While going over the different sections of the Peoria County Jail's website, it seems that they have strict rules and guidelines that people have to follow. This is necessary to ensure that chaos does not arise I assume. Also, I think they are trying to make sure that contraband does not go through. The first thing that I like about the jail is that everything is organised. What I mean is that they make sure that everything that goes on is planned ahead of time. Not only that, but they also require an ID for everything. The second thing that I like about the Peoria County Jail, is that the staff there have gone through some extensive training. I think it said that is was over 400 hours of training. That is great because you want staff that know what to do in almost any situation. The third thing is something that I do not totally agree with, but I am sure it is necessary, and that is that they charge you a little extra money if you send money in for a prisoner. It also said that there was a fee of $60 for any bond money too. Rayder004
Ryder004 I agree that is shocking that there is a fee to put money on inmates commissary. I too feel that the amounts of training the officers undergo is a great thing. It is nice to know that the county jail is staffed with well trained officers. mommy004
480-hour Basic Law Enforcement Class at the University of Illinois' Police Training Institute, I thought was very interesting that this is a requirement for officers as this should be required across the state the more well trained on officer is the more effective that officer will be when that officer is performing their jobs. It’s great to see that Peoria County takes the time to ensure their officers are effective. I thought it was also very useful that Peoria County offers victim services to help those who are in need of certain resources after criminal actively happens to ensure they have a better outcome then they would with getting resources on their own. This is also important as well because during these times of crises a lot of victims are in shock and lose trust in others by having the county coming to them this can help restore hope and save the victims humanity as well. The final thing that is very interesting as well is that for any type of employment that involves Peoria County both for commission’s and for jail employment as well this lists the process and requirement’s for each of the positions which saves time effort and money for both parties, the person applying and for the county for the reviewing of the application. Eagle001 Eagle002
I agree with you that it is an interesting requirement for officers to receive 480-hours of Basic Law Enforcement Class. I would like to see the performance rating of Peoria County officers compared to performance ratings in other jurisdictions. This large amount of training can only improve officer's performance. The only down side to it is the cost and time it takes for all of these to get this much training. Scuba002
I found it very interesting that even people who are just coming to visit someone they know who is in the jail, has to follow a long list of very specific rules in order to be able to visit the jail. These are obviously implemented to keep everyone safe and ensure that no one who is visiting will cause any type of trouble. Another thing i found very interesting about the jail is that the officers have to go through hundreds of hours of training to be able to work for the country, which i find is great because we want our officers to effectively trained and be able to perform their duties to the highest extent. The last thing that i found that was interesting is that the county utilizes three deputy sheriffs as their crime scene unit. One of the sheriffs is also on call 24 hours a day, which is a fantastic service to have available at times. Pack001, Pack002
I was shocked that anyone putting money on an inmates commissary account is charged a fee. The strict regulations that have in place for any visitors to the county is a great idea in my opinion. It aids in keeping both the staff and inmates safe. It is also great that a sheriff is on calls 24 hours a day, this serves to make the communities feel safe. The hours of training the officers have to go through is a great idea as well. It is good to know that the county jail is operating with the best intentions to the inmates housed there and that the staff is well trained to take care of the inmates placed in the Peoria County Jail. I took the tour last semester and felt that the county jail is doing a remarkable job. mommy004
From looking at the Peoria Police Department's website it seems that Peoria is very community oriented and tries to reach out to the community constantly. One of the programs that stuck out to me the most is Peoria Police Departments “Don't Shoot” program. This program is designed to reduce gun violence in the community and so far it seems to be doing a pretty good job. According to the Peoria Police website “ the program was launched in Peoria in 2012, it was one of more than 70 similar initiatives in the nation. Since its inception, the City of Peoria has experienced a significant decrease in gun violence, with a 71% decline in shooting fatalities from 2010 to July 2014, and a 59% reduction in the number of shooting victims for the same time period.” Also Peoria offers victim services for those who have been a victim to violent crimes and need help coping with such actions. I believe that it is very important for every department to have some sort of victim services because in a crime the victim is always the main priority. It seems to me that Peoria would be an amazing place to be employed, just by searching through their website and seeing how many programs they offer to the community and the organization the different ranks and divisions. KLICK001
I definitely thought that it was definitely shocking when I found out that family members of an inmate were charged a fee as well. I understand that the jail has to makeup money somewhere but I think that the amount that a person is charged should not be that much due to the fact that I do understand that that the items that are sometimes in the commentary arec expensive which in turn causes the family to have to put more money on an inmate's account it was just shocking to me that even a $20 purchase is really $25 or 35 depending and if you put $30 in or not. I also thought it was very interesting on how many different rules there are when you step into that jail such as if you bring a child. I honestly did not think you could bring children until reading this article I am glad that the jail has a strict set regulations regarding children. I personally feel safer knowing that there are strict guidelines put in place because you never know who you might be sitting next to and what that person could possibly do even though you may trust the person that you're seeing behind the glass you don't know who sitting next to you possibly visiting somebody else. I think it is great that the higher up officials such as the sheriff are available around the clock. I personally did not realize that they were available that often. I really didn't know much about how our personal jail work until I read this article I'm glad I know more now because I know several people that have violated some of these stripped rolls and I Now understand why they are put into place I think they are great idea. A lot of people do not realize that all the regulations that visitors have to follow are strictly for and their safety and or the inmate and employees and have their best interest because we are not necessarily the most knowledgeable when it comes to someone being in jail and a visitor coming to see them we are not there person behind the bars they are so the state has to have strict guidelines on how to protect us because we might have to be protected from that in mate at the end of the day. Calmnthechoas001,calmnthechoas002
Reading the rules and things they allow and don't allow is kinda weird for me. I use to work at a jail and they only allowed visiting days Monday through Thursday for a half hour each person tell four. and when we processed someone in they were allowed three pairs of boxers or bra and underwear and three pares of socks per inmate. When they had visiting hours it was for a set time but it was always in a room with a thick glass that they talk through. they are more strict and look out more for safety of the officers. RW001, RW002
Three things I found interesting on the website are that the inmates are only allowed one twenty minute visiting session each week, the inmate has to be in the jail for at least a week before any visits can be arranged, and that when you deposit money, the jail takes out a $3.25 fee every time you deposit money for your inmate to use.
I found the peoria county jail website very knowledgeable. It stated the rules when visiting very clearly and there was a link to everything I could think of that you could need from the county. I do like how strict it is when it come down to visiting and the process. Banshee002 Steel001
Just like any jail there is a lot of rules and information listed on this webpage but there was a couple that stood out to me from the others. The first rule that stood out to me was the inmates only receive one twenty minute visit a week. The first thing I thought was wow thats kind of a small amount of visiting time allowed and only once a week. But on second thought you have to remember there is more than just a few inmates in this jail and everyone needs there visiting time. The second thing I saw and found interesting was that the jail takes a cut of whatever money the inmate gets deposited into his account. Even on cash transactions. I could understand on credit card accounts because you have to pay a company to run the card through. Just interesting, its understandable because the jail has to pay its workers. The third thing I thought stood out compared to some jails is that at Peoria County jail your family can give you a care package consisting of commissary items. Bike 001, Bike004
I also think that one 20-minute session is a short amount of time. Kids not being able to see their father or mother can have a negative impact on them. I also found it interesting on how they take money when family gives it to the inmates. I can understand if it was food food, laundry, and hygiene. coutinho004
I think it is interesting that the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office has one lieutenant and six detectives that are responsible for reviewing 13,000 reports and investigating 1,000 of them in one year. Those six detectives and one lieutenant have to investigate more than two cases per day and review more than 35 cases per day. I would have thought that they would have a few more detectives, especially since they are on call 24 hours a day. I also think that it is interesting that the jail has 216 employees who serve 183,433 civilian people that live in a 629 mile radius. Usually for every 10,000 citizens, there are 18-21 officers. Peoria County has below the recommended amount of officers. It is interesting that the website states visitors must wear appropriate clothing, but they do not offer guidelines. People have different ideas on what is appropriate and guidelines would help some visitors who have little sense on what is appropriate clothing. Scuba004, Scuba002
After searching through the peoria county jail website, 3 things really grabbed my eye. One was that during the visits the inmate can only see up to 3 people. that would be tough if you had a big family and could only see a portion during the visits. another thing is that when people deposit money to put on the inmates account there is a deposit fee for the person. The last thing i saw was that you have to pay an additional 60$ to bond someone out. i find that weird because it's already expensive to bond someone out and just to tack another 60$ is kinda ridiculous. RM001 002
This jail seems to have a lot of "additional charges" on services such as bond or even paying with a credit card. I imagine this is a slick strategy to help increase funding for the jail and county overall. Ghost004
The first thing that I found interesting is that the inmates are only allowed one 20-minute visiting session a week. People who are in jail and are most likely in there for misdemeanors. Some also most likely have kids and only being able to see them in that short of time is not enough. Secondly, I found that they have cash fees. This I can agree with, if the money they take goes make into the prison for food cost, laundry, and hygiene. As I kept reading, I saw that it said books are not accepted by inmates and I thought that was pretty interesting. I can see why though because they could carve out the inside and hide accessories in there. It is good to see them have strict guidelines on those who do come in visit the jail. Knowing who is coming in and out keeps them safe. coutinho004
I see why they don't want the inmates to have books but then again it is another way for them to pass the time and helps them from getting into trouble and a good way to keep their brain active. Pie001,002,004
One of the most interesting things I noticed on the website was the commissary services available to inmates. I found it interesting that inmates are able to purchase different items while they are being held at a jail facility, I would not expect any type of monetary transactions to be allowed, especially those allowing for inmates to purchase comfort items. I was also surprised at the limit the facility put on the amount of underwear that visitors were allowed to leave for the inmates. It makes me wonder how many sets of underpants that inmates are issued for their stay at the facility. I also wonder how often inmates have access to laundry services and if they would have enough undergarments to have a clean set for every day between access to laundry services. I was also interested in how the facility does not allow inmates to be given books by visitors. I understand limits on certain books due to content that could be contrary to any prisoner code of conduct and the overall ruling on books as a general precaution, but I would wonder if the rule also applies to religious texts. If the rule does apply to religious texts, I would wonder what religious services the facility would provide in order to make up for the lack of available religious texts. CoolGuy001
Peoria County Jail, located on Maxwell Rd, Peoria IL, serves as the County correctional facility for the Peoria County Sheriff’s office. This facility was first opened in 1985 and could house 235 in general population and an additional 80 bed Work Release facility. However, overtime an additional 144 beds were added to the facility in August of 1999. This facility is mainly used for the detention of individuals awaiting sentencing or court appearances. With a staff of 61 correctional officers and supervisors this jail is able to control and operate rather smoothly it seems. In order to become a correctional officer at this jail you must pass a 200 hour training course and a pretty thorough hiring process. This jail has commissary on Wednesdays as well but it ends at 2:00 pm which is overall interesting because we will be visiting this Wednesday. Overall this jail is located right next to my home town and I have grown up seeing it almost everyday, so it will be a great learning experience to be able to tour the inside as well. Ghost004
When looking at the Peoria County Jail website I found interesting on the website are that the inmates are only allowed one twenty minute visiting session each week which doesn’t seem that long to be able to even catch up real fast. The second thing I saw and found interesting was that the jail takes a cut of whatever money the inmate gets deposited into their account. I’m not sure how I feel about that because the family is trying to help the inmate and they are getting charged to do so. The third thing that I found was that it said books are not accepted by inmates and I thought that was pretty interesting because reading is one way to pass the time and not get into trouble. Pie 001,002,004
When I read about the Peoria county jail I thought that the biggest thing that they do is the “Don’t Shoot” program. This program helps reduce shooting crimes. This program also helps with gangs and trying to reduce any crimes with them. I feel that this is a huge program for Peoria to start and engage because it shows that there trying to make Peoria better and not a dangerous place. The county jail tries to keep it very professional and safe for everyone so they have strict rules as well as specific rules. This just shows that the people they have in charge and working are the best at what they do and they go through training and know what to do at the highest extent. Another thing that I found interesting is the K9 unit. I think its interesting that they have to do all of this training with this dog so it connects a strong bond between the two. The dog is your partner and you have a strong bond so you protect that dog like it was a human. I just found that very interesting. CRC001,CRC002
While going through the different sections of the website, there were not many things that i did not already know. I think that one of the things i didn't know was that they took $3.25 every time you put money onto an inmates account. I understand why they do this because they need to make money to keep the jail running and in order so by taking a small portion of the money sent to an inmates account they are able to do so. I also thought it was interesting that an inmate can only have up to 3 visitors at a time. I thought this was interesting because most families consist of more than 3 people so i would of thought they would allow more people to visit at a time. The last thing that I thought was interesting was that they do not allow books. I would think that books would help the inmates pass time and help educate them as they are serving their time, so it was shocking to me when i saw they do not allow books. bball001, bball002, bball005
One thing I noticed was the Sheriff's Office Auxiliary . They are citizens of Peoria that assist in many different public events. These residents are well trained volunteers that help provide public safety to the community. Another thing I noticed on the Peoria County website was the CrimeView Map. It tells you what crimes occurred, from arson to vehicle theft. It gives you a good overview of where the crime occurred, but doesn’t let you get into too much detail with it. I think this map is good for people who want to know what’s going on in their neighborhood and cities nearby. It’s good that this map is here for anyone who is curious. DC004
After reading the Peoria County Jail's website, I realized how serious and strict they are with their rules. To me it makes a lot of sense, having these strict rules to keep order in the jail not knowing what could happen if visitors are purposely there for the wrong reasons. So to me that list seems very reasonable. One thing i thought was smart and can completely understand why they might do this is open any mail coming inside the jail to an inmate. When i first read that i was thinking i hope they aren't reading their personal business but that wasn't the case. Opening an inmates mail before being given to him or her is to simply see if there is anything hidden in the envelope. If you think about it anything could fit in there such as a small weapon or even drugs. For everyones safety i feel like that is a smart move. One thing i didnt understand was the cash fee and why they are taking out so much from a persons personal money. Maybe if they explained their reasoning on why they did that i would understand a little more clear but since they didnt i just see it as being unfair and there should not be a "fee" for giving a loved one money. kt001
