Going to visit the Jail was a great opportunity that I am glad I attended. The Sheriff made extremely good points about starting out your law enforcement career inside the jail with corrections rather than going out on patrol on your own. I agree with what he said about the job being 90% communication and treating everyone with respect. I believe that working on your communication skills with inmates inside the jail with corrections is a great environment to get used to dealing with certain people. You also have help from others in the building and you aren’t just on your own in a squad car dealing with a possible criminal. I’ve seen many jail/prison shows where there seems to be a lot of screaming and violence but of course that’s what TV shows depict because it’s deemed as the most entertaining. But it was different to see everyone quietly keeping to themselves and just sitting around the cell. I didn’t really enjoy watching them through the window because I felt like I was just staring at them for no reason. But I appreciate the opportunity to see what the female and male units/pods looked like in person rather than seeing them on TV. He gave great advice on how to get a job in the law enforcement field. One thing in particular that he pointed out was getting in a lot of volunteer work which was helpful to know that it’s a good look on your applications. I also enjoyed hearing about his thoughts on body cams and politics in this particular field. He definitely got me excited to work towards my career in law enforcement and start proving that I want to help my community and bettering people’s lives. It’s all about thinking out the best option when it comes to arresting people and how it’s going to impact their life. Sunshine123
This was the second jail tour that I have been on but my first one was the Sangamon County jail in Springfield. The largest difference between the two jails automatically is the jail size and how much smaller the Sangamon county jail is compared to the Peoria County jail. When we first walked into the jail and were by the holding blocks I truly did not know why to expect. A huge thing that did stand out to me at first was when the sheriff told that before entering the jail all police officers have to surrender their weapons, he said all they had was their minds, their walkie talkies, and their mouthes. This gave me a better perspective of jails and potentially moving on to work in one because learning about some of the other jails around the US and even watching videos on jails they seemed to have treated the inmates unfair but at Peoria County officers are required to treat everyone with respect and dignity. When the sheriff told us that 80% of inmates have a mental illness that is when everything truly went into perspective for me and him talking about how great their medical department is for inmates made me feel more confident in our system knowing there are sheriffs and superintendents that are looking out for inmates and actually want them to succeed when they do get out of jail. Overall I gained a lot of respect for the Peoria County jail because after the visit I got the vibe that they truly are working to keep people out of jail and when they are in jail they are working to help them if they have a mental illness, show them respect instead of treating them poorly, and also work with them so the chances of them returning is low. swaggyy456
Going to the jail has changed many of my views points on not only how jails are run, but also my career choice. My goal has been to be a deputy. The sheriff stated last night though, that to be a deputy for his county, that 95% of the deputies have to be correctional officers first. If they chose to stay as a correctional officer, great. If they chose to change positions to a deputy after a certain length of time, great too. He made that decision for it to be a requirement so his employees can learn how to work inside the walls. If you cannot work and talk to individuals inside walls, then you sure as heck can't talk to them outside of the walls. That really hit home for me. I have always had a passion for law enforcement and to be an officer, but maybe I need to experience how it is a person on the inside. I can learn so much more on the inside on how to help recidivism, how to speak with people without using weapons, etc. The sheriff stated that he believes working inside a prison/jail gives you more knowledge than going to a police academy. Therefore, my goals have changed a little bit. My new goal that I will accomplish is to be a correctional officer, and then go onto be a deputy. I would love to work for Sheriff Asbell. I love his beleifs, his rules and guidelines to be one of his employees, and so much more. If I can end up being an officer for him, wonderful. If not, I now know to look for an employer like him, and that has such beliefs and stand points like him. I really enjoy how he works in such a harsh environment and he still treats everyone with dignity. Rugby_456
Going to the jail opened my eyes and my mind. I am so grateful to hear that we have a sheriff who cares so much for his inmates and realizes communication is key. Violence is never needed unless its the last resort. The no weapons allowed I believe is an amazing thing that should be world wide. I feel it causes more harm than good. Just like the sheriff said officers were taking advantage of their weapons. I also feel inmates would feel threatened to voice their concerns or opinions worrying if they will be punished. It does take a lot of patience and intelligence to deal with the things officers have to deal with. I feel having to start out at the jail is a good thing for our community. If you can't talk to someone who is confined how can you handle a situation were someone might have a gun or trying to hurt you. Always having to know the why's behind it is just like having children. After you punish your children you should always explain this is why you got in trouble and this is the consequences. If you explain the why's its most likely not to be repeated. When we were looking in the female pod I seen a woman cutting another woman's hair with clippers and I was amazed. Since I do hair currently I was just flabbergasted. I have never seen the inside of a jail until yesterday and I could imagine what is going threw the inmates head with all the free time they have. Gander-789
The idea of restricting non-lethal weapons to people with supervisor statuses is a good move on behalf of our local community jail. This enforces that officers learn to communicate and learn to effectively deescalate situations using verbal skills. This type of environment breeds good law enforcement officers and I too agree this should be adopted for local municipalities nationwide. Obviously higher level security correctional facilities will need to maintain a higher level of security due to the nature of the inmates they house in such facilities. Furthermore, officers who develop good verbal skills early on in their careers are bound to make a more significant impact in their communities later on and will hopefully help curb this bad stigma many law enforcement agencies find themselves under of late. Ghost123
After going to the jail, it really opened my eyes to a couple of things. First off, I never want to spend time there other than on a tour. I’ve never been in trouble with the law for any reason, however, after spending a few minutes in the pods it solidified the fact I never want to go back. There was actually a brief moment I really started to feel claustrophobic and was going to ask to step out. Second, the work Sheriff Asbell is doing is amazing. The old Sheriff, side note I have nothing personal against him and he is a good human being, was a “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it” type of person. He is an old school cop with some old school thinking. That led to a innovations and improvements being passed up. You can see the passion that Sheriff Asbell has for the jail and how he wants to make it better. He doesn’t want the same people in there time and time again for the same stuff. He wants to keep recidivism down and help people when they get out. He is also actively trying to keep the negative and dictator mentality out of the jail which also surprised me. Third, everything was calmer than I expected. I was in the sallyport and booking area only once before for work so I never got to actually see the inside of the jail. I expected for people to be loud and shouting at each other. I expected a lot of the inmates to be separated and not talking to each other. I also expected most everyone to be in a cell. It was quite the opposite. People were playing card games and we even saw a couple of the women giving hair cuts to each other. They were watching the news and seemed like they were getting along for the most part. Lastly was the approach to mental health. I had no idea Peoria County was doing so much for the inmates there. I knew a lot of people in jails and prisons suffer from severe mental health issues, but the fact he has brought in a more than full time mental health staff was amazing to me. pmed789
My visit was a good experience because I got to see things I never seen before. Wanting to be in the law enforcement was really interesting to be when I choose to staring being in that field. I didn’t know I would be able to actually good through it but being at that prison and seeing different people really had me thinking. Just being able to see what people do and their stories, you don’t have a choice not to help them and try to make them make better decisions. One of the things said was “you treat everyone with respect”. No matter what the situation is including employees you have to treat them with respect to get respect in return. Even if someone did something horrible, you still treat them the same because if you show them respect then maybe they will be on their best behavior. Being able to see the difference between the females and males pod was also interesting. The males tend to be all over the place maybe playing games and watching. Also, the male pods can be really messy as well. The female pods are way cleaner and they are either reading a book, doing hair, and watching tv minding their business. He also said about 60% of the people sitting in the county jail are actually good people. Most of the people did minor things and are either waiting for bail or for their court hearing. While the other 20% are there for doing something, horrible and are really criminals. Studying in the law enforcement and wanting to be a probation officer, is going to play a big role in my life because I want to be able to help those people into not ever coming back and get them on the right track. The Sheriff was really informing and answered a lot of my questions. -babyblue123
