On Monday March 2nd, my classmates and I were able to go take a tour at the Peoria County Jail with Sheriff Asbell. I had recently taken the same tour the previous semester but I was happy that I was able to hear about new information and see a couple different things the second time around. In this tour one thing that was different and was interesting to hear was the man on the suicide watch. He clearly had a mental illness but I find it so interesting listening to the things he was yelling out. I was trying to pay attention to the Sheriff talk as well as the inmate in that little hallway. While we were in the booking area one thing that really stood out to me both times around for both tours was that he does not like to do strip searches. I find that so interesting because it leaves more room for contraband to be brought into the jail but he believes in dignity and he does not want to strip search every individual that comes into the jail. I really like how he does that because not everyone coming in is a hardened criminal and he does not believe that those coming in for lets say a traffic violation that they should get embarrassed by stripping down for a strip search. One thing that we did differently was that we were allowed to go up into the lookout area about the cell blocks. Each side of the lookout could see through three different cell blocks. We got to see the female sections and some of the inmates could see us and they seemed excited to see us because I am assuming that they are bored. I didnt realize that they usually have one correctional officer per lookout. I would have thought there would be more officers just in case of a fight. The last thing that I found interesting was that the Asbell took down the commitment report because it cause a suicide because the person was so embarrassed that he was on the report all over social media even though it was a minor offense. I find that super sad that the person died but I think Asbell was right to take it down because of the damage it was doing. Overall, I think this jail tour was very informative. -wags123
I agree, it was very interesting hearing Sheriff Asbell explain his differing opinions about the criminal justice system compared to the other criminal justice officials in the area. He is very confident in his opinion and holds it to his highest regard, not caring what others believe of him.The fact that he cares for the dignity of his inmates shows that he is a caring person. Sheriff Asbell is not only a great sheriff, but also a great man that cares for his county, his employees, and his inmates. -LW456
I agree with what you say about the commitment reports and how large of an impact that can have on the individual who gets arrested. It is vital to remember that the individuals who are in the jail are just as much human as we are and should not be looked down upon in a sense that we are better. -Blues123
I have also been on a tour here before and still learned new things from sheriff Asbell and liked the opportunity to go into the lookout of a pod that was in use. It really showed what the inmates do. and it was very interesting listening to the guy on suicide watch. -smiley123
I have likewise been on a visit here previously and still took in new things from sheriff Asbell and loved the chance to go into the lookout of a pod that was being used. It truly demonstrated what the detainees do. what's more, it was exceptionally intriguing tuning in to the person on suicide watch. - smiley456
I also agreed the reasoning of why Sheriff Asbel took the CR away, A lot of the times it was being used for negative things such as the spreading of mugshots and the public humility, granted, yes it is all public information, I just would not want to be in that position as well. -as123
On Monday March 2nd, I was given the opportunity to attend a tour at the Peoria County Jail with my Intro to Corrections, and Intro to Investigations classes. This tour was something that I had been really looking forward to, being that I had to miss it last semester due to work. While at the Peoria County Jail we all had the chance to meet the sheriff and go on the tour guided by him. Throughout this tour he walked us through the jail in a way that an arrested offender would. We began at the check in station where all of the inmate’s personal items are taken and stored into lock boxes to insure the safety of their personal belongings. It was during this part of the tour where the sheriff explained the booking process and asked us questions pertaining to jail stays and how long they can be, even before a trial. I enjoyed this portion because I learned valuable information regarding the corrections facilities and the criminal justice system as a whole. From there we followed the sheriff to the pods. Although getting to see a pod that was in use was very interesting, I was much more interested in the empty pod we toured. I found it very interesting walking around and seeing inside the cells, along with the pods that the inmates spend a majority of their time in. After walking through the pod, it gave me a new perspective of life in a correctional facility. I also found it very interesting learning about the kiosks that are used for inmates to facetime or talk to their families, and I understand that these give the inmates a sense of freedom, as well as the chance to give officer information through the recorded contacts. At the end of the tour we all met in the gym and the sheriff concluded with more information about correctional facilities, the criminal justice system, and himself. All in all, this tour was a great experience that I will never forget, it was very knowledgeable and confirmed that this is the profession that I want to be involved with in my life. -LW456
I agree with you that the empty pod was more educationally rewarding than the working pod. i think the sheriff really spent a lot of time explaining prison life in the empty pod. It was also really cool because we were able to walk in the cells and see what the living quarters look and feel like. - Family789
I would also have to agree with you that the empty pod was more educational and interesting because you could physically walk around it and just feel what it would be like to have to live in there. I personally did not know that they had those kiosks in the blocks, its a nice touch since he talked about how inconvenient with all the people who would come to visit everyday. -Bears123
I would have to agree to that the empty pod is more educational but the lookout was also educational and just to see what the inmates do on a day to day basics and hearing that the inmates that are in for murder, cause less trouble than a small crime. overall these tours are very educational. -smiley123