I also thought the jails website was professional and user friendly. It has a wide range of information topics from visiting a prisoner rules to detailed information on applying for a job. Contact names and phone numbers are very accessible to the public. There is a place to make comments or report a crime anonymously or learn about victim services. As for the extra fee for giving money, there is always a reason that prompts a rule or charge which he did not share with us nor did we ask.grandma005
After viewing the Peoria County Jail's website and visiting the jail this evening, it seems that the Peoria County Jail is very organized and well established. According to the site, there appear to be strict rules and guidelines that are followed to ensure the efficiency in which the jail is operated. After our visit tonight, I believe that the way in which the staff operates the facility is a direct reflection of the professionalism of the webpage. Peoria County Jail seems to run very smoothly. They also appear to be taking steps towards creating change within our community. By allowing inmates to work within the facility (and some even outside of the facility), our county jail is permitting these individuals to experience rehabilitation rather than complete and total incarceration. I think that touring the jail tonight was a very neat and eye opening experience. I certainly learned a lot about the procedures and precautions that are taken. I also learned about the crime to takes place within our community. I think that if more people were able to experience tours such as these, people would better understand our criminal justice system and have a more open mind when it comes to police work. Peanut003
I saw a whole new outlook on the workings of the Peoria County Jail. The corrections officer's do a lot of up front work with the inmate's. The jail was very clean and well maintained. The inmates were placed in living situations based on their needs and if they needed detoxing were placed away from other inmate's. It takes a lot of work to keep things running smoothly. They also had services for people with disabilities. They offer counseling and medical treatment. They also had extensive medical facilities. I enjoyed the tour a great deal I learned so much that I never knew. I liked that the inmates helped with preparing meals and doing laundry. It gives students the chance to see first hand what goes on inside the jail. This helps to decide if this is what you really want to do. I also think these tours may detour people from making bad decisions. I liked that community policing is being used more and the jail is down on population. I'm glad I went and that we were allowed to ask questions. All of them were answered professionally. Our criminal justice system is seeing positive changes in our incarceration rates. Its nice that the inmates can work outside of the jail to learn a trade And take it on the outside to get away from the lifestyle they were living. It will give them experience and a sense of worth. Overall it was a very good experience and I would recommend the tour to anyone going into the criminal justice profession. Our police are improving the system and making changes for the better. I definitely saw a different side of things and am open to new views.sly.003
There is a lot of information that I did not know before I had my visit with the Peoria County Jail. The first thing that I found out is that not every inmate does not have to be strip searched upon entering the jail. Unless the jail has reason to believe that the inmate coming in could have it inside them, then they will search them. I thought it was funny that the male inmates would visit the nurse a lot to just have female interaction, but because they really didn't need to see her, the jail starting charging them a co pay. They only paid if they had the money on the books. The numbers went dramatically down after they was getting charged for it. You can't really blame them!! I do like that they can have unlimited phone privileges. There can be so much information that the jail could use to solve crimes. It is a win win for the inmates and the jail. I didn't know that the inmates were housed in bods. I guess I always thought that the people had a common area for everyone, not like 10 people in each one. I also thought that the inmates had a cafeteria that they had their meals at. I didn't know that they had their meals brought to them in their pods. hotfox003
The jail tour was very different than what I imagined. I expected the jail to have one big cafeteria at the center with cells all around it. The jail had different blocks and one block consisted of a large room with tables and a television and cells attached to it on the first and second floor. I expected to see the inmates behind bars, but the jail had windows instead. I found it interesting that it is policy female inmates cannot be heard by male inmates, but it makes sense to keep the females away from the males. I also learned that the inmates did not move much. They usually do not leave their blocks; their meals are even brought to them there. The lack of weapons the correctional officers had surprised me, but I learned the jail had very few fights. The sergeants are able to carry around tasers, but I expected to see more weapons. The lack of weapons on correctional officers is logical for many reasons such as inmates cannot get a hold of a correctional officer’s weapon and the inmates behave well enough where the correctional officers do not need to carry around weapons. I learned about the dramatic decrease of prisoners over the past recent years; I was surprised at how large the prison population was years ago- inmates were even sleeping on the floor. The jail is run with a lot of care for the inmates. The correctional officers having the respect and establishing rapport with the inmates works better than treating the inmates with no respect. I liked that the detainees could use more than one phone call. The system the jail is running is truly looking out for the inmates and creating a better run criminal justice system. This jail knows that their inmates have a high recidivism rate; it is the same people going in and out of the system. I respect that they see a problem and do their best to fix it. The jail is working on lowering their recidivism rate by teaching their inmates trades they can use for once they return to civilian life. Inmates can learn about food sanitation and how to renovate a house. Scuba002, Scuba004
When you enter the jail through the intake area you begin to understand, just how much trouble you are now in. The unloading area in the enclosed garage. Waiting for the arresting or transport officer to prepare to enter the intake area. Watching the heavy iron door open to the intake area, and then walking in to a drab and lifeless foyer, to wait for your turn to be processed. I’ve done this once before, but from the other point of view. Understanding how the process works from the opposite side of the glass made it easier to understand what the Superintendent was trying to show us. The booking process is just as they said it would be. When you arrive you are first placed in a holding cell, which one is usually determined by the attitude of the individual that is being brought in. If you are under the influence, agitated, or aggressive you are subject to be placed in one of several rooms for observation, until you have become capable of understanding and responding to the officer’s requests and orders. I learned that the segregation of the inmates is sometimes by age, sometimes by the crime, and most times by gang affinities or ties to certain groups. The tour gave us an insight into what the officers must contend with on a daily basis and how they try to be humane with the prisoners who they are responsible for during their shifts. We viewed the “pods” and were allowed to see how the detainees lived and co-habituated with their other inmates. There is little free space for each individual, and very little privacy allowed. As an inmate you have lost the right to privacy, choices, and personal space. When you broke the law you gave up these rights because you made a poor choice, broke the law, or did something that you should not have. It was interesting that there are programs in place to help those, who are repeat offenders, when they have completed their sentences and need extra help to ease back into society. Finding out about the commissary was also something I had not expected to find in this institution. When you have broken a law or committed a crime I always believed that you were only allowed certain privileges as you progressed through the system and worked to earn some of these perks as became a more model prisoner. The superintendent stated that we all make mistakes, we are all human, and the individuals do make some poor choices. But this should be something that we learn from and continue to grow as we continue on our journeys in life. Jails are here to confine those that have committed some error or mistake that they knew was wrong, but were unable to prevent because there seemed to be no other action or avenue that could help make the right choice. We made a mistake and now we must face the consequences of these decisions. The programs that the Superintendent spoke of were not just simple recommendations that were put in place to make money, but were mainly designed to give a sense of accomplishment for the inmates who are the habitual criminal or the first time offender. There seems to be a genuine hope that the individuals will learn from their incarceration and turn their lives around. Seoulman005
The trip to the Peoria County Sheriff's Office and Jail was very interesting. I felt the Corrections Superintendent, Brain Asbell, made it clear that his mission is to bring Peoria's crime rate down and reduce the prison population. He stated that most of the prisoners were good people that made bad decisions. As in Merton's Theory they felt societies emphasis on wealth and chose innovation or crime to attain wealth. He also said there are many who choose drugs or retreatism and they find an overdosed body weekly in this area. The prison population has decreased in the last few years to around 300 inmates today. Mr Asbell feels that community policing, where a police man lives in a bad area, has helped people trust and go to the neighbor/policeman with information or for help. Also, policeman are being trained in communication to discern if a person needs to be arrested. A prisoner costs tax payers $65 a day to incarcerate so he is working on a grant for work programs instead of a jail sentence. The jail offers prisoners a GED program and food service training that may help them get a job when they get out and reduce recidivism. Around 80% of inmates return. The jail is working with local companies like Menards that are willing to hire people with a record. The maximum time in jail is 364 days and around 85% are waiting for trial. The system has 48 hours to decide if or how to charge a prisoner. Men and women are separated with women being a small percentage of the total population. The jail has the only mental health facility in the area to evaluate and help prisoners. Phone calls are not limited which prisoners like and jail staff use to gain information. All programs are designed to eliminate the stigma of labeling prisoners as deviants and hopefully they will respond differently when given the choice of crime or conformity of hard work. I think sociologists would be happy with the jails direction. grandma005
I have always enjoyed this tour. This was my second time through and it was just as interesting as the last. I enjoyed seeing the individual inmates as they went about their business. I liked hearing Brian Asbell talk about his job, it was clear that he was well informed and that he really did enjoy his job. He told us that he loves every day he works. I think he enjoys these tours so much as his job, in his words, mostly just includes risk management. Brian told us about the budget's effect on the jail as he ran us through the intake and the holding cells. I find it interesting that they find that cops are much better at their jobs if they start out in a jail before being sent to the streets. I have taken particular interest in these words and I think it is where I will attempt to start my career, depending on how my other options go in the future. I also enjoyed hearing that Brian does not support the don't shoot campaigns. This jail seems to be in good hands and it feels, to me, like the facility is effectively doing it's job and that the staff are well trained and handle the situations the right way. One thing I found interesting is the focus of hiring when it comes to new employees. I have found that the common idea for a good officer would be mostly the physical aspect. As in they need to be strong, physically fit, and intimidating. However, Brian told us several times how the focus is really on the communication abilities of the individual. That doesn't mean that physical capacity is not important, but having the ability to talk to people, along with a good work ethic, is what the interview board focuses on most when interviewing new officers. - AJC001
This was my third tour of the county jail. District 150 used to take students in 8th grade on a field trip there. It was kinda scary then and looked very different. I have gone twice with Dr. White and both times felt confident that the county jail is ran with integrity. I especially liked the fact that everyone is not stripped searched when entering the jail. People are actually treated with dignity. It is already hard enough coming into that bleak situation and by allowing them to keep some of their dignity I feel eases the shock somewhat. Especially for someone who has never been arrested before. I thought charging the co-pay to see the nurse was a great idea. Not only does it make the county a little money but also helps deter inmates from asking to see the nurse simply because they want to interact with a female. The mental health services they offer is also a great tool for the inmates since Brian stated about 80% of the inmates suffer from some sort of mental illness. If those issues are not addressed those 80% will continue to return to the jail. Brian acknowledged that and actually did something about it. As he mentioned the budget doesn't allow for to many things to be offered, but at least they are trying to help the mentally ill. I was surprised to hear that those withdrawing from opiates are not given methadone unless they are pregnant. I can imagine dealing with those inmates is hard on the staff. Overall I left the Peoria County Jail feeling like it is a well run facility with well trained staff. That treats the inmates respectfully and are given the training they need to take care of the inmates incarcerated there to the best of their ability. In comparison to some of the jails I have seen on lockup or other television shows Peoria County seems to be getting it right. Of course things could improve but given the budget they have to operate with I felt they are doing a remarkable job. mommy004
What I learned from one of the workers at the correctional facility that inmates are allowed up to 300 or more items of contraband during their stay at the Peoria County this was outstanding to me as this is much different than many of the shows that show the aspects of jail or prison life this had much difference to the one or two felicity that is usually show to be allowed within the correctional facility. This jail also had very low number in terms of how many inmates the facility has within a regular basis with 301 individuals. What was also a surprising fact learned from this trip is the number of people that go within the jail of Peoria County with the 17,000 people that passed through within a given year. This also shows that this jail doesn’t have their main focus on keeping individuals within the facility but getting them out. I also learned that inmates going within this facility can have up to as many phone calls as they would like, what I also learned is that they're allowed to do a very strong search of individuals coming within the jail as the supreme court stands a “blank search” which is a full strip search but the County recognizes the humiliation this causes individuals so they do a probable cause search only if they suspect that illegal items enter the jail will be seized. This jail was also very formal in the process of helping inmates struggling even financially as they would pay the cost of medical treatments of whatever an individual may need even going as far as doing a small co-pay that could be the equal ant up to three dollars. I also learned that money from the government changes how the jail is running from year to year if a good amount of financial support than the jail can have a numerous amount of beneficial programs if not some things will be cut due to funding. This was a usefully experience and very helpful in understanding the justice system. Eagle001 Eagle002
found very shocking was that there were people there that were in their nineties because I happened to ask the officer how old was the oldest person that they had there and he said that the people that he's had there were in their nineties and most likely it was because they had a warrant that they did not realize that they had from like 20 years ago because whether you have a warrant you have to go to jail. I also thought it was interesting how they ran the medical part of the jail for instance they have positions that they jail can call before they can call like an ambulance which I just automatically assume they just went to the hospital especially if it was late at night and the reason I found that out was because one of the inmates had an issue while I was in the medical room and she was older and they weren't getting response from any of the Physicians so they had to call Central for an ambulance and I also thought it was very interesting how they talked to each other on their radios because I am getting ready to go into the nine-one-one dispatching field they really just use numbers if they are calling for a certain person I also found out that a lot of the people that are just officers wear black and the higher up people wear the white uniforms I personally did not know that. The guy that was my officer was fun nominal and answering my questions and he literally told me if you don't love what you do you're not going to succeed at this job he's been at it for eight years. It was very interesting to hear about the strip searching I really didn't realize that it was required to do that to everyone but I thought it was a true example of a discretion when they only will check if they have probable cause such as Weapons or drug charges. It was very nice to kind of get more of the medical side of the jail there are six more intense Medical holds and those are used for the people that need like more intense watching by the actual like nursing staff. I was kind of afraid for the nurses a little bit because they don't have the radios and or they don't have anything on them except their scrubs that I could see and I they go into wherever medical treatment is needed yes I know they have backup but still they literally just looks like normal nurses and bright colors on their uniforms uniforms I really was shocked to see that. Another thing that I found really interesting was that police discretion is still very much appreciated when it comes to the cops calmnthechoas001,002