During my second visit to the Peoria county jail I learned some invaluable stuff! For starters the sheriff really laid out some valid points and values on what it means to be in law enforcement. His three rules really struck me and I will be incorporating them into my outlook on policing in general. Treating others with respect and dignity is paramount when dealing with others especially in confrontation situations law enforcement officers find themselves in. Furthermore, the sheriff’s emphasis on integrity really reminded me of my experience with the military values I have already structured my life and career around. If a man or woman does not have honesty then they truly have nothing. As a public official it is incredibly important that you tell the truth 100 percent of the time. Not only is it perjury to do otherwise, but it is essential in providing true justice for everyone. The final rule the sheriff outlined was the idea of an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. I remember hearing a similar phrase from my father growing up and I am proud that our local law enforcement administration is utilizing this philosophy in their policing operations. With the sheriff’s words and the information provided by the tour I feel that all of us students have learned and gained a valuable insight into our local county police department and I hope that the tour has given some of the newer students a new way to view our local justice system. From the real living arrangements of inmates to the high quality mental and physical health care provided within the Peoria County Jail, it is definitely an eye opener and a stigma breaker. The sheriff even mentioned that many people may think that the jail environment is hostile or unsettling, but this is not the case. Furthermore, there is a large emphasis on getting inmates the help and attention they need in order to process them more effectively. It is apparent that with Peoria County Sheriff Brian Asbell at the helm, we may truly be heading in positive community based direction. Ghost123
This was my third time going on this jail tour and I still learn something new each time that I have gone. I remember when I went on my first tour of the Peoria County Jail, expecting it to be something similar to what we all see on television and movies with violent inmates yelling and screaming but that is not usually what it is in reality. One thing about the tour that I noticed was that, to me at least, the female pods appeared to be smaller than the male pods. It surprised me the first time when I went on this tour last year that all of the corrections officers, with the exception of sergeants and above, do not have tasers. Sheriff Asbell made it clear that your best weapon is your mouth. I think it is great to really enforce the use of communication as a means of deescalating a situation. Bringing a taser or a weapon into play to try to calm the situation down may only do more harm than good. Another thing that was mentioned on this tour that I completely agree with, and believe all sheriff departments should do this, is that everyone starts off in corrections. This is where they receive their training essentially and, as Sheriff Asbell put it, is just like patrolling the streets. Everyone has their pod that they are assigned to and are required to make checks on the inmates twice per hour. Another reason why I believe it is a great idea to have new hires start in the jail is simply because they don’t have any weapon other than their mouth. This forces them to have to learn to deescalate situations verbally and to be able to communicate well and form relationships which is so crucial. If you can’t do that while working in the jail, you won’t be able to do that out on the streets. Gymlife123
Going to the jail was a great opportunity for myself. I enjoyed that I could fully understand what the sheriff was saying due to the information I have been learning in class. I have seen the jail before, so I knew what I was walking into but, there’s always changes so I believe I gained new information as well. I enjoyed being able to see the male pods vs. the woman's and how they were different in sizing and how they functioned. It was also interesting how anyone below the sergeant's stripes are not to be carrying anything. That the simple tools to their everyday work day are their mouths, brain, and radio. This jail is truly a smooth running jail, it was very organized, well kept, quiet, clean, etc.. normally you would expect it to be loud, dirty, and a lot of unnecessary movement going on but that was opposite. Walking out of the jail, it made me think. Think on the behalf of everyone that works for the facility. I believe they have come a far ways and that everyone cares in some type of form about each individual. It was nice knowing that others are taught to show people that have made mistakes that they are human still and that they matter. unknownzeeha456/789
This was my second tour of the Peoria County Jail, and I once again enjoyed it and learned more information on it then I did last semester. I believe that the tour last semester was in March, anyways, it was nice to hear that the number of population of incarcerated have went down just from then. And learning how much work and effort Sheriff Asbell is with getting education programs and rehabilitation programs. Even with this being my second tour, I was still amazed how the tv shows and movies aren't anything like the real deal of jails, there isn't any screaming or fights breaking out as often as the television puts off to be. One thing I learned on this tour was that I either didn't hear of last time was that they do alot of their court hearings right there at the jail instead of at the court house, and that they talked on the screen in their pod area of vistors rather then being face to face well with the glass in between them. Another thing was that the kiosks in there are how they order there treats and stuff like that. I agree with Sheriff Asbell on how everyone that wants to work in the law enforcement should start off in the jail, because it shows and teaches you how to act appropriately and professional before going out on the streets. I also liked how Sheriff Asbell pointed out that yes there are steps of getting to the point of career you would like to but you'll eventually get there, and should be proud of the accomplishments you have with getting there like he did and is. Working in the law enforcement, communication is key, if you can't communicate with your coworkers or even inmates then you won't succeed in this profession. Another thing I didn't know from the last tour that the Superintendent told me was that when they have a transgender come in, they do a sit down with them for mental health and learn on who they are, and make sure they place them where they will be safe. I am glad I had another opportunity to take a tour and learn more about the jail and how it works. FoxRacing456
Visiting the jail was an eye opening experience for me and probably for many people who have never been inside a jail. Seeing that the main point that the sheriff wants his workers to follow is that everybody should be treated with dignity and be treated like a human being. When we went inside the jail and the sheriff said no guns or any type of weapon was allowed unless they were sergeants or higher had me kind of worried. After seeing the workers and knowing that they were trained to handle any type of situation made me feel easy again because even without a weapon they were still able to control the prisoners if they got out of hand. When the sheriff told us that he makes the guards go and communicate with the inmates two times every hour, I thought that this was a good idea and one that every jail should have. If guards are willing to go into the pods with inmates and not have any type of weapon, then they will be able to handle any type of situation. This also teaches the guards how to communicate with others, so if they want to go and work out on the street they will have the communication skill that is required. Hearing that the jail has accreditation is great because this means that less lawsuits will be filed against them, and also hearing that only three other jails in the state have this is shocking, because if jails would have this accreditation we would not see inmates getting a lot of money for lawsuits that could have been avoided. Illini123 Illini456
Going to the jail was a great opportunity that I was happy that I went to. The jail suprised me on actually how busy it really is. I have never been that far inside a jail before. It definitely surprised me what it was like and I expected it to be louder than it was. Also some of the smells threw me off while walking through. Like that smell that almost smell like urine at certain places in the jail. What I also did not realize was how small the actual pods where. I had visions of them being just a tad bit larger than what they actually were. The cells though were no surprise to me on how small and enclosed they were. I thought that Sheriff Asbell did a very good job of answering questions and showing us around the jail. I thought it was good to know when he talked about the key to policing is treating everyone fairly and with respect. Also how that your greatest weapon is not your gun or or anything else on your belt, but your greatest weapon is your mind and your voice. I also thought it was interesting how he talked about that most of the people in the jail where good people that they just messed up. Beforehand I already knew this but I did not know that a majority of the people going through there were actually good people that made a mistake. I liked going through the jail and getting a little bit more information about what they do and see what people do on a daily basis. I feel that this will come in handy in my future when I apply at the jail. This tour helped me to better understand what I am getting myself into. trojan123
Although this was not my first jail visit because I am in my fourth or fifth criminal justice class, it is always a great experience and I see, hear, or learn something new each time around. Sheriff Asbell always does a great job with the jail tour, and this was actually his first tour as sheriff of Peoria County. One thing that I found interesting and very good for the county is the fact that incarceration is down from previous years. Furthermore, it is the sheriffs goal to continue that trend and send incarceration rates even further down the scale. I resonate with his beliefs as far as lowering these rates because arresting more people does not necessarily mean that there is more crime. He also made a point of mental health that always strikes me as surprising, stating that probably 80-90% of the inmates suffer from some form of mental illness. This statistic does include depression, but this statistic is still very alarming and eye opening. This shows that there is a profound correlation between mental health and the likelihood of committing crime and ending up on the wrong side of the law. This is a very unfortunate truth and reality in our world today. A small detail that I found interesting while walking around in a pod was the intensity of hearing a cell door slam shut. Sheriff Asbell said that is one of the most intimidating sounds you can hear and I couldn't agree more. Imagining being in that pod is scary enough, but then to have to go in that small cell and be in there from 8 p.m. until the next morning is horrifying. I think tours like this should be encouraged even more than they are now to raise awareness of what its truly like once you are incarcerated. gh_blackhawks123
Being able to tour the jail and listen to the sheriff talk about his career and working in law enforcement was a great opportunity and it made me think a little more about what he was talking about. I agree that working in the criminal justice field is mainly about having strong communication skills in order to De-escalate situations rather than using a weapon. If you treat people how you want to be treated, then they will most likely respect you and listen to what you have to say as long as they get the same treatment. I personally think it would be smarter to work in the jail before working in the streets because it gives you the experience and the job skills you need to practice oral skills without having a weapon on you. I think working in the jail will prepare you for being an officer on patrol also because it helps you to be more open minded and less bias towards different people. It was a great experience to be able to take this opportunity to see how the county jail is operated and the living situation for the inmates. The jail didn’t seem as bad as I thought it would be when walking around it. Sheriff Asbell provided us with a lot of information to help us for our career paths and gave us a lot of insight and good tips. After the visit, I am even more excited to get my career started and to start working with other people of different racial and criminal backgrounds. I would say if I had the opportunity to do this again, I would because not many students get to first-hand experience this kind of stuff that actually will help you in your future careers. -PizzaLover123/456