I would need to agree to that the empty pod is progressively instructive yet the lookout was additionally instructive and just to perceive what the detainees do on everyday essentials and hearing that the prisoners that are in for homicide, cause less difficulty than a little wrongdoing. But these visits are exceptionally instructive. - smiley456
I also really liked how this time around we were able to see an active pod with inmates in their to really get a feel of what it is like in there and what the correctional officers see everyday. The first time around it was interesting seeing the pod when we went into it but it was much better to see it in action on this tour. I found this tour to be a little bit more educational than the first because we saw a bit more that goes into jails. -wags123
This past Wednesday, I had the opportunity to tour the Peoria County jail with my classmates. I was very curious as to what a working jail looked like, so I was very eager to see the jail in real life and to see how it works. The sheriff started with us at the intake section of the jail. This area is where arrestees enter the jail. In this area, individuals are searched and seized of their belongings before entering the jail. The sheriff informed us that the busiest place in the jail during the night is the intake station. We also got to see the list of inmate names. One very interesting thing I learned was the amount of men and women who are held in the jail for federal agencies. These federal agencies pay the sheriff to keep these detainees who are from another jurisdiction. The sheriff informed us that the revenue from these holdings is just above one million dollars. I found that to be a large number for simply doing their jobs and holding prisoners. As we walked to the pods, the sheriff also informed us that ninety percent of the prisoners in the jail are pretrial detainees. This is not surprising because we learned in class that a large percentage of people in jail are simply awaiting trial. When we got to see the living quarters I was amazed. I pictured there to be a large open area with all the inmates around a common area, however, it was far from that. The living quarters were comprised of thirteen cells and a small common area with two tables. There was one phone and one small TV screen. The sheriff told us that the inmates would rarely, and may never, leave the small area for their whole time in the jail, which could be up to four years if they were awaiting trial. The tour was an eyeopener to say the least and if I ever get the chance, I would love to go again and learn more. -Family789
I also found it very interesting that the Peoria County Jail held offenders for federal agencies. I also found it interesting how many people were in the jail at the time of the tour that were being held for these agencies. I also found it interesting how 90% of the inmates are pretrial arrestees, this is crazy and just proves the problem of mass incarceration, who knows how many of those people are innocent. -LW789
I am glad that you were able to go to the Jail tour, this was my second time going and I really found both times very educational because each tour we got to see or hear something new. I too was also super excited my first tour to see the inside of a jail for the first time because I had never been in one. -wags123
This jail tour can impact your life in so many ways and that is awesome that you are wanting to go again because each time you go you are able to learn something new which is great. There is always new information to be learned even though you may see the same things multiple times.-Blues123
The tour was a great experience for anyone who is interested in Law Enforcement due to the many different jobs it offers within corrections. It is also used as a stepping stone for people who want to move up in law enforcement, and like I stated in my blog; I think it is great because you learnt the use of verbal Judo.-as123
On Monday March 2nd, I was given the opportunity to attend a tour at the Peoria County Jail with my Intro to Corrections, and Intro to Investigations classes. This tour was something that I had been really looking forward to, being that I had to miss it last semester due to work. While at the Peoria County Jail we all had the chance to meet the sheriff and go on the tour guided by him. Throughout this tour he walked us through the jail in a way that an arrested offender would. I enjoyed going through the booking station and getting further information on the process, as well as the meaning of certain cards located in the room with the storage of inmate’s valuables. I also enjoyed hearing the sheriff talking about his beliefs towards strip searched and how he believes they are not necessary due to the possibility of it hurting the dignity of the offenders. The sheriff also explained that there are certain areas of the jail that are used for people with mental illnesses, this is also the area where people are held on suicide watch. It was very interesting to hear that no inmate has been successful with suicide while being help on this watch. Later we took a walk down to the women’s part of the jail, where we got the opportunity to see an occupied pod as well as an unoccupied pod. The occupied pod was interesting to see, watching what the inmates do on a regular basis as well as learning information about what the correctional officers do while watching the inmates. My favorite part was having the chance to walk around an empty pod, this gave me and the rest of the class the opportunity to see how these inmates live and what they have to do to spend their time. At the end the sheriff concluded with more useful general information, as well as his personal background. I had a very good time at the jail tour and learned some very valuable information, as well as confirmed that the criminal justice profession is the profession for me. -LW789
I also thought it was interesting to listen to Sheriff Asbell talk about his view on the strip search. Personally I think it's a good idea that they stopped doing it, because some people can be booked into the jail for such low level offenses. I think the fact that no inmate has successfully committed suicide while being on watch is a very good look for the jail. -CRJB123