The trip to the Peoria County Jail was very interesting and I’m glad I had the opportunity to go, While I was younger I remember visiting the jail. Where the visiting area is located that used to be bigger you would walk through a door and there would be just long lines of windows with the phones. I never been to jail before and have always wanted to tour it and learn more about it. I watch 60 days in which is a tv show about jail and I also watch the show locked up in Vegas, and lastly lockup. It’s a lot different than tv but does have similarities. I learned a lot and got a chance to see for myself how it’s a lot different than tv. Tv makes it look so much worse then what it really is. Yes, it’s bad but the Peoria Jail is different. Before this tour, I was under the assumption that all the officers carried guns and Tasers and there are fights every day that they constantly must break up. That’s not the case at all I learned that the officers don’t carry gun or Tasers and the environment is not rowdy or loud it’s quiet, and I was expecting the exact opposite of that. I also learned the jail was built in 85? something close like that. Also, back when the zellar asylum the officers almost kind of like chose whether that inmate was fit for jail or the hospital. Well when the hospital closed jail was the only place for those people to go to. It’s sad that jail houses a lot of mental ill people those people need help, and jail isn’t the right place for them. I also learned that it cost 65 dollars a day for each inmate I believe at the jail right now there is about 300 hundred and something inmates I thought 320 however I might be wrong however that’s still many inmates incarcerated. Another fact I learned which I already somewhat knew was that companies are working with individuals getting out of jail to give them an opportunity to work and to stay of jail some of those companies include Menards and Pizza Ranch, besides those two companies I know that Applebee’s, PetSmart, Chili’s and Two men and a truck also help those individuals. Overall I was glad to have went on the jail tour and I hope that I can go again -kyw005
Before visiting the Peoria County Jail, I envisioned striped-uniform-clad inmates yelling from behind bars, filthy cells, and an overall feeling of sadness or fear. I had never been to any sort of jail nor had any of my family imprisoned, so my ideas about incarceration had all come from depictions of jails in movies and television shows. Once arriving at the jail, however, all of my ideas changed. I think when we think of criminals, the deviants of society, we think of murderers and rapists that commit heinous crimes against humanity. But, at the Peoria County Jail, I saw that the inmates are just people that have messed up. It was a nice surprise to hear the man that we toured with speak about his goal of rehabilitation versus punishment. Last week, my boyfriend and I were actually discussing the cycle of incarceration and how we could change that and we suggested many of the points that he spoke about, such as jobs accepting criminals regardless of their background and programs within the prison that would help people get educations and job skills. I didn’t know that there was a GED program inside of the jail, so that was one thing I learned while on the tour. I believe that jails and prisons should be based on rehabilitation instead of simply locking someone up when they’ve done something bad. If the incarceration and law systems don’t implement programs to help criminals improve their lives, those same lawbreakers will keep breaking the law because that’s all they know or that’s all they can do. Providing jobs, education, housing, and counseling opportunities are all good ways to lower the rate of recidivism and therefore spend less tax money on jails and more money on things our country needs, such as better education and community programs to prevent crime. lasagna005
This was my first time being at the Peoria County jail, honestly on the way there I was thinking to my self on how it was going to be, and I was being very judgemental about it. First walking in, I felt bad for even thinking the thoughts I did on the way there. I was completely shocked on how clean it actually is. I learned a lot of information while I was there. Before coming there I thought strip search was mandatory in the booking process. I also learned that the correctional officers, and duputies don't carry any lethal weapons on them. I always thought that if an inmate were to get sick they would have to be transported to a hospital for medical care, so I learned that they had a medical there at the jail itself. I found it interesting that as long as the inmates have the money for it that they are allowed to get however much they want out for the contraband and that they aren't limited to phone calls. This tour opened my eyes and turned my mind around about jails. It's amazing how they help and provide many opportunties to the inmates while they are serving there time and for when they get out. I personally thought that Brian Asbell did an amazing job of giving out his knowledge and years of experience with the tour, and can really tell that he takes pride in his job. I learned a lot and am greatful I was given the opportunity to go on the tour.Bell003
Recently we took a trip to the Peoria County Jail. I learned many interesting things good and bad. I remember being in the seventh grade and we took a field trip the jail for a tour and to get our very first ID’s made. I really don’t remember how the jail was back then I definitely know now. First I want to talk about the way the inmates are housed. I’ve never been in the inside of a jail until that day. The way they have it set up it works. There was no fight when we were there, no misunderstanding or anything. The women were on one side of the building and the men were housed on the other side. There were only a few inmates in each pod. That was smart due to the fact that to many people in one area can cause a big problem. I want to say that that’s their way of keeping down fights and problems. Superintendent Brian told us about the many different people he comes in contact with from all aspects of life. He also spoke on the amount of good people that are in jail by making bad choices. Brian also stated that there are people that deviates a pattern of repeatedly returning to jail. That’s their lifestyle and it’s all they know. These people are branded as a deviant. Jail houses and prisons are well known for having a bad reputation for being a horrible place to work. After talking with Brian he reassures me that working at his jail house is a safe place to be employed. Even though you should always be on guard. I also learned how jail houses are different from prisons. People in prisons are drug free and have been locked away for some time. While people going to jail are fresh off the street and may be under the influence of some kind of drugs or alcohol. These people are more likely going to need detox and medical treatment. On the other hand no one entering in the jail house can carry in a weapon, they have to lock their weapon up in a lock box. Therefore the guards in the jail house don’t carry a weapon to guard the inmates. The superintendent also informed us about the physical and mental test you will have to take if you want to become a correctional officer. He stated that this is a great place to start for someone that wants to become a police officer in the future. Cupcake005…
This was my third time touring the Peoria County Jail, and each time I go back I learn a little bit more. We started off the tour as we always do, by entering through the back the way that a detainee would. The superintendent informed us that all of the officers drop off their weapons into a lock box, and that only a few people in the jail carry a weapon and even then it is not a lethal one. Pepper spray is carried by just a few, and there are no tasers allowed into the building either. After we entered the actual building we were standing in the booking area. There was a section where the detainees got their mugshots taken, their fingerprints scanned, and there were also cells off to the side where at risk detainees waited. These at risk were those that had high amounts of drugs and alcohol in their system when entered, and those on suicide watch. Continuing through the jail, we toured the men's pod, the women's pod, a women's cell, and the gymnasium. The men's pods were quite a bit bigger than the women's, and the pods were situated on opposite sides of the jail. Men and women are not allowed to be within hearing or viewing range of each other. After viewing the pods from the observation deck and within we went into the gymnasium to ask the S.I. further questions. We learned from him that we have a better chance of making it onto the police force by starting off in the jail. By starting off in the jail we get first hand experience that many police forces are looking for in new recruitees. I think that a career in the jail would desensitize us to future encounters and would also teach us to speak to individuals as respectively as possible. As the S.I. said, the majority of people in jail aren't bad people, they're good people that made bad choices. Hootie002
This is my second time touring the jail and I feel like I learn something new every time I go. Mr. Asbell does a great job talking about the jail. We first were brought in as if we were a detainee. The thing that I don’t remember from last time is the correctional officers don’t have any weapons besides pepper spray. Mr. Asbell talked about how the numbers are low which he stated was very good because in earlier years they were up to five hundred people. They had so many people four years ago that some of the inmates had to sleep on the floor. When we were being toured through the intake and the holding cells he would talk mostly about the budget as well. He stated that he wished they had more money because they have a lot more ideas to do. Mr. Asbell stated that you are a better cop if you start out in the jail before you get out on the streets. He talks about how it is most likely 99.9% chance you will start off in the jail before you become a cop. As we were walking you could tell that the staff were very well trained and ready for whatever situation was thrown at them. I feel that even Mr. Asbell was very prepared and ready for any situation with us being there. The biggest fact he stated that through me off guard is that he said there were 17,000 people who went through the jail. I didn’t know anything about that so that was something new that I didn’t know about. The last thing that I learned about the whole tour was that they look for people who can really communicate well. I just always had in my head that the good officers were the ones that were strong, smart and good help anyone in any situations. He states though that the best ones are the communicators. CRC001, CRC002
This was my first time going on the tour at the county jail. It was much bigger than the one I worked at. We were brought in through the sally-port and walked through the building as if we were going through in processing ourselves. They had rooms for suicide watch nest to where they in processed people and that was different from where I worked. The rooms they had for people on suicide watch are the same ones they use for drunks and others that are on drugs and need time to let it out of their system. When we went through the facility we were told about how its 61 dollars an inmate per day. Also, how they haven’t had many accidents with inmates over the years because they have lost a lot of inmates. I found out that they had a workout room and that they had an auditorium like room for church or classes. I thought it was cool that he said if you are arrested by Peoria or anyone local then you are going to end up there or wither it’s to stay or to pass through. There was a lot of things that were different than the one I worked at. He made a lot of things easy to understand and it was cool to see that what they take pride in most is the “med. Bay.” They have spent a lot of time and money to keep it above standards. I liked when he told us inmates would ask to go to see the nurses all the time but once they started charging them money from their commissary then they stopped asking to go see the nurses as much! It was a great Experience and I learned a lot I would recommend for everyone to go at least once! RW001, RW002
Going to the Peoria County Jail was such an eye opener for me. I have never been the type to get in trouble so me having to go through what those inmates do everyday would not affect me. However, I do know people that have been in that situation and had to stay there for a period of time. I thought it was very interesting that the inmates did not leave their pod. Maybe I watch Orange is the new Black too much because I thought things were different. Before going on this tour, I thought they had a room where all the females could be in together and do what they do in their pod. I hadn't known that there was only a certain number of people per pod. It also shocked me that females could not be double bunked because of previous troubles. I knew girls were hateful, but I did not know that much. Maybe, jail can really change a person. When I entered the cell, it was so cold and ugly and steel. I had first thought it was a little better than that and that their cell was more comforting. It made me really sad seeing how these people live day by day. I know they are in there because they committed a crime, but they are still human beings. Like the lutinate said, 80 percent of the people that go to jail are good people, they just made a poor choice. That could be selling weed to keep food on the table. I would agree making $7.75 at my job is very stressful because I feel as if I am underpaid. Money is the key to everything. I really wish there was something more we could do rather than locking people up in a cold room. #BabyBray005.
I don’t think that women are in single pods merely because they are “hateful”, I believe that women are, for the most part, the exact opposite. I think that it was a good idea because women just need their own space sometimes; I feel personally that too much company would drive me crazy. I have to have my own space, my own bubble. I can’t imagine feeling that way, plus maybe having an ill conscience. So, long story short, single bunks are a great idea. Puppies005
When we went on the jail tour, it was my first time ever seeing the inside of a jail and i was very fascinated by it. I was surprised to hear that correctional officers cannot have any weapons with them while they are inside the prison, the only thing they have are their radios which they can use to call for backup if hey need it. I was confused as to why they would not be allowed to have something to protect themselves with, but after seeing how well the jail is kept under control it made more sense. Another interesting thing i learned while touring the jail is that not only do they have a very nice medical wing, they also have a mental health wing along with the normal medical bay. I think this a great thing to have to offer to inmates who might more than just physical health help. They has spent lots of time and money in order to make the jail one of the best in the country and i think that is something to take pride in. Having the jail be above standards looks good on the county as well the officers who work there and it also helps for the inmates because they are being kept in better humane conditions. I am very glad that i was able to have this experience and tour the jail, i learned so much and i would definitely tell other people to tour it at least once in their lifetime. Pack001, Pack002
The tour of the jail was very interesting. i did not know it was the only jail in Peoria county, no t only that but it has the maximum holding of 542 individuals at a given time without any one sleeping on the floors. I thought it was interesting that they can open the cells, turn on the water, the lights, the phones, and the tvs from a ipad or a tablet. I like how they really do care about the public and want to help the population, especially the mentally ill. They have a psychologist a big medical team to help them take care of the individuals in the jail. One part I thought was different was the aspect of not having any weapons in the jail. If they do have a weapon in the jail it is a taser, and it is only able to be carried by a sgt and above which is a different thought. I like how they try to keep the living standards up for the individuals in jail. Overall I found the the experience a really good insight for if I do get a job in the jail and what to expect. Steel001 Banshee002
One of the most interesting things I learned while at the county jail concerned the amount of drug overdoses that have occurred within a period of time. It was very interesting to me to know that we are in a crises of narcotics and hard drugs—where are they coming from? Why is it affecting our region so heavily? The fact that the Peoria county jail has to accommodate to this epidemic is mind blowing to me. I liked that the female pods were single-bunked as opposed to the men, who had double bunked pods. As a woman, I believe this atmosphere is much more suitable as women are biologically more sensitive creatures and sometimes we just need air to breathe. I like that Peoria County pays close enough attention to little details that help the overall atmosphere. Also, the fact that the firearms were locked away upon entering the building was mind blowing. I wonder how doing this affects their statistics of any discourse breaking out in the jail. Seeing as a detainee realizes there are no guns, are they more likely to be compliant? It’s interesting to me how we study human behavior and responses to environment so we know what works best for people and what doesn’t—we are continuously looking at new perspectives and ideas to further reform our law enforcement system. If we could apply this mindset to everything we do, the world would be a better place. Puppies005
When first being offered to tour the jail, along with my fellow classmates, I had no idea what to expect. Despite the fact that I knew I would be secure and protected, some sort of anxiety seemed to overtake my body. When first arriving to the jail, I overheard few conversations that basically stereotyped the inmates. This was even before we had a chance to enter the sealed facility. I found this to be disturbing, because as people we judge booked by their covers. What we fail to realize is that some of the best forms of artistic literacy had some of the fews pictures in them. Unfortunately, the name of the tour guide has slipped my mind, but I found it importance of a lot of the things he stated. For example, he stated a description he has formed of most of the inmates,” There is no such thing as bad people. Just bad decisions, but that’s what makes us human.” It is also what makes unrelatable. To confront yourself and realize that everyone makes mistakes humbles yourself; a lesson that can be very difficult to come across. Also, the tour guide mentioned that the population of the Peoria County Jail has decreased over a number of years, approximately around 300 inmates. He also mentioned that the old Illinois Central College North building use to be, at one point in time, a mental health institution. This facility was once essential to the law enforcement agency, because police cold choose where to take individuals based upon their needs. I find this to be important, because we find individuals being wrongfully placed in jails, when they clearly need mental assistance, because, according to our tour guide, up to 80 percent of inmate in the Peoria County Jail obtain some sort of mental illness. This is a great example of wrongful assistance from the government. Another example would be those who are locked up due to drug addictions. I believe that the United States should consider adopting other methods such as the one that has been implemented throughout foreign nations. By doing so these nations have decriminalized substances, and instead of treating addictions as crimes they are treated as mental illnesses. This has led to a decrease in teen pregnancies, low HIV/AIDS rates, and decreased crime.