This was my first time doing a jail tour, and I am really glad that I went because it gave me a more discipline view on how to live my life. The Sheriff really persuaded me to maybe starting my career in the jail as a corrections officer rather than strictly training to be a patrol officer. You could tell that the Sheriff was very passionate about the work he does, and how much he cares to make the prison the best it can be financially, and physically. The thing that really caught my attention though was the Sheriffs ideology on mental and educational programs to help the inmates start off fresh when they're out. I believe he said there was an agreement with OSF Hospital that allows inmates to work for them so that they can get a job when they're out of jail, and I believe he said the success rate was 70% which is brilliant. I could not live in that environment though. It was silent, cold, smelly, and very bland in color. I think that jail time for me would literally drive me insane, and that is why I will continue to make smart choices while perusing my career in the law enforcement field. -Arthur123
Going to the jail was a great opportunity to see how it was like inside an actual jail. For the most part the jail is extremely quiet and from what it looked like Monday sometimes fairly busy. The sheriff talked about how being a sheriff is mostly politics and is a job he didn’t see coming at first. He also said for the longest he wanted to try to change some things concerning the jail. He really understands that about 60% if people in jail aren’t bad people. They are just people who made mistakes and have to suffer the consequences. The other 20% are criminals with serious crimes.Going on the tour made me realize to never try to get into any trouble with the law. If a situation elevates to taking me to jail, I would have to have done something really bad to be put in a jail. Just imagine the things that inmates have to deal with on a daily basis. Germs, bugs, rodents, ets. A jail cell is the last place I want to be while on earth. The jail tour really opens a lot of peoples eyes of what it is like going through the process. From booking, to being convicted, to sitting in a cell. We walked passed a holding cell with at least 5-7 people in it. I doubt they all knew each other. Just imagine walking into a cell with people you don’t know but have to share it with. Just thinking about it makes me not want to every even get close to that situation. DC123
The night, on Monday November 6th 2017, was the very special night for me. My sociology professor had given me this treasure chance to explore a place where I never attend before nor will be able to visit again. It is the Peoria County Jail. At first, I’m a bit worried when hearing about this jail tour. I was deeply affect by movie and media which had painting the solidary place with the metal bar to hold those bloody rude scary criminals. But I was wrong. The jail tour was amazing. There I got to meet the Chief officer which later became our tour guide. He is very nice and funny at some point. The impression, which he gave me, had broken away a lot of prejudice in mine about the polices in general. He wasn't Hades or the dictator. Instead, the first thing he told us about the tools which were allowed to bring by the police officer in the jail were the walkie-talkie, the keys, and the mouth. The mouth symbolled for nonviolence and communication. The Chief wanted to say that they tried their best to talk with the inmates or other to resolve the problem in the jail without used of weapons and limited the violence abuses. He also taught the lesson that was to treat everyone the same, not matter that person was accused by murder or by burglar, because everyone had their story and we cannot judge them for what they did. Besides, I was surprised by the information, learned from the Chief, were that about 80% inmates had some kind of mental problems and the jail was the largest mental facility in Peoria. The main goal of the jail was to establish and to strengthen the bond -the relationship connected between people to create the sense of belonging- of the criminals. This means that they are trying to help the inmates recover and to stop doing crime after release. In the jail, there was medical facility and the psychologists to help for those with mental problems; there also had the GED program to help the inmates get the proper job skills when they were release. These programs were used to help them overcome the criminal stigma and find the meaning of life again so that they won't come back. I can see by my own eyes the everyday life of the inmates within their block and can observed closer the structure and individual room (total 14 small rooms) within each block. This tour had given me the great experiences, opened my awareness about the jail, and values lesson in future work forces. Zero789
I was really excited when we got the opportunity to tour the jail and talk to sheriff Asbell. I knew that this would be a really great learning experience and one that I probably wouldn’t forget. The jail tour changed the way I viewed jails and the inmates inside of them. One thing that sheriff Asbell said was that it is important to treat the inmates with respect and that the officers expect the same in return from the inmates. Another piece of information that sheriff Asbell stated was that the Peoria county jail was the largest mental health facility south of I-80. This really proved how big a problem mental health is in jails and prisons. I’ve known sheriff Asbell for at least ten years now, but his passion for law enforcement really came through during this tour. I could tell that he would rather get these people help instead of keeping them confined in his jail. He takes pride in the type of jail that he runs, I thought it was interesting how much the population has changed over the years, yet he said he want the population lower. I definitely thought that the jail would be louder that it was. The inmates that we saw was better behaved than I was thinking they would be being stuck in jail. I also thought that sheriff Asbell taught us many different tools that we could use in our future professions. He taught us that our voice and communication skills are our best weapon that we could use. This jail tour was definitely an eye opener and i’m really glad we got the opportunity to visit. NightTrain456
It was a great experience to go on the jail tour. Being that it was my first time ever going on a jail tour it was a life lesson. Honestly, jail isn't the place you want to be at ever. Looking at how it is in there you shouldn't ever want to go to jail because there's no fun in there. I was excited to see some of the women that was incarcerated because I wanted to see what they do in there. When I seen the women that was incarcerated I instantly thought to myself this is not the place to be. It looked so depressing in there you can't even have as much freedom in there. I seen women braiding other women's hair, cutting hair, and playing card games. Furthermore, we got to see the cells they be in and it looked uncomfortable and disgusting. They have little cushion to sleep on and the sinks and toilets was nasty as well. The sheriff talked to us about their living situation and he told us that they live between four walls, they get there food passed through a little slot in the door, they get little time to video call their love ones but everything is recorded. He also told us that he solved two homicides from the from because of the recording so in other words the inmates need to be careful of what they talking about. Lastly, he talked to us about the criminal justice system and becoming a police. He taught us that majority of the police officers started in jail. The reason being is that they start them there to see if they handle it if not we wouldn't wont them out on the streets if they can't even handle the jail. Another thing he told us that communication is the important skill in the criminal justice system, if you can communicate and be honest about everything you will be good. I also learned that when you make mistakes make sure you say something about them and don't lie about it or it would look bad on you. Overall, the jail tour was a very good opportunity to see what's it like inside and get important information from the sheriff. Overall, I'm glad I got this chance to visit because it taught me that jail isn't the place to be and information I will need to know going into the field. Savage456
The night the Sheriff gave us a tour was my first time being past receiving. I was at the jail before, while doing a ride along with an officer that was driving the wagon. It was so interesting to see the pods that inmates were actually held in. He also made me realize during his speech that corrections is not at all different from policing. The only difference is that you are dealing with suspects in an confined space. He says even in jail as doctor white taught us your biggest weapon is your mouth. If your mean and treat the inmates like crap they will make your job harder, but if you treat them like human being they'll have respect for you. It directly correlates to community policing because the same goes for the streets. Sheriff Asbell is a really good person, and even being the Sheriff. He also has to deal with politics just as any police chief would. What I found interesting is that not very much happens there with all the inmates the hold, even for the federal agency. I also think it is great that he encourages his officers to check on inmates at different times, rather than choosing routine times, which makes it more likely for inmates to misbehave before or after the officer has checked on them. The way he explains it even makes sense because they have a lot of time to plan something bad if they wanted to do something, and if an officer came in at the same time everyday. It would only make the inmates plan easier to try something. I took a lot from Sheriff Asbell's speech and it gave me a different view on corrections. One thing I will never forget though is the statement he made about treating others the way you want to be treated. I think it is so great that he picks an inmate to speak to every once in a while because that interaction can be used to help another inmate. McBrightyalife456
On Monday November 6, 2017 I went on a tour of the Peoria county jail. It was a very nice experience, that I enjoyed very much. It was definitely an eye opener to stay out of jail by seeing all the things that the inmates have had taken away from them, is crazy. Sheriff Asbell I think runs his jails very well. He treats the jailers with respect. He also expects his workers to treat the inmates with respect as well. Out of the 350 inmates that were in the Peoria county jail there are 20 inmates that are considered dangerous. Rumor has it that you only get one phone call in jail. Coming from the sheriff of Peoria County Jail that is a false rumor staff want as many inmates out of jail as possible, so the inmates are allowed as many phone calls as they need. The cost to house an inmate is very expensive this is one of many reason the housed inmates are granted any amount of phone calls. The cost to house an inmate currently it cost 80 dollars per day, per inmate. If you think about it that is a lot of money. Us as tax payers have to pay for that, it’s crazy to think the amount of money that is coming from us workers to pay for the inmates. Most of the inmates that are in jail are not violent at all, in fact most of the people are in there for minor offences. Sheriff Asbell said that there is only one inmate in the Peoria County Jail that is on suicide watch. To me that is fascinating. Normally you hear of a good amount of people on suicide watch. Peoria county jail is one of the many jails that has a mental health facility inside of the jail. This was a very fun experience for me, and even opened my eyes a little to how the jail system works, but overall I really enjoyed touring the facility and I look forward to working in, and being a part of the law enforcement field Thunder456