The tour of the Peoria County Jail has always been very informative and this tour we just took I felt was very beneficial for everyone. I feel like every time we are allowed to tour this facility we can learn something new whether it be big or small. I think hearing about the story of why the commitment reports were no longer posted by the Sheriff was very intriguing. The impact that those reports had on society was a very positive deterrent for a while because people who were arrested would not want their family to see their picture on this report. Stopping this due to the incident the Sheriff spoke about made sense because it was apparently causing too much of an impact on the arrested. I also really enjoyed the end of the tour where the Sheriff had an open floor for questions because he really went in depth beyond the questions, talking about many other subjects and how they relate to those questions. After touring multiple times it has really been ingrained; into my mind how important the dignity of the prisoner can be and how that can impact their re entry to society. It is also very important to remember that they are still human just like us, and that we all make mistakes. We can not put ourselves above them in a sense of class because even though there are some individuals who have committed very harsh crimes, the others are people just like we are. The importance of working corrections before being on the streets was also stressed and is a very good idea. It is crucial to understand verbal judo especially if you choose to be on the streets working because those words can have such a large impact on how your contact can be with society. -Blues456
I think that treating each inmate with respect is a must if they are going to give you that respect back. Too often people think that when someone is locked up in jail that they must be bad people, but a lot of the time they're just regular people who made a mistake. I think that treating the people in jail with respect shows them that they are still people too, and not animals. -CRJB123
I like how he handled the problems with the criminal report online, he was very professional about the whole thing. I love his main views and how much respects the inmates, because like he said, they are still people just as much as any of us. -Bears123
On March 2nd, I attended the tour of the Peoria County jail with my online Corrections and Police Operations classes. We met with Sheriff Asbell who gave us the tour and told us about his path and all the things that go on in the Jail. That was my first time meeting Sheriff Asbell and being in that jail so it was a very cool experience. We started off by going to where they first bring in the offenders. It was really cool to show us how the process worked and what it looked like for people when they first get there. He started talking about how much money it costs to house the people and the steps they go through. We were talking right next to suicide watch and the male blocks. Currently there was a man on suicide watch and the Sheriff told us how there has never been a suicide while they were on watch which was really good to hear. He told us that suicides do happen and how they do everything they can to prevent them. We then went to an empty female block and walked around to see how they lived. Sheriff explained to us how the blocks work and what the people are allowed to do. We then went up above another female block where they showed us the different kind of blocks and it was kind of wild to hear that there were three women there for murder while we were there. After the little tour the Sheriff sat us town and talked about his story and views. I liked how he focuses more on helping people and treating them with respect. He said he is not the most liked Sheriff because he views things differently than the other sheriffs in the state. I personally love how Sheriff Asbell runs things and how he views his job and inmates. -Bears123
All of Dr. Whites' classes and I were allowed a chance to go take a visit at the Peoria County Jail with Sheriff Asbell. I had as of late taken a similar visit the past semester however I was upbeat that I had the option to catch wind of new data and see two or three distinct things the second time around. I think I saw more this visit since I've found out more and taken more classes since the main visit. On this visit, one thing that was unique and was intriguing to hear was the man on the suicide watch. He unmistakably had psychological maladjustment yet I discover it so fascinating tuning in to the things he was hollering out. One thing that we did any other way was that we were permitted to go up into the post territory about the cell squares. Each side of the post could see through three diverse cell squares. We found a good pace female segments and a portion of the prisoners could see us and they appeared to be eager to see us since I am accepting that they are exhausted. I didn't understand that they for the most part have one prison guard for every post. The sheriff revealed to us that the detainees would once in a while, and may never, leave the little zone for their entire time in the prison, which could be as long as four years on the off chance that they were anticipating preliminary. I delighted in hearing the sheriff discussing his convictions towards strip-looked and how he accepts they are a bit much because of its chance harming the poise of the wrongdoers. I am grateful that Dr. White spends his time to help us with these tours and speakers, what a great way to learn. -smiley123
All of Dr. Whites' classes and I were permitted an opportunity to go take a visit at the Peoria County Jail with Sheriff Asbell. I had starting late taken a comparative visit the past semester anyway I was cheery that I had the alternative to find out about new information and see a few unmistakable things the second time around. I think I saw more this visit since I've discovered more and taken more classes since the principle visit. On this visit, one thing that was exceptional and was captivating to hear was the man on the suicide watch. He unquestionably had mental maladjustment yet I find it so interesting checking out the things he was hollering out. One thing that we did some other way was that we were allowed to go up into the post an area about the cell squares. Each side of the post could see through three different cell squares. We found a decent pace of female fragments and a part of the detainees could see us and they had all the earmarks of being anxious to see us since I am tolerating that they are depleted. I didn't comprehend that they generally have one jail watch for each post. The sheriff uncovered to us that the prisoners would on occasion, and may never, leave the little zone for their whole time in the jail, which could be up to four years in case they were foreseeing primer. I got a kick out of hearing the sheriff examining his feelings towards strip-looked and how he acknowledges they are excessive as a result of its opportunity hurting the balance of the transgressors. I am appreciative that Dr. White invests his energy to assist us with these visits and speakers, what an incredible method to learn. - smiley456