Going to the jail tour I was surprised about how they have only 551 people. Also how some of them were only from harder drugs.I was not surprised on how there were more males then women. I am very surprised how there are only few women in the jail also. I find it funny how when they made copay to visit the nurse to make the visits go down for only serious ones. I like how they inmates have jobs in order to keep the jail clean. I found it interesting how all cops have to go o the jail to train and move on. also how some will stay at the jail because they like it. I was amazed how he said theirs one guy that will break the law so he can have a place to sleep and eat. I like how they have to be good to get some of there privileges. I found it really funny how one of the inmates corrected a note by the door. The cells looked very small and uncomfortable. I like how they get to by snacks with the money they earn. I found it astonishing how he said that with less inmates the charge cost more but with more inmates the cost less money to give to the sate.I like how the have a doctor on a 24/7 call. What is more amazing to me is that they an not bring there weapons inside the jail. Like how are they going to handle a jail out burst without any weapons.I did not like how it was so hot in the first part of the building. I also liked how they have cells in the front for suicide watch and people trying to come off the drugs they took. I also liked how he dose not do a full striped body search on only the inmates. But only for the inmates that were charged with drugs. Adelle002
The tour we received at Peoria County Jail was very enlightening, being the first inside look at a jail for myself. Corrections Superintendent Brian Asbell was very informational and passionate about his jail and the way he has tried to set it up. He seemed very noble and intimate in his views on incarceration as a whole, and the way he pushed for inmates to be released so that they can better their lives in theory was very refreshing to hear. We started our tour walking through intake where inmates first enter the jail and are booked. In the intake inmates are processed and personal information is gathered so that the jail can better accommodate their needs and figure out possible risk factors. One thing Mr. Asbell was very clear about was the assessment of risk within the facility and how the budget is tightly wrapped to risk factors and the works. After intake we walked the halls and got to see the cell blocks where inmates live and sleep. These large rooms with several cells are the "homes" for these inmates during their stay at Peoria County Jail. I was surprised to find that a lot of them had TV's and even movies. Another important variable in the blocks were the phones. Inmates could use these phones to request services and call home at certain times. Asbell said he really liked the phones because a lot of times certain inmates will call their buddies outside of the prison and sometimes even confess to them about certain crimes. The phones are a great tool for getting convictions through ease dropping done by the correctional officers. We saw this aspect when we were up in the guard rooms that overlook each block. Here officers can keep an eye on the inmates without the inmates knowing it. Unfortunately, we did not get to see the medical unit due to the size of our group, but Asbell told us that he has pushed for better coverage offered by the jail and that now they have a nurse in the facility 24/7. Overall Peoria County Jail strikes me as a very professional jail compared to others I have heard of like Cook County's jail. It was very interesting to see the inside of a facility I have drove by my whole life and the ability to get a sense of how it operates is very beneficial to my overall understanding of incarceration. Ghost003, Ghost004
This was the second time in 2 semesters that I had the pleasure of touring the Peoria County Jail. When you enter the jail through the intake area you begin to understand, just how much trouble you are now in. The unloading area in the enclosed garage. Waiting for the arresting or transport officer to prepare to enter the intake area The booking process is just as they said it would be. When you arrive you are first placed in a holding cell, which one is usually determined by the attitude of the individual that is being brought in. If you are under the influence, agitated, or aggressive you are subject to be placed in one of several rooms for observation, until you have become capable of understanding and responding to the officer’s requests and orders. Watching the heavy iron door open to the intake area, and then walking in to a drab and lifeless foyer, to wait for your turn to be processed. I felt the Corrections Superintendent, Brain Asbell, made it clear that his mission is to bring Peoria's crime rate down and reduce the prison population. He stated that most of the prisoners were good people that made bad decisions. He also said there are many who choose drugs or retreatism and they find an overdosed body weekly in this area. The prison population has decreased in the last few years to around 300 inmates today. Mr. Asbell feels that community policing, where a police man lives in a bad area, has helped people trust and go to the neighbor/policeman with information or for help. Also, policeman are being trained in communication to discern if a person needs to be arrested. A prisoner costs tax payers $65 a day to incarcerate so he is working on a grant for work programs instead of a jail sentence. The jail offers prisoners a GED program and food service training that may help them get a job when they get out and reduce recidivism. Around 80% of inmates return. The jail is working with local companies like Menards that are willing to hire people with a record. The maximum time in jail is 364 days and around 85% are waiting for trial. The system has 48 hours to decide if or how to charge a prisoner. Men and women are separated with women being a small percentage of the total population. The jail has the only mental health facility in the area to evaluate and help prisoners. Phone calls are not limited which prisoners like and jail staff use to gain information which is a very smart tactic in my opinion. Ciaccio001/002
Peoria county jail is not at all how I thought that it would be. I've watched SO many things growing up and still today that give me a perspective on how things are or should be in jail. Things like Civil Brand, The green mile, Orange is the new black, The longest yard, they all have put in my mind kind of what to expect when visiting or actually living in jail. What I expected to see in the jail was inmates moving around, different cliques, yard time, fights, visiting. I thought of the jails to be violent and loud and scary to be in. I automatically assume that the people there have done something horrible to be there and are typically horrible people. Most of what I've been influenced to perceive are not true at all. Most of the people there, are not bad people, they are just people who have made bad decisions. The inmates are very segregated if you would, from whoever is not in there block. The policeman who toured us, told us that you are basically spending most of your time in the cell block your whole time in there. There's no bathroom to fight over, no really fighting over who gets top bunk, no shanking who stole your corn bread off of your tray. You only see who are you are in that cell with, no enemies or fights or really drug overdoses. There is a great surveillance watch so nothing really is getting past the officers. Another thing that was interesting to me was putting in money for the inmate. I was under the impression that you could drop money for commissary or whatever at any time but thats actually very limited. I thought that whatever you left for them is what they got but theres a fee and all. They can only recieve 3 pairs of under garments..WHAT! That stuff is crazy. I couldnt, I would absolutely go crazy in jail. Staring at the same white walls for 364 days, with the same three pairs of underwear, the same people, the same routine, the same slice of bread and glob of peanut butter..I just couldnt. PurpleHearts005
Going to the county jail is always an interesting visit seeing as on Wednesday would mark my 3rd time going on a field trip there. Every time I go there I learn something new every time. I didn’t know that they use to house the Cuban refugees. Which I find interesting because I just learned about the Cubans and when America first started taking an interest in them in my AP psychology class this week. I can tell the county jail has strict rules and a lot of guidelines that the inmates must follow. One thing that stood out to me is how much you must pay when you want to make a phone call. I think it’s a little too high but then I must realize there in jail and that talking to someone on the outside is a privilege. When I went, I saw a few people that I knew in there and was kind of shocking to see them in there. When we were looking at them I kind of felt bad because it made them seem like they were animals but overall the jail trip was interesting and I enjoyed myself and learned a valuable lesson. Food005
While going to the Peoria County Jail, I rather enjoyed it. I got to experience something that I have not fully experienced before in my life. I have gone to the building right across from it though last semester. However, the Juvenile Delinquency Facility was not fully like the County Jail, but things were pretty similar. The first thing that I liked about the jail was that it was organized. The staff has everything planned out ahead of time and so they have better control of everything in case if something goes wrong. The Second thing that I like is the communication between the staff. The staff of Peoria County Jail have so well of communication and faith in it that the radios are practically their only weapons that they carry on themselves. The Third thing that I like is that they have a good training program for the staff. In fact, the Super Intendant of the Jail said that 99% of the police officers start their jobs at the Jail in order to that much more experience. Rayder004
I thought the jail tour was great, I think that they are really making progress as far as low numbers and keeping people out than in as well as helping the individuals that end up going there for rehabilitation. In all actuality the jail didn't feel like a jail. The man giving us the tour seemed more interested in helping the people who come there, which i thought was great because we have no idea what their home life was like before they got there. The jail was really clean and i could tell that the staff and the man giving the tour took pride in there work environment. During the tour our guide told us about the policy of no lethal weapons in the building unless you are a lieutenant and all you get is a taser. Due to certain officers caring tasers and no one carrying a firearm that individuals that come in are less likely to be combative; I think that the other institutions should follow suit with carrying firearms in the jail. I was happy to know that they haven't had a riot in like decades and that was only once, because that shows they have complete control of what goes on in there establishment. I think that for Peoria with all the stuff going on in todays society that our county jail is damn near empty even though it cost them when their numbers are down. I really wish that federal wise that they somehow make it possible for the jail to gain more money to help people who are getting back into the world or get an education so that someday when they are free they can be useful in society. I wonder why they didn't update the jail that use to be on the side of the courthouse, I travel frequently so a lot of the places i go i notice that there jail and courthouse is almost one in the same. MelaninQueen005
The unloading area in the Peoria County Jail is just a enclosed garage.The jail is set up that way just so once the suspect is out of the car they can’t run away because there is nowhere to go. Waiting for the arresting or transport officer to prepare to enter the intake area The booking process is just as they said it would be. When you arrive you are first placed in a holding cell, which one is usually determined by the attitude of the individual that is being brought in. Corrections Superintendent, Brain Asbell, made it clear that his mission is to bring Peoria's crime rate down and reduce the prison population. He stated that most of the prisoners were good people that made bad decisions. He also said there are many who choose drugs or retreatism and they find an overdosed body weekly in this area. Mr. Asbell also told us about the jail population has decreased in the last few years to around 300 inmates today. The phones are a great tool for getting convictions through eavesdropping done by the correctional officers. We saw this aspect when we were up in the guard rooms that overlook each block. Here officers can keep an eye on the inmates without the inmates knowing it and it also has to helps not let inmates hurt the guards. Pie001,002,004
After touring the Peoria County Jail there were a few things that I was very surprised to see. One of the things that I noticed was how small the cells and common area were, especially given the amount of time that some people are required to spend there. They do not even really have access to a different room for interviews, they just have to stay in that one area all day. I noticed that they did have a gym, but it seemed to be converted into a semi-permanent chapel. It is good to see that they have access to religious services, but they only seem to be able to go once a week. The reason the lack of mobility is so shocking to me is the potential toll it could take on the inmates mental and physical health. I don't have any psychological issues, and being in that detention block with people who weren't even criminals or suffering from mental issues had me feeling dizzy and claustrophobic. It's hard to imagine what it would be like for someone in the jail would be feeling in there with potentially violent criminals, especially given the fact that so many people in today's jail suffer from mental issues with the collapse of the state run mental facility system. For those suffering from mental issues their problems must be worsened by the enclosed, windowless cell blocks and exposure to potentially violent people. The lack of mobility and access to regular physical exercise also probably contributes to a lot of the fights that the jail has. Inmates without opportunity to exercise are probably going to have a lot of pent up energy, and the cramped conditions mixed with the heat in the facility probably do not help to ease the tempers of the people who are already potentially violent. It was releiving to see that the inmates had access to reading materials and mentally stimulating games like chess however, but it was disheartening to see some of the inmates using the books to build make-shift stools to watch the television, I guess you can lead a horse to water. On that note I wonder and should have asked if the inmates who are there for a determined amount of time or have a long time until their trial are allowed access to correspondence classes they could learn or begin to learn a skill if they did, or at least remain mentally engaged with something constructive that could be promising once they are let out. CoolGuy001
The tour of the jail was very interesting and a great learning experience. I'm still not sure if I want to go into corrections or other paths, but it was pretty cool. I really didn't know what I was going to walk into never being in a jail before. In my mind, I was guessing some bad place that would look like a mess. Wow, was I wrong? That place was so well kept and clean. You can easily tell Mr. Asbell had a passion for what he does. He's been working there for so long and wants to keep going for even longer. He has done such a good job and it can only go up from there. They even offer programs so inmates can earn their GED and jobs to pass the time. That's so they can have a better chance at life once they're out. One thing I found very odd was that none of the officers had any sort of weapons. They just had a radio. Mr. Asbell had said that all they need is communication and maybe that's one reason that it's not a violent place. The inmates can feel safe and so can the officers. Personally, I think they should have some kind of weapon or a taser just in case. I know for a fact I'm never going to do anything that stupid to where I end up in jail. I don't think I could handle even a week in that confined space. There's about 12 cells or so in an area. That's seeing the same little group of people all day every day for a while. I would lose my mind and go crazy. Overall the experience was a really cool one. I had learned a bunch about the jail and how it works. I would love to go again and even see more things that we didn't see. Mustang003/004/005
During my prison visit to Peoria County I learned a few things I didn't know already. I kind of knew that the prison was filled with a lot of men. That's how a lot of prisons are in my opinion. What i didn’t know was that , there was only one cell block for females. It was two there but the females that were there could only take up one cell block. Also during the tour I listened to a couple numbers that he threw out. I believe he said 80 or 90% of the inmates had mental illnesses. It's a lot of different mental diseases out there and a lot of people need help with them. We can't just look pass the illness just because a person is in jail. I still believe while sentencing them to prison the judge should also try to get them help. During the Q&A portion of the tour , I heard that the prison is trying to give inmates jobs and try to keep them busy with something instead of just sitting in a cell all day. Prison is not a place that I think anyone wants to be. It's all dull and boring. Everybody wearing the same exact thing. It'll drive somebody crazy. Even with a very small charge, being in prison locked up in a cell basically all day, having to try to go to sleep at 8:30. Who wants that? Yes there are rules but after a while it's gets to your head and drives you a little crazy. I feel as though if you're in prison long enough and you don't have a strong mindset to looking forward to getting out and only look at the bad , you can't survive peacefully. Yes you will get special privileges for good behavior but it's never enough. I would just want to be at home in my own bed , by myself and not a cellmate. DC004
Overall the Jail tour was very interesting to me and i learned a lot of new facts that i didnt know before. I thought it was interesting how most cops start out in the jail to prepare themselves to be better out on the street when they get there. It was nice to hear that the amount of inmates has decreased over the years. I also like how we were brought in as if we were a detainee. This was we went through the process and could have a better understanding of what it is like. It was interesting walking through the jail, in TV shows they make jails look like inmates are off the wall and act out of order, but when we went on the tour they were all calm and playing games with other inmates. It was interesting seeing the jail from a guards perspective and learning about how communication is the key to success. I thought it was interesting how the guards and officers do not carry any weapons into the jail. Overall the jail tour was a good experience. bball001, bball002, bball005
The visit to the Peoria County Jail was very eye opening and made me really think about a different career choice. The jail was cleaner than expected and had a tighter control on the inmates. I was impressed with the idea of their medical facilities and how the jail is trying to improve better medical assistance and mental illness issues. During the tour I learned that they do in fact have a faith based program and really care about recidivism. Our guide was very honest and had full control of any situation that was possible. I also learned that the female cells are in a whole different unit even though male and female guards can switch from male to female inmates. The jail was only house about 300 inmates and that is one third less than it was ten years ago and it proves crime rates are decreasing. One downfall to the guards was the lack of protection. If a smaller female guard was getting attacked by multiple inmates, I feel she needs some type of protection as its going to take time before the other guards can help her. Same goes with male guards as well. I agree that the less weapons they have the more trust and cooperation they will have with the inmates but if a true criminal were to come through they could see it as an advantage to attack. It was a concern for me. I liked the rules of phone and how they are okay with multiple phone calls to get information about that persons case. Overall the jail was impressive and exceeded my expectations. BMW004
I thought the jail was interesting. I really enjoyed it overall, learning all the things that go on in it. I found a lot of things intriguing like the fact that when the women were put together in bunks instead of singles there was more aggression and problems. Rather with the men they could be bunked together and not have as many problems as the lady’s. I also thought it was very interesting that there are more male inmates than women. I thought it was funny when Mr. Asbell said that they could have as many calls as they wanted because it helped them solve a couple cases by listening to the calls. I thought that the fact that none of the officers did not have any weapons on them not even pepper spray, was very impressive. All the officers use their words rather than violence to keep the inmates from fighting. I was so fascinated by that because all the officers have to have great communication skills to keep things in order in the jail. I had no idea Peoria didn't have a mental facility they take all of the psychological disordered people. The fact that most of the inmates have psychological disorders shocked me. I never knew that the officers had to drive back and forth to the courthouse and the jail to take the inmates to their hearings. That is so dangerous for the officers, I could not believe they do that every day. I thought it was interesting that the jail tries to help the inmates out to get back up on their feet when they get out, trying to get them jobs at Menards etc. I watched a video in my high school about how the jail/prison system is corrupt and it is just setting people that get out, to just end up back in. The video had real inmates talk about their experiences out of jail and in jail. Overall I learned so much during that tour. It helped me know more about what goes on inside. elephants005
While going over the different sections of the Peoria County Jail's website, it seems that they have strict rules and guidelines that people have to follow. This is necessary to ensure that chaos does not arise I assume. Also, I think they are trying to make sure that contraband does not go through. The first thing that I like about the jail is that everything is organised. What I mean is that they make sure that everything that goes on is planned ahead of time. Not only that, but they also require an ID for everything. The second thing that I like about the Peoria County Jail, is that the staff there have gone through some extensive training. I think it said that is was over 400 hours of training. That is great because you want staff that know what to do in almost any situation. The third thing is something that I do not totally agree with, but I am sure it is necessary, and that is that they charge you a little extra money if you send money in for a prisoner. It also said that there was a fee of $60 for any bond money too. Rayder004
ReplyDeleteRyder004 I agree that is shocking that there is a fee to put money on inmates commissary. I too feel that the amounts of training the officers undergo is a great thing. It is nice to know that the county jail is staffed with well trained officers. mommy004
Delete480-hour Basic Law Enforcement Class at the University of Illinois' Police Training Institute, I thought was very interesting that this is a requirement for officers as this should be required across the state the more well trained on officer is the more effective that officer will be when that officer is performing their jobs. It’s great to see that Peoria County takes the time to ensure their officers are effective. I thought it was also very useful that Peoria County offers victim services to help those who are in need of certain resources after criminal actively happens to ensure they have a better outcome then they would with getting resources on their own. This is also important as well because during these times of crises a lot of victims are in shock and lose trust in others by having the county coming to them this can help restore hope and save the victims humanity as well. The final thing that is very interesting as well is that for any type of employment that involves Peoria County both for commission’s and for jail employment as well this lists the process and requirement’s for each of the positions which saves time effort and money for both parties, the person applying and for the county for the reviewing of the application. Eagle001 Eagle002
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that it is an interesting requirement for officers to receive 480-hours of Basic Law Enforcement Class. I would like to see the performance rating of Peoria County officers compared to performance ratings in other jurisdictions. This large amount of training can only improve officer's performance. The only down side to it is the cost and time it takes for all of these to get this much training. Scuba002
DeleteI found it very interesting that even people who are just coming to visit someone they know who is in the jail, has to follow a long list of very specific rules in order to be able to visit the jail. These are obviously implemented to keep everyone safe and ensure that no one who is visiting will cause any type of trouble. Another thing i found very interesting about the jail is that the officers have to go through hundreds of hours of training to be able to work for the country, which i find is great because we want our officers to effectively trained and be able to perform their duties to the highest extent. The last thing that i found that was interesting is that the county utilizes three deputy sheriffs as their crime scene unit. One of the sheriffs is also on call 24 hours a day, which is a fantastic service to have available at times. Pack001, Pack002
ReplyDeleteI was shocked that anyone putting money on an inmates commissary account is charged a fee. The strict regulations that have in place for any visitors to the county is a great idea in my opinion. It aids in keeping both the staff and inmates safe. It is also great that a sheriff is on calls 24 hours a day, this serves to make the communities feel safe. The hours of training the officers have to go through is a great idea as well. It is good to know that the county jail is operating with the best intentions to the inmates housed there and that the staff is well trained to take care of the inmates placed in the Peoria County Jail. I took the tour last semester and felt that the county jail is doing a remarkable job. mommy004
ReplyDeleteFrom looking at the Peoria Police Department's website it seems that Peoria is very community oriented and tries to reach out to the community constantly. One of the programs that stuck out to me the most is Peoria Police Departments “Don't Shoot” program. This program is designed to reduce gun violence in the community and so far it seems to be doing a pretty good job. According to the Peoria Police website “ the program was launched in Peoria in 2012, it was one of more than 70 similar initiatives in the nation. Since its inception, the City of Peoria has experienced a significant decrease in gun violence, with a 71% decline in shooting fatalities from 2010 to July 2014, and a 59% reduction in the number of shooting victims for the same time period.”