Touring the jail on Monday was not my first time there. This time around I️ learned just a bit more than I️ did than the previous times even though a lot of the information was not all that new to me. What I️ did not know was the are outside where we started was were the process began. I️ did not realize that, that is where the officer takes someone after being arrested and they go through the door to begin the intake process. One thing I️ liked most about it was how they don’t allow their staff to carry any sort of weapon on them. All they must use is their mind and their mouths. I️ agree with that because you need to build some sort of bond or trust with your inmates and if you do not have that then they will not be nice towards you or the other inmates they see that have a good relationship with you. When the sheriff said that about 60 percent on the inmates they have are good people shocked me a little bit because I️ knew that there was innocent/ good people in jail, but I️ honestly did not think that the percentage would be that high. Also, when he said that if they have a mental illness that facility is where they go. I️ like how they have their own medical room for people to go. Every time I️ go, it just reminds me that it is not a place I️ would like to be. I️ believe that sheriff will change the jail for the good. He wants to keep people out of the system and reduce he recidivism rates, which is awesome that someone is wanting to make it better not just do something because it is there job. There were about twenty inmates who were considered “dangerous” which to me is pretty good out of 350 inmates. ~Bears456
This was my first-time tour of the County jail and I did enjoy it and learn a lot about how the jail system procedures and how it works. What I learned from the Correctional class is what really happening in the jail. I learn from Sheriff Asbell that around 80 percent of the jail population do have mental condition or illnesses which is not a good percentage. I like what he said that before, the average daily jail population is around 600 and now that it was down to around 350, which I believe is good and good for the people like us who are taxpayers. He also mentioned that about 80 dollars a day are what it cost to keep an inmate in a cell which totals to 29,200 dollars a year of tax payer’s money per inmate. Sheriff Asbell said that about 60 percent of the inmate is a good citizen who just made a bad decision that landed them in jail, and the other 20 percent are bad people who did serious crimes. One of the reasons for recidivism is that there are not enough help, support, and finances to help those people to not go back to what they are doing once they got out. I like the Sheriff passion that he has for the jail and for law enforcement, he takes pride in the type of jail he runs. What I really like about him is that he doesn’t want the same people in there the time and time again and he wants to keep the recidivism down by helping them once they are released. In all, the best lesson I learned is that your gun, taser, paper spray, etc. are not the greatest weapon to have but your greatest weapon is your mind and your voice. -M.Scott456
At the jail I was surprised at how different it is truly is and was people Think through the rumor. When the police chief took the people into an empty cell and where the officer be at it watch the inmates. Then he told the class that men and women stayed separates no problem would except emergency for the officer. That there many type of officer that works at the county jail. And told us the difference between a jail and a prison. Prison is for light sentence, but jail is for long sentence like killing someone. There always heath care around and in case of emergencies. The police chief said that only nine percent actually did a crime while the other ninety percent are those who just did bad thing and ruined their life. They even showed us the men cells, they probably show the men and women cells to see the difference in how they act during each activity. When at the end to see the police, chief got scared over couple mice. Even if he ran the podium like he was scared. The police chief told us to ready for anything, during the tour of the Peoria county jail.gamer789
The last time I had visited the jail, was when I was in middle school. It was certainly something I could never forget. Back then it was more so scary than anything. This time around, it was very educational and we got to see parts of the jail that I did not get to see the last time I had toured. It’s pretty amazing with what goes on behind the scenes at a jail and how much brain power and education it actually takes. I really enjoyed listening to the sheriff because he put so much thought into each question and answered it completely and or even more so. With everything going on in the world, you sometimes start to wonder what is going on in the other end of the spectrum. With how the officers think about everything that is happening and what their plan is to help contain the danger. It was truly eye opening and intimidating at times, and I am very grateful to have had that experience. MelRich895
The jail visit lived up to everything I expected it to be. I thought that every aspect of the tour was incredible. My favorite part had to have been talking with Sheriff Asbell. Although this was the first time that I had met him or heard from him, I have to say that I see him doing good things for Peoria County. I think the part that really shocked me was the average rate of incarceration. I feel as if we are seeing crime on the rise, but he extinguished that by talking about how we have dropped incarceration rate. That's good, as Illinois is a such a broke state and with an $85 per day incarceration costs, I'm glad that Asbell is using that money to fund other projects to help the community. Lastly, my most eye opening part of the visit was the sound of the doors closing. It's something you hear every time you watch COPS or JAIL, but until you hear it in person; you'll never understand it. It sends chills down your spine; and is honestly terrifying. I'm just glad that Asbell was kind enough to open the doors to us and take in what the jail is all about. LowAndSlow456
This is the second or third jail visit for me and I always love going on these I always learn something. For example, I never knew that within 48 hours of being booked in that somhas to happen like bail, or released or something along those lines. I also love being able to hear directly from the sheriff himself I always love learning from those before me. The more and more I go on these trips the more and more I want to start my job in the jail. I view these visits as almost like a recruiting trip for me to learn and see the profession done correctly first hand. It's different hearing it but seeing it and living for a short time is the best way to see if this is really what you want to do. I love these trips and hope to continue them and continue this as a career. We are spoiled as students to actually be able to do these activities and these vists. The education we are receiving is far from good to actually be able to get your feet wet and see a behind the scenes look is great for all students because you can learn first hand and see what exactly happens day to day. The amount of knowledge I have now is unbelievable to me. These jail tours and the professors give you live first hand action and teach you the relavant and the now as what you need to know. I plan to learn even more at our next visit which is at the Juvenile Justice system which is very similar to the jail but has very noticeable differences between the two. Being able to see the two facilities really shows you the starting point and the end point if these juveniles don't change their way of living and quit the crime. NDIrish123.
Was not able to attend but I'm sure it was a positive experience. Students were able to get in the environment of they're future job opportunity. Inmates are real along with the individual circumstances that landed them in jail. The process of becoming an officer in the jail takes a lot of detail. You can never learn enough even with all off the knowledge gained. Detective Stabler
I have toured the Peoria county jail once before when I was a freshman in high school it was for a friends birthday party. back then I was very intimidated by the inmates looking through the windows and doors. comparing it to know I have a better understanding on why some of the inmates are there. It can be something small or something big. Also being older people are human and we all make mistakes and I can't judge an individual for something that they have done. Sometimes their is a logical explanation for it. other times their is none. I think Mr. Asbell did a wonderful job giving us a tour and allowing for us to be able to have a look on the inside. I think his ideas on how treating an inmate like they are human is a wonderful way of gaining respect, and trust from the inmates. Might make for a less stressful environment. However I do like that they have a medical room to give treatments to the residents. That is a right that no one should be kept from. I see why Peoria county is an accredited jail. because they do go above and beyond their expected duties. ~myhearseisnotafuneralcar456~
Going to visit the Jail was a great opportunity that I am glad I attended. The Sheriff made extremely good points about starting out your law enforcement career inside the jail with corrections rather than going out on patrol on your own. I agree with what he said about the job being 90% communication and treating everyone with respect. I believe that working on your communication skills with inmates inside the jail with corrections is a great environment to get used to dealing with certain people. You also have help from others in the building and you aren’t just on your own in a squad car dealing with a possible criminal. I’ve seen many jail/prison shows where there seems to be a lot of screaming and violence but of course that’s what TV shows depict because it’s deemed as the most entertaining. But it was different to see everyone quietly keeping to themselves and just sitting around the cell. I didn’t really enjoy watching them through the window because I felt like I was just staring at them for no reason. But I appreciate the opportunity to see what the female and male units/pods looked like in person rather than seeing them on TV. He gave great advice on how to get a job in the law enforcement field. One thing in particular that he pointed out was getting in a lot of volunteer work which was helpful to know that it’s a good look on your applications. I also enjoyed hearing about his thoughts on body cams and politics in this particular field. He definitely got me excited to work towards my career in law enforcement and start proving that I want to help my community and bettering people’s lives. It’s all about thinking out the best option when it comes to arresting people and how it’s going to impact their life.