When I visited the jail I noticed a lot of positive improvements going on through the work of Sheriff Asbell. The first statistic that really caught my attention was the information on how the daily jail population has decreased over the years. During the start of Sheriff Asbells career there were around five to six hundred inmates sitting in the jail on a daily basis. As of today the daily population has gone down to the mid two hundreds. This a huge step in the right direction, and hopefully the jail population can continue to decrease. Sheriff Asbell understands that people make mistakes, and that a majority of people in the jail are good people who messed up one time. I think this outlook on people in jail is very positive, because so many times when people think of everyone in jail they associate them with being bad. I’m not saying that everyone in jail is a good person either; there are many bad people sitting in jail. No matter what kind of crime the person committed, Sheriff Asbell believes in treating everyone with respect, because at the end of the day they’re all human beings. An example of this respect Sheriff Asbell shows for the people in the jail is that he asked us not to stare at the inmated, because they shouldn’t be treated like zoo animals. With this respect being given towards the people in the jail, Sheriff Asbell expects to receive this same amount of respect back. Something else that caught my attention during the jail tour was the fact that Sheriff Asbell got rid of the strip search of everyone that is booked into the jail. Most jails do this when booking someone into the jail, but Sheriff Asbell feels that it violates people's natural human rights. In my opinion I think this is a good idea, because some people who are booked into the jail do something as little as not paying a fine. To strip search someone for not paying a fine would be a bit ridiculous. Overall I really enjoyed the jail tour considering the fact that I’ve never been in a jail before. I think the jail is doing a great job with the guidance of Sheriff Asbell, and hopefully it will continue to improve. -CRJB123
Visiting the jail on March 2nd was the first experience I've had with that sort of thing. It was very eye opening to me to see how it would be inside the facility since, before then, I had not had any experience with it. Only videos and pictures to think of what it would be like. While pictures and videos are a good representation of what it was like, a first hand experience is much much better and way more educational in my eyes. Once we got into the jail we were shown the place where everyone going in and out of the jail go to. They have all their belongings on them stored away while they are inside the jail and are searched to make sure they are not bringing anything into the facility that they should not have. Seeing the secured rooms also near the front it was eye opening to me to see that people will struggle with things inside there that could be threatening to them or other people, so they are place away from everyone else so they can get medical help if they need it so they are not a danger to themselves or anyone else around them. This is so when they are able to be released they are on the right path to reentry into society. Another thing that surprised me was the little amount of space in the cell blocks. There is enough space for how many people get put in there but, it's not as much space as many of us in our day to day life are used to. So, I'm sure it can feel a little cramped if you are new there for a few days until you get used to it. Many of the officers there seemed to know what they were doing and seemed to care about the inmates, because they want whats best for them so they can see them be re entered into society once they are able to leave. It was a very good and educational experience that I enjoyed a lot. -Cubs789
On March 2nd I had the opportunity to take a tour of the Peoria jail. It was my first time ever visiting the jail, so I was a little nervous. The jail was bigger than I expected and lasted about two hours. During those two hours, three points stuck out to me the most. The first point that stuck out to me was the suicide watch unit of the jail. The Sheriff of Peoria said that most of the time they have someone on suicide watch. He also said that when people come to jail it is because they made a mistake and most of the inmates are depressed. But if an inmate goes on suicide watch it is looked at as a sign of weakness among the other inmates. The second point that stuck out to me was the issue they had with viruses spreading through the jails at a rapid rate because it is such a confined space. The reason this was brought up was because of the spread of the coronavirus and the concerns the sheriff has with it reaching the jail. The third point that stuck out to me was a story the sheriff told about how backwards the criminal justice system is. When he was a patrol officer, he pulled over a young man on his way to a job interview. When he pulled over the car, he found out the car was not insured and had to right the young man a ticket. Well he was late to his job interview and didn’t get the job. So, this young man was jobless and had a ticket to pay so to pay for this ticket he resorted to selling drugs. He got caught selling drugs and was sent to jail and after he was sent to jail, he was then stuck in the criminal justice system for the rest of his life. Jwilliejack789
It was interesting to hear Sherriff Asbell talk about suicide watch at the jail. No one that has been on suicide watch has committed suicide. The people that have committed suicide have been the people that are not showing any signs. This is sad because the officers did not know and did not try to help.-Legion123
I had forgotten about how Sherrif Asbell had pulled over someone as a patrol officer and I now remember how I felt when he was told that story, it really shows how people get rapped in this endless cycle but seeing how much Sherrif Asbell is educated about his job really brings me hope for the future of Peoria County. sun456