ReplyDeleteAlso Peoria offers victim services for those who have been a victim to violent crimes and need help coping with such actions. I believe that it is very important for every department to have some sort of victim services because in a crime the victim is always the main priority. It seems to me that Peoria would be an amazing place to be employed, just by searching through their website and seeing how many programs they offer to the community and the organization the different ranks and divisions.
KLICK001
I definitely thought that it was definitely shocking when I found out that family members of an inmate were charged a fee as well. I understand that the jail has to makeup money somewhere but I think that the amount that a person is charged should not be that much due to the fact that I do understand that that the items that are sometimes in the commentary arec expensive which in turn causes the family to have to put more money on an inmate's account it was just shocking to me that even a $20 purchase is really $25 or 35 depending and if you put $30 in or not. I also thought it was very interesting on how many different rules there are when you step into that jail such as if you bring a child. I honestly did not think you could bring children until reading this article I am glad that the jail has a strict set regulations regarding children. I personally feel safer knowing that there are strict guidelines put in place because you never know who you might be sitting next to and what that person could possibly do even though you may trust the person that you're seeing behind the glass you don't know who sitting next to you possibly visiting somebody else. I think it is great that the higher up officials such as the sheriff are available around the clock. I personally did not realize that they were available that often. I really didn't know much about how our personal jail work until I read this article I'm glad I know more now because I know several people that have violated some of these stripped rolls and I Now understand why they are put into place I think they are great idea. A lot of people do not realize that all the regulations that visitors have to follow are strictly for and their safety and or the inmate and employees and have their best interest because we are not necessarily the most knowledgeable when it comes to someone being in jail and a visitor coming to see them we are not there person behind the bars they are so the state has to have strict guidelines on how to protect us because we might have to be protected from that in mate at the end of the day. Calmnthechoas001,calmnthechoas002
ReplyDeleteReading the rules and things they allow and don't allow is kinda weird for me. I use to work at a jail and they only allowed visiting days Monday through Thursday for a half hour each person tell four. and when we processed someone in they were allowed three pairs of boxers or bra and underwear and three pares of socks per inmate.
ReplyDeleteWhen they had visiting hours it was for a set time but it was always in a room with a thick glass that they talk through. they are more strict and look out more for safety of the officers. RW001, RW002
Three things I found interesting on the website are that the inmates are only allowed one twenty minute visiting session each week, the inmate has to be in the jail for at least a week before any visits can be arranged, and that when you deposit money, the jail takes out a $3.25 fee every time you deposit money for your inmate to use.
ReplyDeleteje001*
DeleteI found the peoria county jail website very knowledgeable. It stated the rules when visiting very clearly and there was a link to everything I could think of that you could need from the county. I do like how strict it is when it come down to visiting and the process. Banshee002 Steel001
ReplyDeleteJust like any jail there is a lot of rules and information listed on this webpage but there was a couple that stood out to me from the others. The first rule that stood out to me was the inmates only receive one twenty minute visit a week. The first thing I thought was wow thats kind of a small amount of visiting time allowed and only once a week. But on second thought you have to remember there is more than just a few inmates in this jail and everyone needs there visiting time. The second thing I saw and found interesting was that the jail takes a cut of whatever money the inmate gets deposited into his account. Even on cash transactions. I could understand on credit card accounts because you have to pay a company to run the card through. Just interesting, its understandable because the jail has to pay its workers. The third thing I thought stood out compared to some jails is that at Peoria County jail your family can give you a care package consisting of commissary items. Bike 001, Bike004
ReplyDeleteI also think that one 20-minute session is a short amount of time. Kids not being able to see their father or mother can have a negative impact on them. I also found it interesting on how they take money when family gives it to the inmates. I can understand if it was food food, laundry, and hygiene. coutinho004
DeleteI think it is interesting that the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office has one lieutenant and six detectives that are responsible for reviewing 13,000 reports and investigating 1,000 of them in one year. Those six detectives and one lieutenant have to investigate more than two cases per day and review more than 35 cases per day. I would have thought that they would have a few more detectives, especially since they are on call 24 hours a day. I also think that it is interesting that the jail has 216 employees who serve 183,433 civilian people that live in a 629 mile radius. Usually for every 10,000 citizens, there are 18-21 officers. Peoria County has below the recommended amount of officers. It is interesting that the website states visitors must wear appropriate clothing, but they do not offer guidelines. People have different ideas on what is appropriate and guidelines would help some visitors who have little sense on what is appropriate clothing. Scuba004, Scuba002
ReplyDeleteAfter searching through the peoria county jail website, 3 things really grabbed my eye. One was that during the visits the inmate can only see up to 3 people. that would be tough if you had a big family and could only see a portion during the visits. another thing is that when people deposit money to put on the inmates account there is a deposit fee for the person. The last thing i saw was that you have to pay an additional 60$ to bond someone out. i find that weird because it's already expensive to bond someone out and just to tack another 60$ is kinda ridiculous. RM001 002
ReplyDeleteThis jail seems to have a lot of "additional charges" on services such as bond or even paying with a credit card. I imagine this is a slick strategy to help increase funding for the jail and county overall. Ghost004
DeleteThe first thing that I found interesting is that the inmates are only allowed one 20-minute visiting session a week. People who are in jail and are most likely in there for misdemeanors. Some also most likely have kids and only being able to see them in that short of time is not enough. Secondly, I found that they have cash fees. This I can agree with, if the money they take goes make into the prison for food cost, laundry, and hygiene. As I kept reading, I saw that it said books are not accepted by inmates and I thought that was pretty interesting. I can see why though because they could carve out the inside and hide accessories in there. It is good to see them have strict guidelines on those who do come in visit the jail. Knowing who is coming in and out keeps them safe. coutinho004
ReplyDeleteI see why they don't want the inmates to have books but then again it is another way for them to pass the time and helps them from getting into trouble and a good way to keep their brain active. Pie001,002,004
DeleteOne of the most interesting things I noticed on the website was the commissary services available to inmates. I found it interesting that inmates are able to purchase different items while they are being held at a jail facility, I would not expect any type of monetary transactions to be allowed, especially those allowing for inmates to purchase comfort items. I was also surprised at the limit the facility put on the amount of underwear that visitors were allowed to leave for the inmates. It makes me wonder how many sets of underpants that inmates are issued for their stay at the facility. I also wonder how often inmates have access to laundry services and if they would have enough undergarments to have a clean set for every day between access to laundry services. I was also interested in how the facility does not allow inmates to be given books by visitors. I understand limits on certain books due to content that could be contrary to any prisoner code of conduct and the overall ruling on books as a general precaution, but I would wonder if the rule also applies to religious texts. If the rule does apply to religious texts, I would wonder what religious services the facility would provide in order to make up for the lack of available religious texts. CoolGuy001
ReplyDeletePeoria County Jail, located on Maxwell Rd, Peoria IL, serves as the County correctional facility for the Peoria County Sheriff’s office. This facility was first opened in 1985 and could house 235 in general population and an additional 80 bed Work Release facility. However, overtime an additional 144 beds were added to the facility in August of 1999. This facility is mainly used for the detention of individuals awaiting sentencing or court appearances. With a staff of 61 correctional officers and supervisors this jail is able to control and operate rather smoothly it seems. In order to become a correctional officer at this jail you must pass a 200 hour training course and a pretty thorough hiring process. This jail has commissary on Wednesdays as well but it ends at 2:00 pm which is overall interesting because we will be visiting this Wednesday. Overall this jail is located right next to my home town and I have grown up seeing it almost everyday, so it will be a great learning experience to be able to tour the inside as well. Ghost004
ReplyDeleteWhen looking at the Peoria County Jail website I found interesting on the website are that the inmates are only allowed one twenty minute visiting session each week which doesn’t seem that long to be able to even catch up real fast. The second thing I saw and found interesting was that the jail takes a cut of whatever money the inmate gets deposited into their account. I’m not sure how I feel about that because the family is trying to help the inmate and they are getting charged to do so. The third thing that I found was that it said books are not accepted by inmates and I thought that was pretty interesting because reading is one way to pass the time and not get into trouble. Pie 001,002,004
ReplyDeleteWhen I read about the Peoria county jail I thought that the biggest thing that they do is the “Don’t Shoot” program. This program helps reduce shooting crimes. This program also helps with gangs and trying to reduce any crimes with them. I feel that this is a huge program for Peoria to start and engage because it shows that there trying to make Peoria better and not a dangerous place. The county jail tries to keep it very professional and safe for everyone so they have strict rules as well as specific rules. This just shows that the people they have in charge and working are the best at what they do and they go through training and know what to do at the highest extent. Another thing that I found interesting is the K9 unit. I think its interesting that they have to do all of this training with this dog so it connects a strong bond between the two. The dog is your partner and you have a strong bond so you protect that dog like it was a human. I just found that very interesting. CRC001,CRC002
ReplyDeleteWhile going through the different sections of the website, there were not many things that i did not already know. I think that one of the things i didn't know was that they took $3.25 every time you put money onto an inmates account. I understand why they do this because they need to make money to keep the jail running and in order so by taking a small portion of the money sent to an inmates account they are able to do so. I also thought it was interesting that an inmate can only have up to 3 visitors at a time. I thought this was interesting because most families consist of more than 3 people so i would of thought they would allow more people to visit at a time. The last thing that I thought was interesting was that they do not allow books. I would think that books would help the inmates pass time and help educate them as they are serving their time, so it was shocking to me when i saw they do not allow books. bball001, bball002, bball005
ReplyDeleteOne thing I noticed was the Sheriff's Office Auxiliary . They are citizens of Peoria that assist in many different public events. These residents are well trained volunteers that help provide public safety to the community. Another thing I noticed on the Peoria County website was the CrimeView Map. It tells you what crimes occurred, from arson to vehicle theft. It gives you a good overview of where the crime occurred, but doesn’t let you get into too much detail with it. I think this map is good for people who want to know what’s going on in their neighborhood and cities nearby. It’s good that this map is here for anyone who is curious. DC004
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the Peoria County Jail's website, I realized how serious and strict they are with their rules. To me it makes a lot of sense, having these strict rules to keep order in the jail not knowing what could happen if visitors are purposely there for the wrong reasons. So to me that list seems very reasonable. One thing i thought was smart and can completely understand why they might do this is open any mail coming inside the jail to an inmate. When i first read that i was thinking i hope they aren't reading their personal business but that wasn't the case. Opening an inmates mail before being given to him or her is to simply see if there is anything hidden in the envelope. If you think about it anything could fit in there such as a small weapon or even drugs. For everyones safety i feel like that is a smart move. One thing i didnt understand was the cash fee and why they are taking out so much from a persons personal money. Maybe if they explained their reasoning on why they did that i would understand a little more clear but since they didnt i just see it as being unfair and there should not be a "fee" for giving a loved one money. kt001
ReplyDeleteI also thought the jails website was professional and user friendly. It has a wide range of information topics from visiting a prisoner rules to detailed information on applying for a job. Contact names and phone numbers are very accessible to the public. There is a place to make comments or report a crime anonymously or learn about victim services. As for the extra fee for giving money, there is always a reason that prompts a rule or charge which he did not share with us nor did we ask.grandma005
DeleteAfter viewing the Peoria County Jail's website and visiting the jail this evening, it seems that the Peoria County Jail is very organized and well established. According to the site, there appear to be strict rules and guidelines that are followed to ensure the efficiency in which the jail is operated. After our visit tonight, I believe that the way in which the staff operates the facility is a direct reflection of the professionalism of the webpage. Peoria County Jail seems to run very smoothly. They also appear to be taking steps towards creating change within our community. By allowing inmates to work within the facility (and some even outside of the facility), our county jail is permitting these individuals to experience rehabilitation rather than complete and total incarceration. I think that touring the jail tonight was a very neat and eye opening experience. I certainly learned a lot about the procedures and precautions that are taken. I also learned about the crime to takes place within our community. I think that if more people were able to experience tours such as these, people would better understand our criminal justice system and have a more open mind when it comes to police work. Peanut003
ReplyDeleteI saw a whole new outlook on the workings of the Peoria County Jail. The corrections officer's do a lot of up front work with the inmate's. The jail was very clean and well maintained. The inmates were placed in living situations based on their needs and if they needed detoxing were placed away from other inmate's. It takes a lot of work to keep things running smoothly. They also had services for people with disabilities. They offer counseling and medical treatment. They also had extensive medical facilities. I enjoyed the tour a great deal I learned so much that I never knew. I liked that the inmates helped with preparing meals and doing laundry. It gives students the chance to see first hand what goes on inside the jail. This helps to decide if this is what you really want to do. I also think these tours may detour people from making bad decisions. I liked that community policing is being used more and the jail is down on population. I'm glad I went and that we were allowed to ask questions. All of them were answered professionally. Our criminal justice system is seeing positive changes in our incarceration rates. Its nice that the inmates can work outside of the jail to learn a trade And take it on the outside to get away from the lifestyle they were living. It will give them experience and a sense of worth. Overall it was a very good experience and I would recommend the tour to anyone going into the criminal justice profession. Our police are improving the system and making changes for the better. I definitely saw a different side of things and am open to new views.sly.003