ReplyDeleteSunshine123
This was the second jail tour that I have been on but my first one was the Sangamon County jail in Springfield. The largest difference between the two jails automatically is the jail size and how much smaller the Sangamon county jail is compared to the Peoria County jail. When we first walked into the jail and were by the holding blocks I truly did not know why to expect. A huge thing that did stand out to me at first was when the sheriff told that before entering the jail all police officers have to surrender their weapons, he said all they had was their minds, their walkie talkies, and their mouthes. This gave me a better perspective of jails and potentially moving on to work in one because learning about some of the other jails around the US and even watching videos on jails they seemed to have treated the inmates unfair but at Peoria County officers are required to treat everyone with respect and dignity. When the sheriff told us that 80% of inmates have a mental illness that is when everything truly went into perspective for me and him talking about how great their medical department is for inmates made me feel more confident in our system knowing there are sheriffs and superintendents that are looking out for inmates and actually want them to succeed when they do get out of jail. Overall I gained a lot of respect for the Peoria County jail because after the visit I got the vibe that they truly are working to keep people out of jail and when they are in jail they are working to help them if they have a mental illness, show them respect instead of treating them poorly, and also work with them so the chances of them returning is low. swaggyy456
ReplyDeleteGoing to the jail has changed many of my views points on not only how jails are run, but also my career choice. My goal has been to be a deputy. The sheriff stated last night though, that to be a deputy for his county, that 95% of the deputies have to be correctional officers first. If they chose to stay as a correctional officer, great. If they chose to change positions to a deputy after a certain length of time, great too. He made that decision for it to be a requirement so his employees can learn how to work inside the walls. If you cannot work and talk to individuals inside walls, then you sure as heck can't talk to them outside of the walls. That really hit home for me. I have always had a passion for law enforcement and to be an officer, but maybe I need to experience how it is a person on the inside. I can learn so much more on the inside on how to help recidivism, how to speak with people without using weapons, etc. The sheriff stated that he believes working inside a prison/jail gives you more knowledge than going to a police academy. Therefore, my goals have changed a little bit. My new goal that I will accomplish is to be a correctional officer, and then go onto be a deputy. I would love to work for Sheriff Asbell. I love his beleifs, his rules and guidelines to be one of his employees, and so much more. If I can end up being an officer for him, wonderful. If not, I now know to look for an employer like him, and that has such beliefs and stand points like him. I really enjoy how he works in such a harsh environment and he still treats everyone with dignity. Rugby_456
ReplyDeleteGoing to the jail opened my eyes and my mind. I am so grateful to hear that we have a sheriff who cares so much for his inmates and realizes communication is key. Violence is never needed unless its the last resort. The no weapons allowed I believe is an amazing thing that should be world wide. I feel it causes more harm than good. Just like the sheriff said officers were taking advantage of their weapons. I also feel inmates would feel threatened to voice their concerns or opinions worrying if they will be punished. It does take a lot of patience and intelligence to deal with the things officers have to deal with. I feel having to start out at the jail is a good thing for our community. If you can't talk to someone who is confined how can you handle a situation were someone might have a gun or trying to hurt you. Always having to know the why's behind it is just like having children. After you punish your children you should always explain this is why you got in trouble and this is the consequences. If you explain the why's its most likely not to be repeated. When we were looking in the female pod I seen a woman cutting another woman's hair with clippers and I was amazed. Since I do hair currently I was just flabbergasted. I have never seen the inside of a jail until yesterday and I could imagine what is going threw the inmates head with all the free time they have. Gander-789
ReplyDeleteThe idea of restricting non-lethal weapons to people with supervisor statuses is a good move on behalf of our local community jail. This enforces that officers learn to communicate and learn to effectively deescalate situations using verbal skills. This type of environment breeds good law enforcement officers and I too agree this should be adopted for local municipalities nationwide. Obviously higher level security correctional facilities will need to maintain a higher level of security due to the nature of the inmates they house in such facilities. Furthermore, officers who develop good verbal skills early on in their careers are bound to make a more significant impact in their communities later on and will hopefully help curb this bad stigma many law enforcement agencies find themselves under of late. Ghost123
DeleteAfter going to the jail, it really opened my eyes to a couple of things. First off, I never want to spend time there other than on a tour. I’ve never been in trouble with the law for any reason, however, after spending a few minutes in the pods it solidified the fact I never want to go back. There was actually a brief moment I really started to feel claustrophobic and was going to ask to step out. Second, the work Sheriff Asbell is doing is amazing. The old Sheriff, side note I have nothing personal against him and he is a good human being, was a “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it” type of person. He is an old school cop with some old school thinking. That led to a innovations and improvements being passed up. You can see the passion that Sheriff Asbell has for the jail and how he wants to make it better. He doesn’t want the same people in there time and time again for the same stuff. He wants to keep recidivism down and help people when they get out. He is also actively trying to keep the negative and dictator mentality out of the jail which also surprised me. Third, everything was calmer than I expected. I was in the sallyport and booking area only once before for work so I never got to actually see the inside of the jail. I expected for people to be loud and shouting at each other. I expected a lot of the inmates to be separated and not talking to each other. I also expected most everyone to be in a cell. It was quite the opposite. People were playing card games and we even saw a couple of the women giving hair cuts to each other. They were watching the news and seemed like they were getting along for the most part. Lastly was the approach to mental health. I had no idea Peoria County was doing so much for the inmates there. I knew a lot of people in jails and prisons suffer from severe mental health issues, but the fact he has brought in a more than full time mental health staff was amazing to me. pmed789
ReplyDeleteMy visit was a good experience because I got to see things I never seen before. Wanting to be in the law enforcement was really interesting to be when I choose to staring being in that field. I didn’t know I would be able to actually good through it but being at that prison and seeing different people really had me thinking. Just being able to see what people do and their stories, you don’t have a choice not to help them and try to make them make better decisions. One of the things said was “you treat everyone with respect”. No matter what the situation is including employees you have to treat them with respect to get respect in return. Even if someone did something horrible, you still treat them the same because if you show them respect then maybe they will be on their best behavior. Being able to see the difference between the females and males pod was also interesting. The males tend to be all over the place maybe playing games and watching. Also, the male pods can be really messy as well. The female pods are way cleaner and they are either reading a book, doing hair, and watching tv minding their business. He also said about 60% of the people sitting in the county jail are actually good people. Most of the people did minor things and are either waiting for bail or for their court hearing. While the other 20% are there for doing something, horrible and are really criminals. Studying in the law enforcement and wanting to be a probation officer, is going to play a big role in my life because I want to be able to help those people into not ever coming back and get them on the right track. The Sheriff was really informing and answered a lot of my questions. -babyblue123
ReplyDeleteDuring my second visit to the Peoria county jail I learned some invaluable stuff! For starters the sheriff really laid out some valid points and values on what it means to be in law enforcement. His three rules really struck me and I will be incorporating them into my outlook on policing in general. Treating others with respect and dignity is paramount when dealing with others especially in confrontation situations law enforcement officers find themselves in. Furthermore, the sheriff’s emphasis on integrity really reminded me of my experience with the military values I have already structured my life and career around. If a man or woman does not have honesty then they truly have nothing. As a public official it is incredibly important that you tell the truth 100 percent of the time. Not only is it perjury to do otherwise, but it is essential in providing true justice for everyone. The final rule the sheriff outlined was the idea of an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. I remember hearing a similar phrase from my father growing up and I am proud that our local law enforcement administration is utilizing this philosophy in their policing operations. With the sheriff’s words and the information provided by the tour I feel that all of us students have learned and gained a valuable insight into our local county police department and I hope that the tour has given some of the newer students a new way to view our local justice system. From the real living arrangements of inmates to the high quality mental and physical health care provided within the Peoria County Jail, it is definitely an eye opener and a stigma breaker. The sheriff even mentioned that many people may think that the jail environment is hostile or unsettling, but this is not the case. Furthermore, there is a large emphasis on getting inmates the help and attention they need in order to process them more effectively. It is apparent that with Peoria County Sheriff Brian Asbell at the helm, we may truly be heading in positive community based direction. Ghost123