The jail tour with Sheriff Brian Asbell was very interesting. It was interesting from the beginning where the Sheriff had talked about the process inmates go through in booking. One aspect that I really like was how the Sheriff only hires people onto patrol after they have worked in the jail. I think that this is a route I would like to take and the experience in the jail would be invaluable. I believe that this is perhaps one of the best was to learn how to be effective communicating with people before you are given a gun and a badge. This can be shown due to the high turnover rate in the jail where people really do use it as a stepping stone of sorts to advance their careers in the criminal justice field. One aspect that really surprised me during discussion with the Sheriff is how he spoke that all prisons and jails should be private one on condition. That one condition is that they only receive profit if their prison or jail is shown to be effective at rehabilitating people and not just simply holding them in custody. I can definitely understand where the Sheriff could see this working effectively. My one question would be how is it implemented effectively? The Sheriff has shown that he in an educated person of interest and really cares about what he does. It is always interesting to hear population statistics on the jail. The sheriff spoke on how the jail has been declining in overall population since he has be in office and that women nationwide are becoming inmates at higher rates but it is not true for Peoria County. I believe a steady decline shows that the Sheriff is doing what he can to keep recidivism down which is an epidemic in our society. CP3123
Yes! Sheriff Asbell explained how he hires people because he has a way of doing it. He said most people come to the jail to gain some experience first, then start to hit the streets once the correctional officer is ready. He also says that every person who works in the jail is required to start as a correctional officer. He says that our biggest weapon is our mouths. If we learn to know how to speak to people, imagine hitting the streets, you can be one of the best officers because you would already know how to talk to people because you worked as a correctional officer in the beginning. - Canelo123
I also found it interesting how it is only after being a correctional officer that they are then allowed to patrol. I feel like it is a great way for officers to get comfortable talking to offenders and maybe see their perspective. Slim789
Alright. So, last week I think it was, I had the opportunity to go for a tour of the Peoria County Jail with my classmates and SHeriff Asbell. Now, it's definitely not my first time, but it's always nice going back to learn more and see if any changes have taken place. First, we came into the entrance where they would process the person for paperwork, searches, fingerprints, and just getting him or her ready to be processed into the system. He spoke about the index cards on the walls and how some of the index cards had a color to them to distinguish whether the inmate was being held for transfer to the Feds all the way to first-time offenders. He also spoke about suicide watch afterward. I remember him saying that he never had suicide on suicide watch within the last 10 or some years I believe. The person being put in a suicide watch is watching every minute. Now, as we went around to see more of the facility, Sherif Asbell, spoke about how he divides females and males separately. Also, one thing that skipped over is that everyone (offenders) have to earn certain things that they desire, such as if they want snacks they are only going to get it with good behavior. Sheriff Asbell says it's a “privilege” and not a “right” and when he said that I can see that not only for them but for everyone in general, like school is a privilege as well or the things that we have is a privilege. When we went to see how the beds, bathrooms, cells looked like, Sheriff Asbell, explained, that nobody gets out of their ground for only three reasons such as medical, court and lawyer stuff came up, and one other one that I quite didn't catch on. When I see the rooms, it feels very isolated and you can only stay in one spot.
I agree that it feels very isolated in those cells. Being in those cells except for some small exceptions is very strict. You would very much so have to be able to get along with the people in your pod with you, or you are going to have an even worse experience.-Legion123
Monday evening, we got the privilege to go out to the Peoria County Jail, and take a tour of the facility. Having been their before, and having a good experience I was excited to go back. We arrived at the jail and got a brief introduction to the facility, and an overview of what happens within the jail by Sheriff Asbell. He is the Peoria County Sheriff, and runs the jail and all of the Peoria county deputies. He talked about how the daily average of inmates in the jail has gone down significantly in the past couple of years. He then moved us over to intake where people first get processed into the jail. He talked about the mental health that goes on within the facility, and the more ideas and wants to see get implemented not just in his jail, but all over the country. We then went and got to go up to a watch area of the female pods, and got to talk to two young corrections officers about their experiences and what type of schooling that they had undergone before getting hired on at the jail. One of the officers was an ICC student like us and had taken criminal justice courses. She said that she wishes she would have made the decision sooner and that she loves her job. We then went and got to go into one of the pods and look around. We talked about how you are stuck in that pod for however long you are within the facility. It was a small space and I do not know if I could stay in there for a long period of time before going crazy. We then got to go into the gym and have the Sherriff talk to us about his career and what he stands for. It was a great tour.-Legion123
Going to jail was an incredible experience for us as criminal justice students. Sheriff asbel spoke about many different things involving the turn around he has provided to the peoria county jail. He has also shown us many different places within the jail, allowing us to open up our minds through law enforcement and where we might want to land. He then spoke about the lateral steps coming from corrections. He talked about how working in the jail can allow you to move other places after and opens you up more to different agencies that may want to recruit you when looking at your background. He then explained the reason why they don't carry firearms in the jail because that is something that can easily be taken away from you. That's why in corrections, you have to learn verbal judo in order to calm a situation down in order to not escalate it. He then goes on to state how it is a very big part in Law enforcement to have those skills because the things on your belt are not going to get you to where you want to go, you have to use your verbal commands in order to distress a situation. Sheriff Asbel then explains a lot of the stats that the jail has, we have seen a very large decrease in the stays at the peoria county jail, and in all, that is what sheriff asbel sees as success.-as123