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot of information that I did not know before I had my visit with the Peoria County Jail. The first thing that I found out is that not every inmate does not have to be strip searched upon entering the jail. Unless the jail has reason to believe that the inmate coming in could have it inside them, then they will search them. I thought it was funny that the male inmates would visit the nurse a lot to just have female interaction, but because they really didn't need to see her, the jail starting charging them a co pay. They only paid if they had the money on the books. The numbers went dramatically down after they was getting charged for it. You can't really blame them!! I do like that they can have unlimited phone privileges. There can be so much information that the jail could use to solve crimes. It is a win win for the inmates and the jail. I didn't know that the inmates were housed in bods. I guess I always thought that the people had a common area for everyone, not like 10 people in each one. I also thought that the inmates had a cafeteria that they had their meals at. I didn't know that they had their meals brought to them in their pods. hotfox003
ReplyDeleteThe jail tour was very different than what I imagined. I expected the jail to have one big cafeteria at the center with cells all around it. The jail had different blocks and one block consisted of a large room with tables and a television and cells attached to it on the first and second floor. I expected to see the inmates behind bars, but the jail had windows instead. I found it interesting that it is policy female inmates cannot be heard by male inmates, but it makes sense to keep the females away from the males. I also learned that the inmates did not move much. They usually do not leave their blocks; their meals are even brought to them there. The lack of weapons the correctional officers had surprised me, but I learned the jail had very few fights. The sergeants are able to carry around tasers, but I expected to see more weapons. The lack of weapons on correctional officers is logical for many reasons such as inmates cannot get a hold of a correctional officer’s weapon and the inmates behave well enough where the correctional officers do not need to carry around weapons. I learned about the dramatic decrease of prisoners over the past recent years; I was surprised at how large the prison population was years ago- inmates were even sleeping on the floor. The jail is run with a lot of care for the inmates. The correctional officers having the respect and establishing rapport with the inmates works better than treating the inmates with no respect. I liked that the detainees could use more than one phone call. The system the jail is running is truly looking out for the inmates and creating a better run criminal justice system. This jail knows that their inmates have a high recidivism rate; it is the same people going in and out of the system. I respect that they see a problem and do their best to fix it. The jail is working on lowering their recidivism rate by teaching their inmates trades they can use for once they return to civilian life. Inmates can learn about food sanitation and how to renovate a house. Scuba002, Scuba004
ReplyDeleteWhen you enter the jail through the intake area you begin to understand, just how much trouble you are now in. The unloading area in the enclosed garage. Waiting for the arresting or transport officer to prepare to enter the intake area. Watching the heavy iron door open to the intake area, and then walking in to a drab and lifeless foyer, to wait for your turn to be processed. I’ve done this once before, but from the other point of view. Understanding how the process works from the opposite side of the glass made it easier to understand what the Superintendent was trying to show us. The booking process is just as they said it would be. When you arrive you are first placed in a holding cell, which one is usually determined by the attitude of the individual that is being brought in. If you are under the influence, agitated, or aggressive you are subject to be placed in one of several rooms for observation, until you have become capable of understanding and responding to the officer’s requests and orders. I learned that the segregation of the inmates is sometimes by age, sometimes by the crime, and most times by gang affinities or ties to certain groups. The tour gave us an insight into what the officers must contend with on a daily basis and how they try to be humane with the prisoners who they are responsible for during their shifts. We viewed the “pods” and were allowed to see how the detainees lived and co-habituated with their other inmates. There is little free space for each individual, and very little privacy allowed. As an inmate you have lost the right to privacy, choices, and personal space. When you broke the law you gave up these rights because you made a poor choice, broke the law, or did something that you should not have. It was interesting that there are programs in place to help those, who are repeat offenders, when they have completed their sentences and need extra help to ease back into society. Finding out about the commissary was also something I had not expected to find in this institution. When you have broken a law or committed a crime I always believed that you were only allowed certain privileges as you progressed through the system and worked to earn some of these perks as became a more model prisoner. The superintendent stated that we all make mistakes, we are all human, and the individuals do make some poor choices. But this should be something that we learn from and continue to grow as we continue on our journeys in life. Jails are here to confine those that have committed some error or mistake that they knew was wrong, but were unable to prevent because there seemed to be no other action or avenue that could help make the right choice. We made a mistake and now we must face the consequences of these decisions. The programs that the Superintendent spoke of were not just simple recommendations that were put in place to make money, but were mainly designed to give a sense of accomplishment for the inmates who are the habitual criminal or the first time offender. There seems to be a genuine hope that the individuals will learn from their incarceration and turn their lives around. Seoulman005
ReplyDeleteThe trip to the Peoria County Sheriff's Office and Jail was very interesting. I felt the Corrections Superintendent, Brain Asbell, made it clear that his mission is to bring Peoria's crime rate down and reduce the prison population. He stated that most of the prisoners were good people that made bad decisions. As in Merton's Theory they felt societies emphasis on wealth and chose innovation or crime to attain wealth. He also said there are many who choose drugs or retreatism and they find an overdosed body weekly in this area. The prison population has decreased in the last few years to around 300 inmates today. Mr Asbell feels that community policing, where a police man lives in a bad area, has helped people trust and go to the neighbor/policeman with information or for help. Also, policeman are being trained in communication to discern if a person needs to be arrested. A prisoner costs tax payers $65 a day to incarcerate so he is working on a grant for work programs instead of a jail sentence. The jail offers prisoners a GED program and food service training that may help them get a job when they get out and reduce recidivism. Around 80% of inmates return. The jail is working with local companies like Menards that are willing to hire people with a record. The maximum time in jail is 364 days and around 85% are waiting for trial. The system has 48 hours to decide if or how to charge a prisoner. Men and women are separated with women being a small percentage of the total population. The jail has the only mental health facility in the area to evaluate and help prisoners. Phone calls are not limited which prisoners like and jail staff use to gain information. All programs are designed to eliminate the stigma of labeling prisoners as deviants and hopefully they will respond differently when given the choice of crime or conformity of hard work. I think sociologists would be happy with the jails direction.
ReplyDeletegrandma005
I have always enjoyed this tour. This was my second time through and it was just as interesting as the last. I enjoyed seeing the individual inmates as they went about their business. I liked hearing Brian Asbell talk about his job, it was clear that he was well informed and that he really did enjoy his job. He told us that he loves every day he works. I think he enjoys these tours so much as his job, in his words, mostly just includes risk management. Brian told us about the budget's effect on the jail as he ran us through the intake and the holding cells. I find it interesting that they find that cops are much better at their jobs if they start out in a jail before being sent to the streets. I have taken particular interest in these words and I think it is where I will attempt to start my career, depending on how my other options go in the future. I also enjoyed hearing that Brian does not support the don't shoot campaigns. This jail seems to be in good hands and it feels, to me, like the facility is effectively doing it's job and that the staff are well trained and handle the situations the right way. One thing I found interesting is the focus of hiring when it comes to new employees. I have found that the common idea for a good officer would be mostly the physical aspect. As in they need to be strong, physically fit, and intimidating. However, Brian told us several times how the focus is really on the communication abilities of the individual. That doesn't mean that physical capacity is not important, but having the ability to talk to people, along with a good work ethic, is what the interview board focuses on most when interviewing new officers. - AJC001
ReplyDeleteThis was my third tour of the county jail. District 150 used to take students in 8th grade on a field trip there. It was kinda scary then and looked very different. I have gone twice with Dr. White and both times felt confident that the county jail is ran with integrity. I especially liked the fact that everyone is not stripped searched when entering the jail. People are actually treated with dignity. It is already hard enough coming into that bleak situation and by allowing them to keep some of their dignity I feel eases the shock somewhat. Especially for someone who has never been arrested before. I thought charging the co-pay to see the nurse was a great idea. Not only does it make the county a little money but also helps deter inmates from asking to see the nurse simply because they want to interact with a female. The mental health services they offer is also a great tool for the inmates since Brian stated about 80% of the inmates suffer from some sort of mental illness. If those issues are not addressed those 80% will continue to return to the jail. Brian acknowledged that and actually did something about it. As he mentioned the budget doesn't allow for to many things to be offered, but at least they are trying to help the mentally ill. I was surprised to hear that those withdrawing from opiates are not given methadone unless they are pregnant. I can imagine dealing with those inmates is hard on the staff. Overall I left the Peoria County Jail feeling like it is a well run facility with well trained staff. That treats the inmates respectfully and are given the training they need to take care of the inmates incarcerated there to the best of their ability. In comparison to some of the jails I have seen on lockup or other television shows Peoria County seems to be getting it right. Of course things could improve but given the budget they have to operate with I felt they are doing a remarkable job. mommy004
ReplyDeleteWhat I learned from one of the workers at the correctional facility that inmates are allowed up to 300 or more items of contraband during their stay at the Peoria County this was outstanding to me as this is much different than many of the shows that show the aspects of jail or prison life this had much difference to the one or two felicity that is usually show to be allowed within the correctional facility. This jail also had very low number in terms of how many inmates the facility has within a regular basis with 301 individuals. What was also a surprising fact learned from this trip is the number of people that go within the jail of Peoria County with the 17,000 people that passed through within a given year. This also shows that this jail doesn’t have their main focus on keeping individuals within the facility but getting them out. I also learned that inmates going within this facility can have up to as many phone calls as they would like, what I also learned is that they're allowed to do a very strong search of individuals coming within the jail as the supreme court stands a “blank search” which is a full strip search but the County recognizes the humiliation this causes individuals so they do a probable cause search only if they suspect that illegal items enter the jail will be seized. This jail was also very formal in the process of helping inmates struggling even financially as they would pay the cost of medical treatments of whatever an individual may need even going as far as doing a small co-pay that could be the equal ant up to three dollars. I also learned that money from the government changes how the jail is running from year to year if a good amount of financial support than the jail can have a numerous amount of beneficial programs if not some things will be cut due to funding. This was a usefully experience and very helpful in understanding the justice system. Eagle001 Eagle002
ReplyDeletefound very shocking was that there were people there that were in their nineties because I happened to ask the officer how old was the oldest person that they had there and he said that the people that he's had there were in their nineties and most likely it was because they had a warrant that they did not realize that they had from like 20 years ago because whether you have a warrant you have to go to jail. I also thought it was interesting how they ran the medical part of the jail for instance they have positions that they jail can call before they can call like an ambulance which I just automatically assume they just went to the hospital especially if it was late at night and the reason I found that out was because one of the inmates had an issue while I was in the medical room and she was older and they weren't getting response from any of the Physicians so they had to call Central for an ambulance and I also thought it was very interesting how they talked to each other on their radios because I am getting ready to go into the nine-one-one dispatching field they really just use numbers if they are calling for a certain person I also found out that a lot of the people that are just officers wear black and the higher up people wear the white uniforms I personally did not know that. The guy that was my officer was fun nominal and answering my questions and he literally told me if you don't love what you do you're not going to succeed at this job he's been at it for eight years. It was very interesting to hear about the strip searching I really didn't realize that it was required to do that to everyone but I thought it was a true example of a discretion when they only will check if they have probable cause such as Weapons or drug charges. It was very nice to kind of get more of the medical side of the jail there are six more intense Medical holds and those are used for the people that need like more intense watching by the actual like nursing staff. I was kind of afraid for the nurses a little bit because they don't have the radios and or they don't have anything on them except their scrubs that I could see and I they go into wherever medical treatment is needed yes I know they have backup but still they literally just looks like normal nurses and bright colors on their uniforms uniforms I really was shocked to see that. Another thing that I found really interesting was that police discretion is still very much appreciated when it comes to the cops calmnthechoas001,002
ReplyDeleteThe trip to the Peoria County Jail was very interesting and I’m glad I had the opportunity to go, While I was younger I remember visiting the jail. Where the visiting area is located that used to be bigger you would walk through a door and there would be just long lines of windows with the phones. I never been to jail before and have always wanted to tour it and learn more about it. I watch 60 days in which is a tv show about jail and I also watch the show locked up in Vegas, and lastly lockup. It’s a lot different than tv but does have similarities. I learned a lot and got a chance to see for myself how it’s a lot different than tv. Tv makes it look so much worse then what it really is. Yes, it’s bad but the Peoria Jail is different. Before this tour, I was under the assumption that all the officers carried guns and Tasers and there are fights every day that they constantly must break up. That’s not the case at all I learned that the officers don’t carry gun or Tasers and the environment is not rowdy or loud it’s quiet, and I was expecting the exact opposite of that. I also learned the jail was built in 85? something close like that. Also, back when the zellar asylum the officers almost kind of like chose whether that inmate was fit for jail or the hospital. Well when the hospital closed jail was the only place for those people to go to. It’s sad that jail houses a lot of mental ill people those people need help, and jail isn’t the right place for them. I also learned that it cost 65 dollars a day for each inmate I believe at the jail right now there is about 300 hundred and something inmates I thought 320 however I might be wrong however that’s still many inmates incarcerated. Another fact I learned which I already somewhat knew was that companies are working with individuals getting out of jail to give them an opportunity to work and to stay of jail some of those companies include Menards and Pizza Ranch, besides those two companies I know that Applebee’s, PetSmart, Chili’s and Two men and a truck also help those individuals. Overall I was glad to have went on the jail tour and I hope that I can go again
ReplyDelete-kyw005
