bellingham, Washington. The facility is a minimum to medium security prison that aims to teach its inmates valuable life lessons through the installment of a comprehensive educational and treatment-based program. The Whatcom County website has a full roster of inmates that allows family members, friends, and victims of the inmates to track and locate the incarcerated individual. The Whatcom County jail possesses three floors; the first and third floors hold women inmates. Visiting hours for inmates within the facility are coordinated with the inmate’s housing assignment.

Clark County Jail

Clark County jail is located in Vancouver, Washington and currently has a population of 714 inmates. The correctional facility is a low to medium security jail; the majority of inmates are convicted of non-violent crimes. The average length of stay for inmates within Clark County jail is just under 15 months. The Clark County jail has a medical unit that is considered highly effective. The center provides aid to confined individuals, but even with effective resources, the Clark County jail has experienced significant budget cuts. The prison has a total of 6 pods or cell blocks that are grouped based on crime committed.

Cowlitz County Jail

The Cowlitz County jail is located in Longview, Washington. The facility is relatively small, and houses mostly non-violent criminals. The Cowlitz County jail contains roughly 150 inmates, who are mostly convicted of drug crimes. As a result, the facility works closely with drug programs and the city’s drug courts to aid in rehabilitative efforts. The facility contains 8 cell blocks, labeled A through H, which contain roughly 20 inmates at a time. The majority of prisoners have cell mates, and as a result of its minimum-security status, the Cowlitz County jail is regarded as an interactive facility.

Kitsap County Jail

The Kitsap County jail is located in Port Orchard, Washington. The facility is a minimum to medium security prison that typically confines roughly 225 inmates at any given time. The typical prisoner within the facility is incarcerated for multiple misdemeanors or non-violent crimes. The Kitsap County jail roster, which is available online, offers the names of all inmates, their booking date, and their respective amount of bail.

Franklin County Jail

Located in Pasco, Washington, the Franklin County jail is a medium security correctional facility. Through the prison’s numerous educational and treatment programs the facility aims to rehabilitate its some 300 inmates. The Franklin County jail contains 6 separate housing units that contain various security levels. As a result of the prison’s minimal-security status, there is a considerable amount of turnover for the population. The Franklin County websites produces an updated roster, every 24 hours that contains bookings, releases, and a full list of all current inmates confined in the facility.

Thurston County Jail

The Thurston County jail is located in Olympia Washington. The correctional facility contains numerous programs and educational courses that aid in an inmate’s rehabilitation. The prison contains an online directory or roster that is available online which enables a person to search for an inmate, and his or her respective charge, bale amount, and booking date.

Clallam County Jail Roster

The Clallam County jail is located in Port Angeles, Washington. The facility operates at a bed capacity of 90, and processes nearly 3,000 bookings per year. The violations committed by the facility’s inmates are varied; from minor infractions to Murder 1, the Clallam County jail confines an eclectic mix of prisoners. As a result of the diversity, the Clallam County jail roster is one of the more comprehensive directories in the state.

Lewis County Jail

The Lewis County jail is located in Chehalis, Washington and is over sought by four key positions: the Jail Administrator, a Lieutenant, a Programs Sergeant, and an Administrative Secretary. In addition to utilizing its various resources and educational programs for the purpose of rehabilitation, the Lewis County jail offers a safe and secure environment for its employees and the inmates. The Lewis County jail roster lists all inmates alphabetically. On the jail roster one can view the respective arrest date, their bond type and amount, and a description of the violation committed.

Skagit County Jail

The Skagit County jail is located in Mount Vernon, Washington. The facility holds 226 inmates, both male and female. A full roster of the inmates can be found at the Skagit County jail’s website. The roster includes the inmate’s names, their identification numbers, their permissible visitation hours, the arrest dates, and their scheduled release. The Skagit County jail operates with nearly 200 beds, and a comprehensive medical service.

Whatcom County Jail Roster

The Whatcom County jail is a minimum-security prison located in Bellingham, Washington. The facility is located within the public safety building; it is not a separate building rather, a piece of a law enforcement plaza within the community. The Whatcom County jail roster, which is located on the prison’s website, is a database that requires the user to type in the inmates’ name. When the inmate is located, the roster will offer his location within the facility, the booking date, and the booking number.

A History of Prison in the World

A History of Prison in the World

The concept of a penal colony or jail can date as far back to around 400 B.C. in Jerusalem, where dungeons were used to hold prisoners that were incarcerated for committing crimes. 
However, jail as it is known today is more closely related to the jail system that was implemented in Britain during the 19th century, arising out of the philosophy and views of Jeremy Bentham. Prior to Bentham, a penal colony or jail was simply a holding place or facility for criminals awaiting hanging. Bentham would be responsible for imparting the notion that having criminals incarcerated could also be used as punishment, which was a completely revolutionary concept at the time.
In the United States, the history of jail and the penal colony can be traced back to the colonies established in Pennsylvania, in particular, William Penn’s colony. William Penn would abolish some of the punishment tactics and codes from England that seemed too severe for the crime. Death was a common punishment, even for what can be considered minor crimes. Aside from major crimes such as murder, imprisonment in jail was used as a punishment, along with fines and labor. 
Prisons were mostly used to hold those awaiting trial, witnesses, and even those that owed debts, though this would change with the onset of the American Revolution. As more people would become incarcerated, penal colonies would have to expand and become larger in order to house more inmates. One of the first major prison facilities that was constructed in the United States would also be founded in Pennsylvania, which would become known as the Eastern State Penitentiary, which began construction in 1822 and would be completed in 1836.

King County Jail

King County Jail

The King County jail is located at 500 5th Avenue, in downtown Seattle, Washington. The facility became fully operational in 1986 and currently employees nearly 375 correctional staff members. In addition to confining thousands of inmates the King County jail offers numerous programs to facilitate an individual’s re-entry into the community, and educational classes to help those same individuals avoid making the same mistakes that led to a prison sentence.
The King County jail has a fully operational website which offers a family member or friend of an incarcerated individual pertinent information regarding location, visiting hours, bail options, and a description of all the aforementioned programs. In addition, the website also offers a King County jail register which lists a full King County jail roster. 
The King County jail roster lists all inmates that currently reside in the correctional facility. Furthermore, the King County jail roster, in addition to the incarcerated individuals’ name, offers a friend or family member the location within the facility, the date of incarceration, and the expected release of the inmate. By viewing the King County jail register an individual can look up the corresponding visiting hours and rule of their incarcerated loved one.
Within the King County jail exists numerous courts, and the King County Sheriff’s office. The office of the King County Prosecuting attorney is also found inside the correctional facility. The various programs that the King County Jail offers are listed below:
·      Volunteers & Community-Based Service Groups
·      Educational & Literacy Services
·      Creative Writing Skills Class
·      Health Education Programs-Hepatitis C and Healthy Sexuality
·      Psychiatric Services
·      Pregnant Women & Prenatal Care
·      Domestic Violence Support Services for Women
·      Yoga Classes
·      Stress Management & Personal Empowerment