waltappel 1 #1 March 20, 2006 Yeah I know, I deserve to be locked up, but actually I went to visit an old friend who I just found out is in jail. It's one of the Harris County jails in Houston, Texas. I don't know how it compares to other jails, but it was the first time I've ever visited anyone in jail and am posting this in case anyone is interested. The first impression I got was that they don't make it convenient to visit someone in jail. I can understand that. It's not a resort, after all. I walked in and the place was packed. I was pretty much the only white person in the place. That made me neither comfortable nor uncomfortable and I mention it only as an observation. The lines were long. It is a large jail. To give you an idea how large, according to their website, there are over 600 employees there! One thing that really stood out for me was just how nice everyone was. I mean the people waiting to visit prisoners. It was a very polite, laidback, and generally nice group of people. Much nicer than the average public crowd. I can only speculate as to the reason, but I'm thinking that the shitheads of the world are not going to bother visiting their "friends" who are incarcerated. Only the people who care are going to do that. There was never a time when I felt trapped. No doors were locked behind me--I was free to leave at any time. They kind of arrange the visitation so that all the prisoners on a given floor come to the visitation area in a group. Consequently, they let all the visitors on that floor in a group. If you arrive at the jail at the wrong time, you wait until they send the next group up to the floor that your person is on. That's why the lines can be terribly long. The visitation area is kind of hard to describe. Imagine a side of a house that has four large bay windows a few feet apart from each other. Now imagine the bay windows stick out about 10 or 15 feet and you can only see through the sides of the bay windows. Along each bay window (side) there are three "booths". You know those rows of public telephones that have those 2 ft. high partitions between them and a little shelf under the phone? Each booth is something like that. There is a window between the visitors and the prisoners and each booth has one of those round metal things with the slots for you to speak through--much like a teller window. You can't really talk, though. It took us several minutes to communicate the idea that I would be sending him a letter. When talking with him, I had to cup my hands next to my mouth and speak very loudly directly into that metal thing. He would be on the other side with his ear up against the metal thing with his hands cupped around it. Even then, we could barely hear each other. He managed to get it across to me that he could make 15-minute collect calls, so I told him I would be sending him a letter with my phone number and times he could expect to be able to reach me. We left it at that because not only could we not communicate well, but there were far more visitors than there were booths. I left after about 5 minutes. I'm sure we wouldn't have recognized each other on the street, but it was kind of easy in jail since we were the only white guys in the place. Even then, it took a couple of seconds. I hadn't seen him in over fifteen years. He was smiling and didn't look beat down or anything so I was glad to see that. Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydiveStMarys 0 #2 March 20, 2006 I'm surprised you didn't bake a cake for the occasion. We all know how "bright" you can be at times....that would make for a grrrrreat story!! BobbiA miracle is not defined by an event. A miracle is defined by gratitude. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #3 March 20, 2006 QuoteI'm surprised you didn't bake a cake for the occasion. We all know how "bright" you can be at times....that would make for a grrrrreat story!! Bobbi You would dearly love that, wouldn't you? One thing that did surprise me a little was that there were no signs warning about what was and was not considered contraband. Since I had never been there before, I had no clue whether my cell phone was considered contraband or not. They have some rental lockers, but I had spent all my change on parking so I decided to go with the don't ask, don't tell policy about the cell phone and go through the metal detector with it. When I walked through the metal detector, I was carrying my cell phone and two sets of keys. The metal detector did sound an alarm when I went through. I don't know what it would take to set it off, but I was surprised I got through with all that stuff. Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RkyMtnHigh 0 #4 March 20, 2006 Good God, Walt! Between this one and the "jailbait date at the concert" story...you're killin' me!!! _________________________________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #5 March 20, 2006 QuoteGood God, Walt! Between this one and the "jailbait date at the concert" story...you're killin' me!!! jailbait date at the concert?!!! Shit, did I post something really bad and forget about it?!!!! Yikes!!!! Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydiveStMarys 0 #6 March 20, 2006 "One thing that did surprise me a little was that there were no signs warning about what was and was not considered contraband. Since I had never been there before, I had no clue whether my cell phone was considered contraband or not." Yeah...your a reall killer...thats for sure. I know, I know you just wanted to be patted down by a femal security gaurd...Pervert!! That would be a great story too!! How I got my cheap thrills at the local jail..by Walt Appel BobbiA miracle is not defined by an event. A miracle is defined by gratitude. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RkyMtnHigh 0 #7 March 20, 2006 You didn't post it, it was a conversation we had one night _________________________________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #8 March 20, 2006 Quote"One thing that did surprise me a little was that there were no signs warning about what was and was not considered contraband. Since I had never been there before, I had no clue whether my cell phone was considered contraband or not." Yeah...your a reall killer...thats for sure. Yes I'm a wimp--you don't have to rub it in! Quote I know, I know you just wanted to be patted down by a femal security gaurd...Pervert!! That would be a great story too!! How I got my cheap thrills at the local jail..by Walt Appel Bobbi I will do nearly anything to get a good story out of the deal, but being frisked by a female officer would scare the piss out of me. With my luck I would get one with world-class PMS and I would remind her of someone she really hated!!!! Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydiveStMarys 0 #9 March 20, 2006 Hurt me baby!!!!!!!I've been a bad bad wittle boy!!!! BobbiA miracle is not defined by an event. A miracle is defined by gratitude. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #10 March 20, 2006 QuoteHurt me baby!!!!!!!I've been a bad bad wittle boy!!!! Bobbi Fuck, are you kidding?!!! The last time I said something that stupid was when a friend told me she was into S&M. I made some wiseass comment asking her what it felt like to get whipped. (Yeah I know, I was asking for it!) She later sneaked up behind me and got me across the calves with a leather cat o' nine tails. Wouldn't have been so bad, but I was wearing shorts. It hurt like shit and I had welts for over a week. I never said shit about whips to her after that! Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GARYC24 3 #11 March 20, 2006 I can't help thinking of that scene in Gold Member, where she brings at that bag from TacoBell and then he say "Let's FREAK!" haha Oh, just to add, I have visited my older brother in jail at Ft. Knox many years ago. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy_Copland 0 #12 March 20, 2006 I've visited a friend in jail. When i was about 16, he was my best friend and the same age in a young offenders . I found it very uncomfortable and did feel trapped, but we could sit at a table face to face in a room filled with others doing the exact same thing and talk quite freely and easily. I found the people to be very intimidating. I also havea friend that has spent time in both a young offenders and adult prison who didnt want any visiters as he said "to get his head down and get on with it." But he did say that he found the young offenders much worse as the younger ones still felt like they had something to prove.1338 People aint made of nothin' but water and shit. Until morale improves, the beatings will continue. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydiveStMarys 0 #13 March 20, 2006 Who said anything about whips??!! You are a freak!! I KNEW it!!! Thats why I like you sooooo much!! BobbiA miracle is not defined by an event. A miracle is defined by gratitude. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pop 0 #14 March 20, 2006 hehe...ive been to that jail before7 ounce wonders, music and dogs that are not into beer Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #15 March 20, 2006 QuoteWho said anything about whips??!! You are a freak!! I KNEW it!!! Thats why I like you sooooo much!! Bobbi I'm really quite innocent. I do have some really interesting friends, though. Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RkyMtnHigh 0 #16 March 20, 2006 Quotehehe...ive been to that jail before how long? and how "bad" was your experience? _________________________________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
moodyskydiver 0 #17 March 21, 2006 *psshhh!* Thats just county jail.Come to Prison Town,USA here in Huntsville,TX and try to feel nice and comfy on visiting day at on of the 9 state prison facilities here. You have to sign a waiver and notice all the "no hostages past this point sign" so you know the state doesn't give a shit if you're taken hostage b/c you signed the waiver knowing the chances and that they would rather shoot to kill than worry about negotiating with hostages. No shit I had to sign one to tour the death chamber w/my Criminal Justice class. My husband is a correctional officer and has been for 15 years. Trust me, it gets interesting. Especially when the state calls your house looking for your husband b/c there might have been an escape.I dred every state call. "...just an earthbound misfit, I." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RkyMtnHigh 0 #18 March 21, 2006 Walt has "jailbait" tattoo'd on his forehead! Didn't everybody know that? _________________________________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #19 March 21, 2006 Quotehehe...ive been to that jail before *** Yeah..me too... And I'm here to tell ya Walt, you must have been in a really GOOD part! INside the cages is a whole different story! Harris County's jail makes San Diego's look like a resort hotel, Cook County (Chicago) is scarier but has better food. ...Yeah...personal experience, those and a few others. The people coming to visit are 'polite' because they know all to well that if ya don't walk on eggshells things go sideways quick. I got nailed here on a FTA warrant for a no proof of insurance ticket... Forgot to put the 'new every 6 months' card in the car. Thought I had taken care of it locally showing the 'Here once a week' judge here in the 'burbs the current card, and documenting insurance was in place at the time... but some paperwork SNAFU had me a wanted man. (I still use a Calif. drivers lic. w/ the address of our house there, so no letters came) ...On the inside everyone gets treated the same. Simple traffic warrant gets ya the same: "MOVE YOUR ASS YOU STUPID FUCK WAD!" treatment as the rapists, killers and drug dealers... Had ME makin' some 'friends' I never thought I would have, since ya can't call a cell phone collect... I was in there a lot longer than I would have been had someone KNOWN where I was! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pop 0 #20 March 21, 2006 QuoteQuotehehe...ive been to that jail before how long? and how "bad" was your experience? Longer than I ever wanted to be. And when I dropped the soap, I let it be. 7 ounce wonders, music and dogs that are not into beer Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RkyMtnHigh 0 #21 March 21, 2006 QuoteQuoteQuotehehe...ive been to that jail before how long? and how "bad" was your experience? Longer than I ever wanted to be. And when I dropped the soap, I let it be. Noooooooooo!!! You diiiiin't drop da soap!!!>? _________________________________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RkyMtnHigh 0 #22 March 21, 2006 I don't look so good in orange and silver bracelets, Waltbut I bet you look mighty fine...got any pics? _________________________________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #23 March 21, 2006 QuoteI don't look so good in orange and silver bracelets, Waltbut I bet you look mighty fine...got any pics? Oh am I ever wishing I had an orange jumpsuit right now!!!!! Sorry, we'll have to come up with some other ideas for pics. Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RkyMtnHigh 0 #24 March 21, 2006 QuoteQuoteI don't look so good in orange and silver bracelets, Waltbut I bet you look mighty fine...got any pics? Oh am I ever wishing I had an orange jumpsuit right now!!!!! Sorry, we'll have to come up with some other ideas for pics. So you get internet time/access in jail these days? hmmm Walt _________________________________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrig 1 #25 March 21, 2006 QuoteWho said anything about whips??!! You are a freak!! I KNEW it!!! Thats why I like you sooooo much!! Bobbi ___________________________________ I can hear Walt now! "Hurt me baby... make me write baaaad checks!" Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