On March/ 2/ 2020 I went to jail, lucky no charges were pressed and I didn’t even have to go through a strip search. With my entire stay there I really enjoyed myself in the slammer. If you’re wondering how, it's quite simple. I was on a jail tour given to my university by the Sheriff of Peoria county. Now I have been on this same tour several times and everytime I went through it, I thought it kind of just seemed like a walkable recruiting video for the sheriff's department. Although it can act as a recruiting technique, it showed many students that there are other jobs in law enforcement other than being a police officer. Along with stating that most of the best cops learn their techniques while working in the prison system. This being said Sheriff Asbell does a great job presenting each area in the jail along with the jobs assigned to them. But this latest tour Sheriff Asbell was more gritty and showed/talked about the darker side of corrections and patrol. I enjoyed that way more to hear the goods and the bads that come with the job over just the goods like he presents in his other tours. The first time I went on this tour I was extremely impressed with the energy and positive attitudes from the deputies who were working in the jail at the time. Even on the latest tour I was still impressed as the morale around the building was higher than expected. The biggest factor of high morale was clearly stated by the employees of the jail and that was their paychecks. Both officers said they had loved their jobs but had also said they loved their pay just a tad more. And I do not blame them one bit for saying such things. The tour was so much more informational on things other than how the jail is run, I learned more things off these tours than I probably have ever learned in a ride along in a squad car. I highly recommend going on the tour more than once, Peoria county jail gets a 5 star yelp review in my book. Bikemaker123
On Monday March 2, my class was given the opportunity to go take a tour at the Peoria County Jail. At the beginning of the semester I was told we would be getting the chance to tour the Peoria County Jail and the juvenile detention center, and I jumped at the chance to go somewhere that I could potentially work at. During the tour he took us around the jail starting with the place that they check all the inmates in at, then next to one of the empty female pods where the inmates sleep, then next to where the workers go to watch over the pods of the inmates. I strongly agree with the sheriff and his reasoning's about not wanting to do strip searches on inmates unless they suspect something to help keep some of their dignity. I like that the sheriff shared his views on what things he felt that needs to change in the criminal justice system. The sheriff also told the group of us on the tour that the are certain areas at the jail for mentally ill people. A fact that I never knew was that the sheriff told us was that the majority of the people who complete suicide are not the ones on suicide watch and it usually has no warning signs. I have also now figured out that I now for sure want to go into the field of law enforcement. I am very glad I got this opportunity to go on this tour and got to learn all the things that all of us did on that tour. -pearles789
On March 2nd, I had the privilege to attend a tour of Peoria County Jail. The tour was given by the Sheriff Brian Asbell. The facility was much larger than the Woodford county jail that I had previously taken a tour of. First we entered through the booking area where the offenders enter the jail and are searched for any items they posses at the time of the arrest. It was here that Sheriff Asabell talked about how he likes to run the jail. It was very interesting to hear about how he did not use strip searches since he liked to treat the people with respect and dignity. It was a little hard to focus on what he was saying because in this area was also the suicide watch section. There was one inmate that was very loud and argued with one of the guards that was watching over the tour group. After we left the booking area the group was split up and went to an empty pod as well as a working pod. I went to the empty pod where the sheriff talked about how the doors work, how visits and phone calls were handled, and how the guards go on patrol. After that the group went up to the active pod. It was interesting being able to see real prisoners. I found it a little strange that they would pace back and forth on the second level of the pod. However, I suppose that there is not this much excitement on an average day. It was interesting to learn how the prisoners were divided up and guarded by certain guards. After this we were all gathered into an old gym where the sheriff talked to us about mass incarceration among other things. That was the end of the tour after that. Slim 789
I agree that there was a lot of information on how the jail is run. I think that Sheriff Brian Asbell did a good job at answering questions and giving his input along with the correctional officers that were with us. After the tour when we gathered in the gym, the sheriff did give us very useful and helpful information. -softball456
On Monday I had an opportunity for the second time to visit and take a tour around the jail. I had a tour of the jail when I was in high school which was fairly interesting, but I feel that this time around there was a lot more information about how this particular jail was run and some of the ways things had changed since Sherrif Asbell. I think one of my favorite parts of the tour was being about sit down down and ask him questions. I really loved all the information that was given because he held nothing back. I also really liked all his policies and ideas that he had. One policy that stuck out to me was how he changed the way SEG was run. Instead of being able to lock anyone up just because an officer was mad at an inmate, he makes the officers go through a bunch of paperwork so that inmates would spend less time in SEG. Another idea that I really liked was having a person come in at least once a day for mental health for the inmates. Being a psychology major and a mental health advocate I really liked knowing that people are getting some of the treatment they really need. Since we don’t have and mental health institutes like what north campus use to be, the jail has become the biggest holding for those people. Something that really made my skin crawl was just standing in one of the blocks knowing that that is where you have to stay for almost your entire day. I would go insane if I wasn’t ab;e to go outside of just lay in my bed comfortably, but that is the cost of breaking the law. Overall I felt that the trip was super insightful and I’m excited to go back to visit the Juvenile center later this semester sun 456