ReplyDeleteThis was my third time going on this jail tour and I still learn something new each time that I have gone. I remember when I went on my first tour of the Peoria County Jail, expecting it to be something similar to what we all see on television and movies with violent inmates yelling and screaming but that is not usually what it is in reality. One thing about the tour that I noticed was that, to me at least, the female pods appeared to be smaller than the male pods. It surprised me the first time when I went on this tour last year that all of the corrections officers, with the exception of sergeants and above, do not have tasers. Sheriff Asbell made it clear that your best weapon is your mouth. I think it is great to really enforce the use of communication as a means of deescalating a situation. Bringing a taser or a weapon into play to try to calm the situation down may only do more harm than good. Another thing that was mentioned on this tour that I completely agree with, and believe all sheriff departments should do this, is that everyone starts off in corrections. This is where they receive their training essentially and, as Sheriff Asbell put it, is just like patrolling the streets. Everyone has their pod that they are assigned to and are required to make checks on the inmates twice per hour. Another reason why I believe it is a great idea to have new hires start in the jail is simply because they don’t have any weapon other than their mouth. This forces them to have to learn to deescalate situations verbally and to be able to communicate well and form relationships which is so crucial. If you can’t do that while working in the jail, you won’t be able to do that out on the streets. Gymlife123
ReplyDeleteGoing to the jail was a great opportunity for myself. I enjoyed that I could fully understand what the sheriff was saying due to the information I have been learning in class. I have seen the jail before, so I knew what I was walking into but, there’s always changes so I believe I gained new information as well. I enjoyed being able to see the male pods vs. the woman's and how they were different in sizing and how they functioned. It was also interesting how anyone below the sergeant's stripes are not to be carrying anything. That the simple tools to their everyday work day are their mouths, brain, and radio. This jail is truly a smooth running jail, it was very organized, well kept, quiet, clean, etc.. normally you would expect it to be loud, dirty, and a lot of unnecessary movement going on but that was opposite. Walking out of the jail, it made me think. Think on the behalf of everyone that works for the facility. I believe they have come a far ways and that everyone cares in some type of form about each individual. It was nice knowing that others are taught to show people that have made mistakes that they are human still and that they matter.
ReplyDeleteunknownzeeha456/789
This was my second tour of the Peoria County Jail, and I once again enjoyed it and learned more information on it then I did last semester. I believe that the tour last semester was in March, anyways, it was nice to hear that the number of population of incarcerated have went down just from then. And learning how much work and effort Sheriff Asbell is with getting education programs and rehabilitation programs. Even with this being my second tour, I was still amazed how the tv shows and movies aren't anything like the real deal of jails, there isn't any screaming or fights breaking out as often as the television puts off to be. One thing I learned on this tour was that I either didn't hear of last time was that they do alot of their court hearings right there at the jail instead of at the court house, and that they talked on the screen in their pod area of vistors rather then being face to face well with the glass in between them. Another thing was that the kiosks in there are how they order there treats and stuff like that. I agree with Sheriff Asbell on how everyone that wants to work in the law enforcement should start off in the jail, because it shows and teaches you how to act appropriately and professional before going out on the streets. I also liked how Sheriff Asbell pointed out that yes there are steps of getting to the point of career you would like to but you'll eventually get there, and should be proud of the accomplishments you have with getting there like he did and is. Working in the law enforcement, communication is key, if you can't communicate with your coworkers or even inmates then you won't succeed in this profession. Another thing I didn't know from the last tour that the Superintendent told me was that when they have a transgender come in, they do a sit down with them for mental health and learn on who they are, and make sure they place them where they will be safe. I am glad I had another opportunity to take a tour and learn more about the jail and how it works. FoxRacing456
ReplyDeleteVisiting the jail was an eye opening experience for me and probably for many people who have never been inside a jail. Seeing that the main point that the sheriff wants his workers to follow is that everybody should be treated with dignity and be treated like a human being. When we went inside the jail and the sheriff said no guns or any type of weapon was allowed unless they were sergeants or higher had me kind of worried. After seeing the workers and knowing that they were trained to handle any type of situation made me feel easy again because even without a weapon they were still able to control the prisoners if they got out of hand. When the sheriff told us that he makes the guards go and communicate with the inmates two times every hour, I thought that this was a good idea and one that every jail should have. If guards are willing to go into the pods with inmates and not have any type of weapon, then they will be able to handle any type of situation. This also teaches the guards how to communicate with others, so if they want to go and work out on the street they will have the communication skill that is required. Hearing that the jail has accreditation is great because this means that less lawsuits will be filed against them, and also hearing that only three other jails in the state have this is shocking, because if jails would have this accreditation we would not see inmates getting a lot of money for lawsuits that could have been avoided. Illini123 Illini456
ReplyDeleteGoing to the jail was a great opportunity that I was happy that I went to. The jail suprised me on actually how busy it really is. I have never been that far inside a jail before. It definitely surprised me what it was like and I expected it to be louder than it was. Also some of the smells threw me off while walking through. Like that smell that almost smell like urine at certain places in the jail. What I also did not realize was how small the actual pods where. I had visions of them being just a tad bit larger than what they actually were. The cells though were no surprise to me on how small and enclosed they were. I thought that Sheriff Asbell did a very good job of answering questions and showing us around the jail. I thought it was good to know when he talked about the key to policing is treating everyone fairly and with respect. Also how that your greatest weapon is not your gun or or anything else on your belt, but your greatest weapon is your mind and your voice. I also thought it was interesting how he talked about that most of the people in the jail where good people that they just messed up. Beforehand I already knew this but I did not know that a majority of the people going through there were actually good people that made a mistake. I liked going through the jail and getting a little bit more information about what they do and see what people do on a daily basis. I feel that this will come in handy in my future when I apply at the jail. This tour helped me to better understand what I am getting myself into. trojan123
ReplyDeleteAlthough this was not my first jail visit because I am in my fourth or fifth criminal justice class, it is always a great experience and I see, hear, or learn something new each time around. Sheriff Asbell always does a great job with the jail tour, and this was actually his first tour as sheriff of Peoria County. One thing that I found interesting and very good for the county is the fact that incarceration is down from previous years. Furthermore, it is the sheriffs goal to continue that trend and send incarceration rates even further down the scale. I resonate with his beliefs as far as lowering these rates because arresting more people does not necessarily mean that there is more crime. He also made a point of mental health that always strikes me as surprising, stating that probably 80-90% of the inmates suffer from some form of mental illness. This statistic does include depression, but this statistic is still very alarming and eye opening. This shows that there is a profound correlation between mental health and the likelihood of committing crime and ending up on the wrong side of the law. This is a very unfortunate truth and reality in our world today. A small detail that I found interesting while walking around in a pod was the intensity of hearing a cell door slam shut. Sheriff Asbell said that is one of the most intimidating sounds you can hear and I couldn't agree more. Imagining being in that pod is scary enough, but then to have to go in that small cell and be in there from 8 p.m. until the next morning is horrifying. I think tours like this should be encouraged even more than they are now to raise awareness of what its truly like once you are incarcerated.