Before visiting the Peoria County Jail, I envisioned striped-uniform-clad inmates yelling from behind bars, filthy cells, and an overall feeling of sadness or fear. I had never been to any sort of jail nor had any of my family imprisoned, so my ideas about incarceration had all come from depictions of jails in movies and television shows. Once arriving at the jail, however, all of my ideas changed. I think when we think of criminals, the deviants of society, we think of murderers and rapists that commit heinous crimes against humanity. But, at the Peoria County Jail, I saw that the inmates are just people that have messed up. It was a nice surprise to hear the man that we toured with speak about his goal of rehabilitation versus punishment. Last week, my boyfriend and I were actually discussing the cycle of incarceration and how we could change that and we suggested many of the points that he spoke about, such as jobs accepting criminals regardless of their background and programs within the prison that would help people get educations and job skills. I didn’t know that there was a GED program inside of the jail, so that was one thing I learned while on the tour. I believe that jails and prisons should be based on rehabilitation instead of simply locking someone up when they’ve done something bad. If the incarceration and law systems don’t implement programs to help criminals improve their lives, those same lawbreakers will keep breaking the law because that’s all they know or that’s all they can do. Providing jobs, education, housing, and counseling opportunities are all good ways to lower the rate of recidivism and therefore spend less tax money on jails and more money on things our country needs, such as better education and community programs to prevent crime. lasagna005
ReplyDeleteThis was my first time being at the Peoria County jail, honestly on the way there I was thinking to my self on how it was going to be, and I was being very judgemental about it. First walking in, I felt bad for even thinking the thoughts I did on the way there. I was completely shocked on how clean it actually is. I learned a lot of information while I was there. Before coming there I thought strip search was mandatory in the booking process. I also learned that the correctional officers, and duputies don't carry any lethal weapons on them. I always thought that if an inmate were to get sick they would have to be transported to a hospital for medical care, so I learned that they had a medical there at the jail itself. I found it interesting that as long as the inmates have the money for it that they are allowed to get however much they want out for the contraband and that they aren't limited to phone calls. This tour opened my eyes and turned my mind around about jails. It's amazing how they help and provide many opportunties to the inmates while they are serving there time and for when they get out. I personally thought that Brian Asbell did an amazing job of giving out his knowledge and years of experience with the tour, and can really tell that he takes pride in his job. I learned a lot and am greatful I was given the opportunity to go on the tour.Bell003
ReplyDeleteRecently we took a trip to the Peoria County Jail. I learned many interesting things good and bad. I remember being in the seventh grade and we took a field trip the jail for a tour and to get our very first ID’s made. I really don’t remember how the jail was back then I definitely know now. First I want to talk about the way the inmates are housed. I’ve never been in the inside of a jail until that day. The way they have it set up it works. There was no fight when we were there, no misunderstanding or anything. The women were on one side of the building and the men were housed on the other side. There were only a few inmates in each pod. That was smart due to the fact that to many people in one area can cause a big problem. I want to say that that’s their way of keeping down fights and problems. Superintendent Brian told us about the many different people he comes in contact with from all aspects of life. He also spoke on the amount of good people that are in jail by making bad choices. Brian also stated that there are people that deviates a pattern of repeatedly returning to jail. That’s their lifestyle and it’s all they know. These people are branded as a deviant. Jail houses and prisons are well known for having a bad reputation for being a horrible place to work. After talking with Brian he reassures me that working at his jail house is a safe place to be employed. Even though you should always be on guard. I also learned how jail houses are different from prisons. People in prisons are drug free and have been locked away for some time. While people going to jail are fresh off the street and may be under the influence of some kind of drugs or alcohol. These people are more likely going to need detox and medical treatment. On the other hand no one entering in the jail house can carry in a weapon, they have to lock their weapon up in a lock box. Therefore the guards in the jail house don’t carry a weapon to guard the inmates. The superintendent also informed us about the physical and mental test you will have to take if you want to become a correctional officer. He stated that this is a great place to start for someone that wants to become a police officer in the future. Cupcake005…
ReplyDeleteThis was my third time touring the Peoria County Jail, and each time I go back I learn a little bit more. We started off the tour as we always do, by entering through the back the way that a detainee would. The superintendent informed us that all of the officers drop off their weapons into a lock box, and that only a few people in the jail carry a weapon and even then it is not a lethal one. Pepper spray is carried by just a few, and there are no tasers allowed into the building either. After we entered the actual building we were standing in the booking area. There was a section where the detainees got their mugshots taken, their fingerprints scanned, and there were also cells off to the side where at risk detainees waited. These at risk were those that had high amounts of drugs and alcohol in their system when entered, and those on suicide watch. Continuing through the jail, we toured the men's pod, the women's pod, a women's cell, and the gymnasium. The men's pods were quite a bit bigger than the women's, and the pods were situated on opposite sides of the jail. Men and women are not allowed to be within hearing or viewing range of each other. After viewing the pods from the observation deck and within we went into the gymnasium to ask the S.I. further questions. We learned from him that we have a better chance of making it onto the police force by starting off in the jail. By starting off in the jail we get first hand experience that many police forces are looking for in new recruitees. I think that a career in the jail would desensitize us to future encounters and would also teach us to speak to individuals as respectively as possible. As the S.I. said, the majority of people in jail aren't bad people, they're good people that made bad choices.
ReplyDeleteHootie002
This is my second time touring the jail and I feel like I learn something new every time I go. Mr. Asbell does a great job talking about the jail. We first were brought in as if we were a detainee. The thing that I don’t remember from last time is the correctional officers don’t have any weapons besides pepper spray. Mr. Asbell talked about how the numbers are low which he stated was very good because in earlier years they were up to five hundred people. They had so many people four years ago that some of the inmates had to sleep on the floor. When we were being toured through the intake and the holding cells he would talk mostly about the budget as well. He stated that he wished they had more money because they have a lot more ideas to do. Mr. Asbell stated that you are a better cop if you start out in the jail before you get out on the streets. He talks about how it is most likely 99.9% chance you will start off in the jail before you become a cop. As we were walking you could tell that the staff were very well trained and ready for whatever situation was thrown at them. I feel that even Mr. Asbell was very prepared and ready for any situation with us being there. The biggest fact he stated that through me off guard is that he said there were 17,000 people who went through the jail. I didn’t know anything about that so that was something new that I didn’t know about. The last thing that I learned about the whole tour was that they look for people who can really communicate well. I just always had in my head that the good officers were the ones that were strong, smart and good help anyone in any situations. He states though that the best ones are the communicators. CRC001, CRC002
ReplyDeleteThis was my first time going on the tour at the county jail. It was much bigger than the one I worked at. We were brought in through the sally-port and walked through the building as if we were going through in processing ourselves. They had rooms for suicide watch nest to where they in processed people and that was different from where I worked. The rooms they had for people on suicide watch are the same ones they use for drunks and others that are on drugs and need time to let it out of their system. When we went through the facility we were told about how its 61 dollars an inmate per day. Also, how they haven’t had many accidents with inmates over the years because they have lost a lot of inmates. I found out that they had a workout room and that they had an auditorium like room for church or classes. I thought it was cool that he said if you are arrested by Peoria or anyone local then you are going to end up there or wither it’s to stay or to pass through. There was a lot of things that were different than the one I worked at. He made a lot of things easy to understand and it was cool to see that what they take pride in most is the “med. Bay.” They have spent a lot of time and money to keep it above standards. I liked when he told us inmates would ask to go to see the nurses all the time but once they started charging them money from their commissary then they stopped asking to go see the nurses as much! It was a great Experience and I learned a lot I would recommend for everyone to go at least once! RW001, RW002
ReplyDeleteGoing to the Peoria County Jail was such an eye opener for me. I have never been the type to get in trouble so me having to go through what those inmates do everyday would not affect me. However, I do know people that have been in that situation and had to stay there for a period of time. I thought it was very interesting that the inmates did not leave their pod. Maybe I watch Orange is the new Black too much because I thought things were different. Before going on this tour, I thought they had a room where all the females could be in together and do what they do in their pod. I hadn't known that there was only a certain number of people per pod. It also shocked me that females could not be double bunked because of previous troubles. I knew girls were hateful, but I did not know that much. Maybe, jail can really change a person. When I entered the cell, it was so cold and ugly and steel. I had first thought it was a little better than that and that their cell was more comforting. It made me really sad seeing how these people live day by day. I know they are in there because they committed a crime, but they are still human beings. Like the lutinate said, 80 percent of the people that go to jail are good people, they just made a poor choice. That could be selling weed to keep food on the table. I would agree making $7.75 at my job is very stressful because I feel as if I am underpaid. Money is the key to everything. I really wish there was something more we could do rather than locking people up in a cold room. #BabyBray005.
ReplyDeleteI don’t think that women are in single pods merely because they are “hateful”, I believe that women are, for the most part, the exact opposite. I think that it was a good idea because women just need their own space sometimes; I feel personally that too much company would drive me crazy. I have to have my own space, my own bubble. I can’t imagine feeling that way, plus maybe having an ill conscience. So, long story short, single bunks are a great idea. Puppies005
DeleteWhen we went on the jail tour, it was my first time ever seeing the inside of a jail and i was very fascinated by it. I was surprised to hear that correctional officers cannot have any weapons with them while they are inside the prison, the only thing they have are their radios which they can use to call for backup if hey need it. I was confused as to why they would not be allowed to have something to protect themselves with, but after seeing how well the jail is kept under control it made more sense. Another interesting thing i learned while touring the jail is that not only do they have a very nice medical wing, they also have a mental health wing along with the normal medical bay. I think this a great thing to have to offer to inmates who might more than just physical health help. They has spent lots of time and money in order to make the jail one of the best in the country and i think that is something to take pride in. Having the jail be above standards looks good on the county as well the officers who work there and it also helps for the inmates because they are being kept in better humane conditions. I am very glad that i was able to have this experience and tour the jail, i learned so much and i would definitely tell other people to tour it at least once in their lifetime. Pack001, Pack002
ReplyDeleteThe tour of the jail was very interesting. i did not know it was the only jail in Peoria county, no t only that but it has the maximum holding of 542 individuals at a given time without any one sleeping on the floors. I thought it was interesting that they can open the cells, turn on the water, the lights, the phones, and the tvs from a ipad or a tablet. I like how they really do care about the public and want to help the population, especially the mentally ill. They have a psychologist a big medical team to help them take care of the individuals in the jail. One part I thought was different was the aspect of not having any weapons in the jail. If they do have a weapon in the jail it is a taser, and it is only able to be carried by a sgt and above which is a different thought. I like how they try to keep the living standards up for the individuals in jail. Overall I found the the experience a really good insight for if I do get a job in the jail and what to expect. Steel001 Banshee002
ReplyDeleteOne of the most interesting things I learned while at the county jail concerned the amount of drug overdoses that have occurred within a period of time. It was very interesting to me to know that we are in a crises of narcotics and hard drugs—where are they coming from? Why is it affecting our region so heavily? The fact that the Peoria county jail has to accommodate to this epidemic is mind blowing to me. I liked that the female pods were single-bunked as opposed to the men, who had double bunked pods. As a woman, I believe this atmosphere is much more suitable as women are biologically more sensitive creatures and sometimes we just need air to breathe. I like that Peoria County pays close enough attention to little details that help the overall atmosphere. Also, the fact that the firearms were locked away upon entering the building was mind blowing. I wonder how doing this affects their statistics of any discourse breaking out in the jail. Seeing as a detainee realizes there are no guns, are they more likely to be compliant? It’s interesting to me how we study human behavior and responses to environment so we know what works best for people and what doesn’t—we are continuously looking at new perspectives and ideas to further reform our law enforcement system. If we could apply this mindset to everything we do, the world would be a better place. Puppies005
ReplyDeleteWhen first being offered to tour the jail, along with my fellow classmates, I had no idea what to expect. Despite the fact that I knew I would be secure and protected, some sort of anxiety seemed to overtake my body. When first arriving to the jail, I overheard few conversations that basically stereotyped the inmates. This was even before we had a chance to enter the sealed facility. I found this to be disturbing, because as people we judge booked by their covers. What we fail to realize is that some of the best forms of artistic literacy had some of the fews pictures in them. Unfortunately, the name of the tour guide has slipped my mind, but I found it importance of a lot of the things he stated. For example, he stated a description he has formed of most of the inmates,” There is no such thing as bad people. Just bad decisions, but that’s what makes us human.” It is also what makes unrelatable. To confront yourself and realize that everyone makes mistakes humbles yourself; a lesson that can be very difficult to come across. Also, the tour guide mentioned that the population of the Peoria County Jail has decreased over a number of years, approximately around 300 inmates. He also mentioned that the old Illinois Central College North building use to be, at one point in time, a mental health institution. This facility was once essential to the law enforcement agency, because police cold choose where to take individuals based upon their needs. I find this to be important, because we find individuals being wrongfully placed in jails, when they clearly need mental assistance, because, according to our tour guide, up to 80 percent of inmate in the Peoria County Jail obtain some sort of mental illness. This is a great example of wrongful assistance from the government. Another example would be those who are locked up due to drug addictions. I believe that the United States should consider adopting other methods such as the one that has been implemented throughout foreign nations. By doing so these nations have decriminalized substances, and instead of treating addictions as crimes they are treated as mental illnesses. This has led to a decrease in teen pregnancies, low HIV/AIDS rates, and decreased crime.