On Monday March 2nd, I visited the county jail. I thought it was very interesting and helpful. It made me realize that I do not want to work in a jail. I do not think I could handle the same criminals everyday. In my opinion I think correctional officers might have it worse than police officers. When I went on the visit I thought it was cool to go up to the tower and look down on the female inmates and see what they do while they are locked up. Also hearing the people on suicidal watch. I also like how Sheriff Asbell said that there are good people that are locked up because they made a bad mistake. I also think it is nice that therapists come in and the inmates are able to talk to them. I also learned what the different colored cards mean. For example, the green cards are the more dangerous inmates. I do think it is a good idea that male correctional officers aren’t allowed to be with the female inmates but female correctional officers are able to be with the male. When I went on a jail tour in high school we got to see the K9 dogs attack the officers arms and listen to the commands that the officer gives the K9. I wish we got to see a little more than that. I also wish we could have seen the male side to see what they do when they are in jail. The correctional officers say there are a lot more males in jail than females. I did not know that when in jail you do not know the time of day. The only way to tell the time of day is by the tv programs that play throughout the day. -softball456
Sheriff Brian Asbell did an amazing job with the tour through the Peoria County Jail. To be honest I never really thought about being a correctional officer. My mind has been set on being a police officer for the city. I wanted to be on the streets helping people and to be honest the pay is better. Sheriff Asbell did say, "yes, the pay is a little less, but retirement plan is better than what the city police department can offer." So this had me thinking, if I could work my way up faster to get the hours I desire for my family, while still making a difference, and have a better retirement plan, why not? Not to mention training is only 5 weeks verses 14 weeks. This really has my attention. My main focus will always be my daughter, she is the reason to be a better person and role model. I want to be able to provide for her, while also be there to love her and guide her in her future. To do that in the police department will be hard because it takes longer to work your way up to the top to get the desired hours to do that. After Officer Duncan came to our class and I hear his stand point on being a parent and being a police officer, and how your job will always come first before your family, it made me rethink everything. Then hearing Sheriff Asbell on our tour and showed us how everything worked, I thought maybe this is my path I'm suppose to make for my family. -Brianna123
On Monday March 2nd, my classmates and I were able to go take a tour at the Peoria County Jail with Sheriff Asbell. I had recently taken the same tour the previous semester but I was happy that I was able to hear about new information and see a couple different things the second time around. In this tour one thing that was different and was interesting to hear was the man on the suicide watch. He clearly had a mental illness but I find it so interesting listening to the things he was yelling out. I was trying to pay attention to the Sheriff talk as well as the inmate in that little hallway. While we were in the booking area one thing that really stood out to me both times around for both tours was that he does not like to do strip searches. I find that so interesting because it leaves more room for contraband to be brought into the jail but he believes in dignity and he does not want to strip search every individual that comes into the jail. I really like how he does that because not everyone coming in is a hardened criminal and he does not believe that those coming in for lets say a traffic violation that they should get embarrassed by stripping down for a strip search. One thing that we did differently was that we were allowed to go up into the lookout area about the cell blocks. Each side of the lookout could see through three different cell blocks. We got to see the female sections and some of the inmates could see us and they seemed excited to see us because I am assuming that they are bored. I didnt realize that they usually have one correctional officer per lookout. I would have thought there would be more officers just in case of a fight. The last thing that I found interesting was that the Asbell took down the commitment report because it cause a suicide because the person was so embarrassed that he was on the report all over social media even though it was a minor offense. I find that super sad that the person died but I think Asbell was right to take it down because of the damage it was doing. Overall, I think this jail tour was very informative. -wags123
ReplyDeleteI agree, it was very interesting hearing Sheriff Asbell explain his differing opinions about the criminal justice system compared to the other criminal justice officials in the area. He is very confident in his opinion and holds it to his highest regard, not caring what others believe of him.The fact that he cares for the dignity of his inmates shows that he is a caring person. Sheriff Asbell is not only a great sheriff, but also a great man that cares for his county, his employees, and his inmates. -LW456
DeleteI agree with what you say about the commitment reports and how large of an impact that can have on the individual who gets arrested. It is vital to remember that the individuals who are in the jail are just as much human as we are and should not be looked down upon in a sense that we are better. -Blues123
DeleteI have also been on a tour here before and still learned new things from sheriff Asbell and liked the opportunity to go into the lookout of a pod that was in use. It really showed what the inmates do. and it was very interesting listening to the guy on suicide watch. -smiley123