ReplyDeletegh_blackhawks123
Being able to tour the jail and listen to the sheriff talk about his career and working in law enforcement was a great opportunity and it made me think a little more about what he was talking about. I agree that working in the criminal justice field is mainly about having strong communication skills in order to De-escalate situations rather than using a weapon. If you treat people how you want to be treated, then they will most likely respect you and listen to what you have to say as long as they get the same treatment. I personally think it would be smarter to work in the jail before working in the streets because it gives you the experience and the job skills you need to practice oral skills without having a weapon on you. I think working in the jail will prepare you for being an officer on patrol also because it helps you to be more open minded and less bias towards different people. It was a great experience to be able to take this opportunity to see how the county jail is operated and the living situation for the inmates. The jail didn’t seem as bad as I thought it would be when walking around it. Sheriff Asbell provided us with a lot of information to help us for our career paths and gave us a lot of insight and good tips. After the visit, I am even more excited to get my career started and to start working with other people of different racial and criminal backgrounds. I would say if I had the opportunity to do this again, I would because not many students get to first-hand experience this kind of stuff that actually will help you in your future careers.
ReplyDelete-PizzaLover123/456
This was my first time doing a jail tour, and I am really glad that I went because it gave me a more discipline view on how to live my life. The Sheriff really persuaded me to maybe starting my career in the jail as a corrections officer rather than strictly training to be a patrol officer. You could tell that the Sheriff was very passionate about the work he does, and how much he cares to make the prison the best it can be financially, and physically. The thing that really caught my attention though was the Sheriffs ideology on mental and educational programs to help the inmates start off fresh when they're out. I believe he said there was an agreement with OSF Hospital that allows inmates to work for them so that they can get a job when they're out of jail, and I believe he said the success rate was 70% which is brilliant. I could not live in that environment though. It was silent, cold, smelly, and very bland in color. I think that jail time for me would literally drive me insane, and that is why I will continue to make smart choices while perusing my career in the law enforcement field. -Arthur123
ReplyDeleteGoing to the jail was a great opportunity to see how it was like inside an actual jail. For the most part the jail is extremely quiet and from what it looked like Monday sometimes fairly busy. The sheriff talked about how being a sheriff is mostly politics and is a job he didn’t see coming at first. He also said for the longest he wanted to try to change some things concerning the jail. He really understands that about 60% if people in jail aren’t bad people. They are just people who made mistakes and have to suffer the consequences. The other 20% are criminals with serious crimes.Going on the tour made me realize to never try to get into any trouble with the law. If a situation elevates to taking me to jail, I would have to have done something really bad to be put in a jail. Just imagine the things that inmates have to deal with on a daily basis. Germs, bugs, rodents, ets. A jail cell is the last place I want to be while on earth. The jail tour really opens a lot of peoples eyes of what it is like going through the process. From booking, to being convicted, to sitting in a cell. We walked passed a holding cell with at least 5-7 people in it. I doubt they all knew each other. Just imagine walking into a cell with people you don’t know but have to share it with. Just thinking about it makes me not want to every even get close to that situation. DC123
ReplyDeleteThe night, on Monday November 6th 2017, was the very special night for me. My sociology professor had given me this treasure chance to explore a place where I never attend before nor will be able to visit again. It is the Peoria County Jail. At first, I’m a bit worried when hearing about this jail tour. I was deeply affect by movie and media which had painting the solidary place with the metal bar to hold those bloody rude scary criminals. But I was wrong. The jail tour was amazing. There I got to meet the Chief officer which later became our tour guide. He is very nice and funny at some point. The impression, which he gave me, had broken away a lot of prejudice in mine about the polices in general. He wasn't Hades or the dictator. Instead, the first thing he told us about the tools which were allowed to bring by the police officer in the jail were the walkie-talkie, the keys, and the mouth. The mouth symbolled for nonviolence and communication. The Chief wanted to say that they tried their best to talk with the inmates or other to resolve the problem in the jail without used of weapons and limited the violence abuses. He also taught the lesson that was to treat everyone the same, not matter that person was accused by murder or by burglar, because everyone had their story and we cannot judge them for what they did. Besides, I was surprised by the information, learned from the Chief, were that about 80% inmates had some kind of mental problems and the jail was the largest mental facility in Peoria. The main goal of the jail was to establish and to strengthen the bond -the relationship connected between people to create the sense of belonging- of the criminals. This means that they are trying to help the inmates recover and to stop doing crime after release. In the jail, there was medical facility and the psychologists to help for those with mental problems; there also had the GED program to help the inmates get the proper job skills when they were release. These programs were used to help them overcome the criminal stigma and find the meaning of life again so that they won't come back. I can see by my own eyes the everyday life of the inmates within their block and can observed closer the structure and individual room (total 14 small rooms) within each block. This tour had given me the great experiences, opened my awareness about the jail, and values lesson in future work forces.
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I was really excited when we got the opportunity to tour the jail and talk to sheriff Asbell. I knew that this would be a really great learning experience and one that I probably wouldn’t forget. The jail tour changed the way I viewed jails and the inmates inside of them. One thing that sheriff Asbell said was that it is important to treat the inmates with respect and that the officers expect the same in return from the inmates. Another piece of information that sheriff Asbell stated was that the Peoria county jail was the largest mental health facility south of I-80. This really proved how big a problem mental health is in jails and prisons. I’ve known sheriff Asbell for at least ten years now, but his passion for law enforcement really came through during this tour. I could tell that he would rather get these people help instead of keeping them confined in his jail. He takes pride in the type of jail that he runs, I thought it was interesting how much the population has changed over the years, yet he said he want the population lower. I definitely thought that the jail would be louder that it was. The inmates that we saw was better behaved than I was thinking they would be being stuck in jail. I also thought that sheriff Asbell taught us many different tools that we could use in our future professions. He taught us that our voice and communication skills are our best weapon that we could use. This jail tour was definitely an eye opener and i’m really glad we got the opportunity to visit. NightTrain456
ReplyDeleteIt was a great experience to go on the jail tour. Being that it was my first time ever going on a jail tour it was a life lesson. Honestly, jail isn't the place you want to be at ever. Looking at how it is in there you shouldn't ever want to go to jail because there's no fun in there. I was excited to see some of the women that was incarcerated because I wanted to see what they do in there. When I seen the women that was incarcerated I instantly thought to myself this is not the place to be. It looked so depressing in there you can't even have as much freedom in there. I seen women braiding other women's hair, cutting hair, and playing card games. Furthermore, we got to see the cells they be in and it looked uncomfortable and disgusting. They have little cushion to sleep on and the sinks and toilets was nasty as well. The sheriff talked to us about their living situation and he told us that they live between four walls, they get there food passed through a little slot in the door, they get little time to video call their love ones but everything is recorded. He also told us that he solved two homicides from the from because of the recording so in other words the inmates need to be careful of what they talking about. Lastly, he talked to us about the criminal justice system and becoming a police. He taught us that majority of the police officers started in jail. The reason being is that they start them there to see if they handle it if not we wouldn't wont them out on the streets if they can't even handle the jail. Another thing he told us that communication is the important skill in the criminal justice system, if you can communicate and be honest about everything you will be good. I also learned that when you make mistakes make sure you say something about them and don't lie about it or it would look bad on you. Overall, the jail tour was a very good opportunity to see what's it like inside and get important information from the sheriff. Overall, I'm glad I got this chance to visit because it taught me that jail isn't the place to be and information I will need to know going into the field. Savage456
ReplyDeleteI did not go
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The night the Sheriff gave us a tour was my first time being past receiving. I was at the jail before, while doing a ride along with an officer that was driving the wagon. It was so interesting to see the pods that inmates were actually held in. He also made me realize during his speech that corrections is not at all different from policing. The only difference is that you are dealing with suspects in an confined space. He says even in jail as doctor white taught us your biggest weapon is your mouth. If your mean and treat the inmates like crap they will make your job harder, but if you treat them like human being they'll have respect for you. It directly correlates to community policing because the same goes for the streets. Sheriff Asbell is a really good person, and even being the Sheriff. He also has to deal with politics just as any police chief would. What I found interesting is that not very much happens there with all the inmates the hold, even for the federal agency. I also think it is great that he encourages his officers to check on inmates at different times, rather than choosing routine times, which makes it more likely for inmates to misbehave before or after the officer has checked on them. The way he explains it even makes sense because they have a lot of time to plan something bad if they wanted to do something, and if an officer came in at the same time everyday. It would only make the inmates plan easier to try something. I took a lot from Sheriff Asbell's speech and it gave me a different view on corrections. One thing I will never forget though is the statement he made about treating others the way you want to be treated. I think it is so great that he picks an inmate to speak to every once in a while because that interaction can be used to help another inmate. McBrightyalife456
