Jail Conditions are Deplorable Around the U.S. - Do We Want to Let Lawsuits & Lawyers Fix It?

[@ssmrmgb]

The problem is that prisons have become profit centers for the US prison industry.

[@j.d.-alawyerexplains5064]

Indeed.

[@ordnancesoldier3494]

Exactly.

[@activemanishere]

I've only spent hours in jail in that time I've learned there is so much more wrong with jails then just overcrowding. One jail doesn't have any way for you to figure out how to contact a bail bonds company. I got incredibly lucky that an inmate had the number memorized... another have us these smelly mattresses that were about the same cushioning as a yoga mat and both wouldn't allow you to have a pillow and took away anything you used a a pillow. Now mind you, i have no criminal record. Every time i went to jail i was out within hours and charges were always dropped. But there are people who live with these conditions for months or years. These were county or municipal jails. I can't speak for long term facilities as i have never been. But these conditions aren't ok even for hours. They are accepted because people believe in treating people who commit crimes like animals or say, they can avoid it by not committing crimes. But they are still humans and even if that attitude were morally right, these are facilities for people awaiting trial. A lot of them are like me. Innocent. False accusations or wrong place wrong time, or they were pinched trying to correct a wrong with a corrupt system or officer. No matter how you look at it, our jails should be better. I'm not saying tempurpedic mattresses and bunches of pillows but something that passes as a real mattress and a pillow per person. There should be an easy to find list of resources available for things like bailing out. Personally, i don't understand why they don't keep you at intake if you make it clear you want to bail out. Every time i tell them I'm bailing out they still make me spend hours going through the whole process just to make a call and be out within minutes. One was so bad, they make you spend the night in a solitary cell without allowing a phone call and then transfer you to the open bay style group facility the next day before you have access to a phone to get bailed out. I believe in the need for a jail system but the conditions they live in is unacceptable.

[@justinfowler5761]

One of the worst things that happens in US jails is jailors not taking your medical condition seriously. I haven't been to jail in many years, but the last time I went they completely disregarded my need to take medications that I had been on for years. None of my medications were narcotics, they were pills for HBP and a Beta Blocker. Even though I'm relatively young, I have a chronic kidney disease that requires me to take these medications. I was denied my medications the entire time I was locked up. I was in jail for three weeks.

[@angelacross2216]

I agree with you 100%. How can a regular person make a difference?

[@MoneGetsIt]

I don't think I would be buying "Ding Dongs" while in prison.

[@walkyourdog6584]

I wish you would look into yhe Richard Allen case and discuss how pre-trial confinement and forced psyche meds may have contributed to his "confessions."

[@j.d.-alawyerexplains5064]

@@walkyourdog6584 I will take a look

[@ewkerman4185]

Fulton County, rice st.

[@josephrobichaud5198]

Make the convicts do the rehab !

[@j.d.-alawyerexplains5064]

The problem with rehab is that if it isn't the person's decision, the buy-in isn't there and it won't be effective.

[@ordnancesoldier3494]

How did those monsters let the jail get in that condition? They are the ones who should be in prison...