Deedee
asked
William Wright:
I worked in the third largest county jail in the US in the mental health division and loved it. I am anxious to read your take on your experience. How did your work at a county jail and a supermax prison differ?
William Wright
I certainly didn't know the answer to this when I accepted the job(s), so thanks for asking.
Jails are generally "holding pens" for people who have been arrested but haven't been convicted of a crime as yet. It's the whole innocent-until-proven-guilty thing. After their court dates the inmates are either returned to society or sent to a prison. For shorter sentences (up to 2 years) they may stay at the jail for their sentence.
What this means is I got people straight off the streets in jail. Worn-out, angry, addicted, frightened, and shell-shocked. They were sleeping under a bridge last night, often shooting up whatever into any vein they can still find. Often they don't know what diseases they have or what medicines, if any, they take. Many will bond out and be gone in a day or two. Average stay is only about 3 weeks, so I don't have much time to get things straightened out. It's like running a third-world emergency room.
In prison things are much more settled. The inmates are adjusted to incarceration, as much as anyone can be. I know their medical histories, what medicines they take, and at least roughly what the care plan is. Since they are going to be around for awhile, I can put together a long-term plan to take care of their chronic diseases.
Jails are generally "holding pens" for people who have been arrested but haven't been convicted of a crime as yet. It's the whole innocent-until-proven-guilty thing. After their court dates the inmates are either returned to society or sent to a prison. For shorter sentences (up to 2 years) they may stay at the jail for their sentence.
What this means is I got people straight off the streets in jail. Worn-out, angry, addicted, frightened, and shell-shocked. They were sleeping under a bridge last night, often shooting up whatever into any vein they can still find. Often they don't know what diseases they have or what medicines, if any, they take. Many will bond out and be gone in a day or two. Average stay is only about 3 weeks, so I don't have much time to get things straightened out. It's like running a third-world emergency room.
In prison things are much more settled. The inmates are adjusted to incarceration, as much as anyone can be. I know their medical histories, what medicines they take, and at least roughly what the care plan is. Since they are going to be around for awhile, I can put together a long-term plan to take care of their chronic diseases.
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