ReplyDeleteOn Monday November 6, 2017 I went on a tour of the Peoria county jail. It was a very nice experience, that I enjoyed very much. It was definitely an eye opener to stay out of jail by seeing all the things that the inmates have had taken away from them, is crazy. Sheriff Asbell I think runs his jails very well. He treats the jailers with respect. He also expects his workers to treat the inmates with respect as well. Out of the 350 inmates that were in the Peoria county jail there are 20 inmates that are considered dangerous. Rumor has it that you only get one phone call in jail. Coming from the sheriff of Peoria County Jail that is a false rumor staff want as many inmates out of jail as possible, so the inmates are allowed as many phone calls as they need. The cost to house an inmate is very expensive this is one of many reason the housed inmates are granted any amount of phone calls. The cost to house an inmate currently it cost 80 dollars per day, per inmate. If you think about it that is a lot of money. Us as tax payers have to pay for that, it’s crazy to think the amount of money that is coming from us workers to pay for the inmates. Most of the inmates that are in jail are not violent at all, in fact most of the people are in there for minor offences. Sheriff Asbell said that there is only one inmate in the Peoria County Jail that is on suicide watch. To me that is fascinating. Normally you hear of a good amount of people on suicide watch. Peoria county jail is one of the many jails that has a mental health facility inside of the jail. This was a very fun experience for me, and even opened my eyes a little to how the jail system works, but overall I really enjoyed touring the facility and I look forward to working in, and being a part of the law enforcement field Thunder456
ReplyDeleteTouring the jail on Monday was not my first time there. This time around I️ learned just a bit more than I️ did than the previous times even though a lot of the information was not all that new to me. What I️ did not know was the are outside where we started was were the process began. I️ did not realize that, that is where the officer takes someone after being arrested and they go through the door to begin the intake process. One thing I️ liked most about it was how they don’t allow their staff to carry any sort of weapon on them. All they must use is their mind and their mouths. I️ agree with that because you need to build some sort of bond or trust with your inmates and if you do not have that then they will not be nice towards you or the other inmates they see that have a good relationship with you. When the sheriff said that about 60 percent on the inmates they have are good people shocked me a little bit because I️ knew that there was innocent/ good people in jail, but I️ honestly did not think that the percentage would be that high. Also, when he said that if they have a mental illness that facility is where they go. I️ like how they have their own medical room for people to go. Every time I️ go, it just reminds me that it is not a place I️ would like to be. I️ believe that sheriff will change the jail for the good. He wants to keep people out of the system and reduce he recidivism rates, which is awesome that someone is wanting to make it better not just do something because it is there job. There were about twenty inmates who were considered “dangerous” which to me is pretty good out of 350 inmates.
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This was my first-time tour of the County jail and I did enjoy it and learn a lot about how the jail system procedures and how it works. What I learned from the Correctional class is what really happening in the jail. I learn from Sheriff Asbell that around 80 percent of the jail population do have mental condition or illnesses which is not a good percentage. I like what he said that before, the average daily jail population is around 600 and now that it was down to around 350, which I believe is good and good for the people like us who are taxpayers. He also mentioned that about 80 dollars a day are what it cost to keep an inmate in a cell which totals to 29,200 dollars a year of tax payer’s money per inmate. Sheriff Asbell said that about 60 percent of the inmate is a good citizen who just made a bad decision that landed them in jail, and the other 20 percent are bad people who did serious crimes. One of the reasons for recidivism is that there are not enough help, support, and finances to help those people to not go back to what they are doing once they got out. I like the Sheriff passion that he has for the jail and for law enforcement, he takes pride in the type of jail he runs. What I really like about him is that he doesn’t want the same people in there the time and time again and he wants to keep the recidivism down by helping them once they are released. In all, the best lesson I learned is that your gun, taser, paper spray, etc. are not the greatest weapon to have but your greatest weapon is your mind and your voice. -M.Scott456
ReplyDeleteAt the jail I was surprised at how different it is truly is and was people Think through the rumor. When the police chief took the people into an empty cell and where the officer be at it watch the inmates. Then he told the class that men and women stayed separates no problem would except emergency for the officer. That there many type of officer that works at the county jail. And told us the difference between a jail and a prison. Prison is for light sentence, but jail is for long sentence like killing someone. There always heath care around and in case of emergencies. The police chief said that only nine percent actually did a crime while the other ninety percent are those who just did bad thing and ruined their life. They even showed us the men cells, they probably show the men and women cells to see the difference in how they act during each activity. When at the end to see the police, chief got scared over couple mice. Even if he ran the podium like he was scared. The police chief told us to ready for anything, during the tour of the Peoria county jail.gamer789
ReplyDeleteThe last time I had visited the jail, was when I was in middle school. It was certainly something I could never forget. Back then it was more so scary than anything. This time around, it was very educational and we got to see parts of the jail that I did not get to see the last time I had toured. It’s pretty amazing with what goes on behind the scenes at a jail and how much brain power and education it actually takes. I really enjoyed listening to the sheriff because he put so much thought into each question and answered it completely and or even more so. With everything going on in the world, you sometimes start to wonder what is going on in the other end of the spectrum. With how the officers think about everything that is happening and what their plan is to help contain the danger. It was truly eye opening and intimidating at times, and I am very grateful to have had that experience.
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The jail visit lived up to everything I expected it to be. I thought that every aspect of the tour was incredible. My favorite part had to have been talking with Sheriff Asbell. Although this was the first time that I had met him or heard from him, I have to say that I see him doing good things for Peoria County. I think the part that really shocked me was the average rate of incarceration. I feel as if we are seeing crime on the rise, but he extinguished that by talking about how we have dropped incarceration rate. That's good, as Illinois is a such a broke state and with an $85 per day incarceration costs, I'm glad that Asbell is using that money to fund other projects to help the community. Lastly, my most eye opening part of the visit was the sound of the doors closing. It's something you hear every time you watch COPS or JAIL, but until you hear it in person; you'll never understand it. It sends chills down your spine; and is honestly terrifying. I'm just glad that Asbell was kind enough to open the doors to us and take in what the jail is all about.
ReplyDeleteLowAndSlow456
This is the second or third jail visit for me and I always love going on these I always learn something. For example, I never knew that within 48 hours of being booked in that somhas to happen like bail, or released or something along those lines. I also love being able to hear directly from the sheriff himself I always love learning from those before me. The more and more I go on these trips the more and more I want to start my job in the jail. I view these visits as almost like a recruiting trip for me to learn and see the profession done correctly first hand. It's different hearing it but seeing it and living for a short time is the best way to see if this is really what you want to do. I love these trips and hope to continue them and continue this as a career. We are spoiled as students to actually be able to do these activities and these vists. The education we are receiving is far from good to actually be able to get your feet wet and see a behind the scenes look is great for all students because you can learn first hand and see what exactly happens day to day. The amount of knowledge I have now is unbelievable to me. These jail tours and the professors give you live first hand action and teach you the relavant and the now as what you need to know. I plan to learn even more at our next visit which is at the Juvenile Justice system which is very similar to the jail but has very noticeable differences between the two. Being able to see the two facilities really shows you the starting point and the end point if these juveniles don't change their way of living and quit the crime. NDIrish123.
ReplyDeleteWas not able to attend but I'm sure it was a positive experience. Students were able to get in the environment of they're future job opportunity. Inmates are real along with the individual circumstances that landed them in jail. The process of becoming an officer in the jail takes a lot of detail. You can never learn enough even with all off the knowledge gained.
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I have toured the Peoria county jail once before when I was a freshman in high school it was for a friends birthday party. back then I was very intimidated by the inmates looking through the windows and doors. comparing it to know I have a better understanding on why some of the inmates are there. It can be something small or something big. Also being older people are human and we all make mistakes and I can't judge an individual for something that they have done. Sometimes their is a logical explanation for it. other times their is none. I think Mr. Asbell did a wonderful job giving us a tour and allowing for us to be able to have a look on the inside. I think his ideas on how treating an inmate like they are human is a wonderful way of gaining respect, and trust from the inmates. Might make for a less stressful environment. However I do like that they have a medical room to give treatments to the residents. That is a right that no one should be kept from. I see why Peoria county is an accredited jail. because they do go above and beyond their expected duties. ~myhearseisnotafuneralcar456~
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