ReplyDeleteS&D005
Going to the jail tour I was surprised about how they have only 551 people. Also how some of them were only from harder drugs.I was not surprised on how there were more males then women. I am very surprised how there are only few women in the jail also. I find it funny how when they made copay to visit the nurse to make the visits go down for only serious ones. I like how they inmates have jobs in order to keep the jail clean. I found it interesting how all cops have to go o the jail to train and move on. also how some will stay at the jail because they like it. I was amazed how he said theirs one guy that will break the law so he can have a place to sleep and eat. I like how they have to be good to get some of there privileges. I found it really funny how one of the inmates corrected a note by the door. The cells looked very small and uncomfortable. I like how they get to by snacks with the money they earn. I found it astonishing how he said that with less inmates the charge cost more but with more inmates the cost less money to give to the sate.I like how the have a doctor on a 24/7 call. What is more amazing to me is that they an not bring there weapons inside the jail. Like how are they going to handle a jail out burst without any weapons.I did not like how it was so hot in the first part of the building. I also liked how they have cells in the front for suicide watch and people trying to come off the drugs they took. I also liked how he dose not do a full striped body search on only the inmates. But only for the inmates that were charged with drugs. Adelle002
ReplyDeleteThe tour we received at Peoria County Jail was very enlightening, being the first inside look at a jail for myself. Corrections Superintendent Brian Asbell was very informational and passionate about his jail and the way he has tried to set it up. He seemed very noble and intimate in his views on incarceration as a whole, and the way he pushed for inmates to be released so that they can better their lives in theory was very refreshing to hear. We started our tour walking through intake where inmates first enter the jail and are booked. In the intake inmates are processed and personal information is gathered so that the jail can better accommodate their needs and figure out possible risk factors. One thing Mr. Asbell was very clear about was the assessment of risk within the facility and how the budget is tightly wrapped to risk factors and the works. After intake we walked the halls and got to see the cell blocks where inmates live and sleep. These large rooms with several cells are the "homes" for these inmates during their stay at Peoria County Jail. I was surprised to find that a lot of them had TV's and even movies. Another important variable in the blocks were the phones. Inmates could use these phones to request services and call home at certain times. Asbell said he really liked the phones because a lot of times certain inmates will call their buddies outside of the prison and sometimes even confess to them about certain crimes. The phones are a great tool for getting convictions through ease dropping done by the correctional officers. We saw this aspect when we were up in the guard rooms that overlook each block. Here officers can keep an eye on the inmates without the inmates knowing it. Unfortunately, we did not get to see the medical unit due to the size of our group, but Asbell told us that he has pushed for better coverage offered by the jail and that now they have a nurse in the facility 24/7. Overall Peoria County Jail strikes me as a very professional jail compared to others I have heard of like Cook County's jail. It was very interesting to see the inside of a facility I have drove by my whole life and the ability to get a sense of how it operates is very beneficial to my overall understanding of incarceration. Ghost003, Ghost004
ReplyDeleteThis was the second time in 2 semesters that I had the pleasure of touring the Peoria County Jail. When you enter the jail through the intake area you begin to understand, just how much trouble you are now in. The unloading area in the enclosed garage. Waiting for the arresting or transport officer to prepare to enter the intake area The booking process is just as they said it would be. When you arrive you are first placed in a holding cell, which one is usually determined by the attitude of the individual that is being brought in. If you are under the influence, agitated, or aggressive you are subject to be placed in one of several rooms for observation, until you have become capable of understanding and responding to the officer’s requests and orders. Watching the heavy iron door open to the intake area, and then walking in to a drab and lifeless foyer, to wait for your turn to be processed. I felt the Corrections Superintendent, Brain Asbell, made it clear that his mission is to bring Peoria's crime rate down and reduce the prison population. He stated that most of the prisoners were good people that made bad decisions. He also said there are many who choose drugs or retreatism and they find an overdosed body weekly in this area. The prison population has decreased in the last few years to around 300 inmates today. Mr. Asbell feels that community policing, where a police man lives in a bad area, has helped people trust and go to the neighbor/policeman with information or for help. Also, policeman are being trained in communication to discern if a person needs to be arrested. A prisoner costs tax payers $65 a day to incarcerate so he is working on a grant for work programs instead of a jail sentence. The jail offers prisoners a GED program and food service training that may help them get a job when they get out and reduce recidivism. Around 80% of inmates return. The jail is working with local companies like Menards that are willing to hire people with a record. The maximum time in jail is 364 days and around 85% are waiting for trial. The system has 48 hours to decide if or how to charge a prisoner. Men and women are separated with women being a small percentage of the total population. The jail has the only mental health facility in the area to evaluate and help prisoners. Phone calls are not limited which prisoners like and jail staff use to gain information which is a very smart tactic in my opinion. Ciaccio001/002
ReplyDeletePeoria county jail is not at all how I thought that it would be. I've watched SO many things growing up and still today that give me a perspective on how things are or should be in jail. Things like Civil Brand, The green mile, Orange is the new black, The longest yard, they all have put in my mind kind of what to expect when visiting or actually living in jail. What I expected to see in the jail was inmates moving around, different cliques, yard time, fights, visiting. I thought of the jails to be violent and loud and scary to be in. I automatically assume that the people there have done something horrible to be there and are typically horrible people. Most of what I've been influenced to perceive are not true at all. Most of the people there, are not bad people, they are just people who have made bad decisions. The inmates are very segregated if you would, from whoever is not in there block. The policeman who toured us, told us that you are basically spending most of your time in the cell block your whole time in there. There's no bathroom to fight over, no really fighting over who gets top bunk, no shanking who stole your corn bread off of your tray. You only see who are you are in that cell with, no enemies or fights or really drug overdoses. There is a great surveillance watch so nothing really is getting past the officers. Another thing that was interesting to me was putting in money for the inmate. I was under the impression that you could drop money for commissary or whatever at any time but thats actually very limited. I thought that whatever you left for them is what they got but theres a fee and all. They can only recieve 3 pairs of under garments..WHAT! That stuff is crazy. I couldnt, I would absolutely go crazy in jail. Staring at the same white walls for 364 days, with the same three pairs of underwear, the same people, the same routine, the same slice of bread and glob of peanut butter..I just couldnt. PurpleHearts005
ReplyDeleteGoing to the county jail is always an interesting visit seeing as on Wednesday would mark my 3rd time going on a field trip there. Every time I go there I learn something new every time. I didn’t know that they use to house the Cuban refugees. Which I find interesting because I just learned about the Cubans and when America first started taking an interest in them in my AP psychology class this week. I can tell the county jail has strict rules and a lot of guidelines that the inmates must follow. One thing that stood out to me is how much you must pay when you want to make a phone call. I think it’s a little too high but then I must realize there in jail and that talking to someone on the outside is a privilege. When I went, I saw a few people that I knew in there and was kind of shocking to see them in there. When we were looking at them I kind of felt bad because it made them seem like they were animals but overall the jail trip was interesting and I enjoyed myself and learned a valuable lesson. Food005
ReplyDeleteWhile going to the Peoria County Jail, I rather enjoyed it. I got to experience something that I have not fully experienced before in my life. I have gone to the building right across from it though last semester. However, the Juvenile Delinquency Facility was not fully like the County Jail, but things were pretty similar. The first thing that I liked about the jail was that it was organized. The staff has everything planned out ahead of time and so they have better control of everything in case if something goes wrong. The Second thing that I like is the communication between the staff. The staff of Peoria County Jail have so well of communication and faith in it that the radios are practically their only weapons that they carry on themselves. The Third thing that I like is that they have a good training program for the staff. In fact, the Super Intendant of the Jail said that 99% of the police officers start their jobs at the Jail in order to that much more experience. Rayder004
ReplyDeleteI thought the jail tour was great, I think that they are really making progress as far as low numbers and keeping people out than in as well as helping the individuals that end up going there for rehabilitation. In all actuality the jail didn't feel like a jail. The man giving us the tour seemed more interested in helping the people who come there, which i thought was great because we have no idea what their home life was like before they got there. The jail was really clean and i could tell that the staff and the man giving the tour took pride in there work environment. During the tour our guide told us about the policy of no lethal weapons in the building unless you are a lieutenant and all you get is a taser. Due to certain officers caring tasers and no one carrying a firearm that individuals that come in are less likely to be combative; I think that the other institutions should follow suit with carrying firearms in the jail. I was happy to know that they haven't had a riot in like decades and that was only once, because that shows they have complete control of what goes on in there establishment. I think that for Peoria with all the stuff going on in todays society that our county jail is damn near empty even though it cost them when their numbers are down. I really wish that federal wise that they somehow make it possible for the jail to gain more money to help people who are getting back into the world or get an education so that someday when they are free they can be useful in society. I wonder why they didn't update the jail that use to be on the side of the courthouse, I travel frequently so a lot of the places i go i notice that there jail and courthouse is almost one in the same. MelaninQueen005
ReplyDeleteThe unloading area in the Peoria County Jail is just a enclosed garage.The jail is set up that way just so once the suspect is out of the car they can’t run away because there is nowhere to go. Waiting for the arresting or transport officer to prepare to enter the intake area The booking process is just as they said it would be. When you arrive you are first placed in a holding cell, which one is usually determined by the attitude of the individual that is being brought in. Corrections Superintendent, Brain Asbell, made it clear that his mission is to bring Peoria's crime rate down and reduce the prison population. He stated that most of the prisoners were good people that made bad decisions. He also said there are many who choose drugs or retreatism and they find an overdosed body weekly in this area. Mr. Asbell also told us about the jail population has decreased in the last few years to around 300 inmates today. The phones are a great tool for getting convictions through eavesdropping done by the correctional officers. We saw this aspect when we were up in the guard rooms that overlook each block. Here officers can keep an eye on the inmates without the inmates knowing it and it also has to helps not let inmates hurt the guards. Pie001,002,004
ReplyDeleteAfter touring the Peoria County Jail there were a few things that I was very surprised to see. One of the things that I noticed was how small the cells and common area were, especially given the amount of time that some people are required to spend there. They do not even really have access to a different room for interviews, they just have to stay in that one area all day. I noticed that they did have a gym, but it seemed to be converted into a semi-permanent chapel. It is good to see that they have access to religious services, but they only seem to be able to go once a week. The reason the lack of mobility is so shocking to me is the potential toll it could take on the inmates mental and physical health. I don't have any psychological issues, and being in that detention block with people who weren't even criminals or suffering from mental issues had me feeling dizzy and claustrophobic. It's hard to imagine what it would be like for someone in the jail would be feeling in there with potentially violent criminals, especially given the fact that so many people in today's jail suffer from mental issues with the collapse of the state run mental facility system. For those suffering from mental issues their problems must be worsened by the enclosed, windowless cell blocks and exposure to potentially violent people. The lack of mobility and access to regular physical exercise also probably contributes to a lot of the fights that the jail has. Inmates without opportunity to exercise are probably going to have a lot of pent up energy, and the cramped conditions mixed with the heat in the facility probably do not help to ease the tempers of the people who are already potentially violent. It was releiving to see that the inmates had access to reading materials and mentally stimulating games like chess however, but it was disheartening to see some of the inmates using the books to build make-shift stools to watch the television, I guess you can lead a horse to water. On that note I wonder and should have asked if the inmates who are there for a determined amount of time or have a long time until their trial are allowed access to correspondence classes they could learn or begin to learn a skill if they did, or at least remain mentally engaged with something constructive that could be promising once they are let out. CoolGuy001
ReplyDeleteThe tour of the jail was very interesting and a great learning experience. I'm still not sure if I want to go into corrections or other paths, but it was pretty cool. I really didn't know what I was going to walk into never being in a jail before. In my mind, I was guessing some bad place that would look like a mess. Wow, was I wrong? That place was so well kept and clean. You can easily tell Mr. Asbell had a passion for what he does. He's been working there for so long and wants to keep going for even longer. He has done such a good job and it can only go up from there. They even offer programs so inmates can earn their GED and jobs to pass the time. That's so they can have a better chance at life once they're out. One thing I found very odd was that none of the officers had any sort of weapons. They just had a radio. Mr. Asbell had said that all they need is communication and maybe that's one reason that it's not a violent place. The inmates can feel safe and so can the officers. Personally, I think they should have some kind of weapon or a taser just in case. I know for a fact I'm never going to do anything that stupid to where I end up in jail. I don't think I could handle even a week in that confined space. There's about 12 cells or so in an area. That's seeing the same little group of people all day every day for a while. I would lose my mind and go crazy. Overall the experience was a really cool one. I had learned a bunch about the jail and how it works. I would love to go again and even see more things that we didn't see. Mustang003/004/005
ReplyDeleteDuring my prison visit to Peoria County I learned a few things I didn't know already. I kind of knew that the prison was filled with a lot of men. That's how a lot of prisons are in my opinion. What i didn’t know was that , there was only one cell block for females. It was two there but the females that were there could only take up one cell block. Also during the tour I listened to a couple numbers that he threw out. I believe he said 80 or 90% of the inmates had mental illnesses. It's a lot of different mental diseases out there and a lot of people need help with them. We can't just look pass the illness just because a person is in jail. I still believe while sentencing them to prison the judge should also try to get them help. During the Q&A portion of the tour , I heard that the prison is trying to give inmates jobs and try to keep them busy with something instead of just sitting in a cell all day. Prison is not a place that I think anyone wants to be. It's all dull and boring. Everybody wearing the same exact thing. It'll drive somebody crazy. Even with a very small charge, being in prison locked up in a cell basically all day, having to try to go to sleep at 8:30. Who wants that? Yes there are rules but after a while it's gets to your head and drives you a little crazy. I feel as though if you're in prison long enough and you don't have a strong mindset to looking forward to getting out and only look at the bad , you can't survive peacefully. Yes you will get special privileges for good behavior but it's never enough. I would just want to be at home in my own bed , by myself and not a cellmate. DC004
ReplyDeleteOverall the Jail tour was very interesting to me and i learned a lot of new facts that i didnt know before. I thought it was interesting how most cops start out in the jail to prepare themselves to be better out on the street when they get there. It was nice to hear that the amount of inmates has decreased over the years. I also like how we were brought in as if we were a detainee. This was we went through the process and could have a better understanding of what it is like. It was interesting walking through the jail, in TV shows they make jails look like inmates are off the wall and act out of order, but when we went on the tour they were all calm and playing games with other inmates. It was interesting seeing the jail from a guards perspective and learning about how communication is the key to success. I thought it was interesting how the guards and officers do not carry any weapons into the jail. Overall the jail tour was a good experience. bball001, bball002, bball005
ReplyDeleteThe visit to the Peoria County Jail was very eye opening and made me really think about a different career choice. The jail was cleaner than expected and had a tighter control on the inmates. I was impressed with the idea of their medical facilities and how the jail is trying to improve better medical assistance and mental illness issues. During the tour I learned that they do in fact have a faith based program and really care about recidivism. Our guide was very honest and had full control of any situation that was possible. I also learned that the female cells are in a whole different unit even though male and female guards can switch from male to female inmates. The jail was only house about 300 inmates and that is one third less than it was ten years ago and it proves crime rates are decreasing. One downfall to the guards was the lack of protection. If a smaller female guard was getting attacked by multiple inmates, I feel she needs some type of protection as its going to take time before the other guards can help her. Same goes with male guards as well. I agree that the less weapons they have the more trust and cooperation they will have with the inmates but if a true criminal were to come through they could see it as an advantage to attack. It was a concern for me. I liked the rules of phone and how they are okay with multiple phone calls to get information about that persons case. Overall the jail was impressive and exceeded my expectations. BMW004
ReplyDeleteI thought the jail was interesting. I really enjoyed it overall, learning all the things that go on in it. I found a lot of things intriguing like the fact that when the women were put together in bunks instead of singles there was more aggression and problems. Rather with the men they could be bunked together and not have as many problems as the lady’s. I also thought it was very interesting that there are more male inmates than women. I thought it was funny when Mr. Asbell said that they could have as many calls as they wanted because it helped them solve a couple cases by listening to the calls. I thought that the fact that none of the officers did not have any weapons on them not even pepper spray, was very impressive. All the officers use their words rather than violence to keep the inmates from fighting. I was so fascinated by that because all the officers have to have great communication skills to keep things in order in the jail. I had no idea Peoria didn't have a mental facility they take all of the psychological disordered people. The fact that most of the inmates have psychological disorders shocked me. I never knew that the officers had to drive back and forth to the courthouse and the jail to take the inmates to their hearings. That is so dangerous for the officers, I could not believe they do that every day. I thought it was interesting that the jail tries to help the inmates out to get back up on their feet when they get out, trying to get them jobs at Menards etc. I watched a video in my high school about how the jail/prison system is corrupt and it is just setting people that get out, to just end up back in. The video had real inmates talk about their experiences out of jail and in jail. Overall I learned so much during that tour. It helped me know more about what goes on inside. elephants005
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