DeleteI have likewise been on a visit here previously and still took in new things from sheriff Asbell and loved the chance to go into the lookout of a pod that was being used. It truly demonstrated what the detainees do. what's more, it was exceptionally intriguing tuning in to the person on suicide watch. - smiley456
DeleteI also agreed the reasoning of why Sheriff Asbel took the CR away, A lot of the times it was being used for negative things such as the spreading of mugshots and the public humility, granted, yes it is all public information, I just would not want to be in that position as well. -as123
DeleteOn Monday March 2nd, I was given the opportunity to attend a tour at the Peoria County Jail with my Intro to Corrections, and Intro to Investigations classes. This tour was something that I had been really looking forward to, being that I had to miss it last semester due to work. While at the Peoria County Jail we all had the chance to meet the sheriff and go on the tour guided by him. Throughout this tour he walked us through the jail in a way that an arrested offender would. We began at the check in station where all of the inmate’s personal items are taken and stored into lock boxes to insure the safety of their personal belongings. It was during this part of the tour where the sheriff explained the booking process and asked us questions pertaining to jail stays and how long they can be, even before a trial. I enjoyed this portion because I learned valuable information regarding the corrections facilities and the criminal justice system as a whole. From there we followed the sheriff to the pods. Although getting to see a pod that was in use was very interesting, I was much more interested in the empty pod we toured. I found it very interesting walking around and seeing inside the cells, along with the pods that the inmates spend a majority of their time in. After walking through the pod, it gave me a new perspective of life in a correctional facility. I also found it very interesting learning about the kiosks that are used for inmates to facetime or talk to their families, and I understand that these give the inmates a sense of freedom, as well as the chance to give officer information through the recorded contacts. At the end of the tour we all met in the gym and the sheriff concluded with more information about correctional facilities, the criminal justice system, and himself. All in all, this tour was a great experience that I will never forget, it was very knowledgeable and confirmed that this is the profession that I want to be involved with in my life. -LW456
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the empty pod was more educationally rewarding than the working pod. i think the sheriff really spent a lot of time explaining prison life in the empty pod. It was also really cool because we were able to walk in the cells and see what the living quarters look and feel like. - Family789
DeleteI would also have to agree with you that the empty pod was more educational and interesting because you could physically walk around it and just feel what it would be like to have to live in there. I personally did not know that they had those kiosks in the blocks, its a nice touch since he talked about how inconvenient with all the people who would come to visit everyday. -Bears123
DeleteI would have to agree to that the empty pod is more educational but the lookout was also educational and just to see what the inmates do on a day to day basics and hearing that the inmates that are in for murder, cause less trouble than a small crime. overall these tours are very educational. -smiley123
DeleteI would need to agree to that the empty pod is progressively instructive yet the lookout was additionally instructive and just to perceive what the detainees do on everyday essentials and hearing that the prisoners that are in for homicide, cause less difficulty than a little wrongdoing. But these visits are exceptionally instructive. - smiley456
DeleteI also really liked how this time around we were able to see an active pod with inmates in their to really get a feel of what it is like in there and what the correctional officers see everyday. The first time around it was interesting seeing the pod when we went into it but it was much better to see it in action on this tour. I found this tour to be a little bit more educational than the first because we saw a bit more that goes into jails. -wags123
DeleteThis past Wednesday, I had the opportunity to tour the Peoria County jail with my classmates. I was very curious as to what a working jail looked like, so I was very eager to see the jail in real life and to see how it works. The sheriff started with us at the intake section of the jail. This area is where arrestees enter the jail. In this area, individuals are searched and seized of their belongings before entering the jail. The sheriff informed us that the busiest place in the jail during the night is the intake station. We also got to see the list of inmate names. One very interesting thing I learned was the amount of men and women who are held in the jail for federal agencies. These federal agencies pay the sheriff to keep these detainees who are from another jurisdiction. The sheriff informed us that the revenue from these holdings is just above one million dollars. I found that to be a large number for simply doing their jobs and holding prisoners. As we walked to the pods, the sheriff also informed us that ninety percent of the prisoners in the jail are pretrial detainees. This is not surprising because we learned in class that a large percentage of people in jail are simply awaiting trial. When we got to see the living quarters I was amazed. I pictured there to be a large open area with all the inmates around a common area, however, it was far from that. The living quarters were comprised of thirteen cells and a small common area with two tables. There was one phone and one small TV screen. The sheriff told us that the inmates would rarely, and may never, leave the small area for their whole time in the jail, which could be up to four years if they were awaiting trial. The tour was an eyeopener to say the least and if I ever get the chance, I would love to go again and learn more.
ReplyDelete-Family789
I also found it very interesting that the Peoria County Jail held offenders for federal agencies. I also found it interesting how many people were in the jail at the time of the tour that were being held for these agencies. I also found it interesting how 90% of the inmates are pretrial arrestees, this is crazy and just proves the problem of mass incarceration, who knows how many of those people are innocent. -LW789
DeleteI am glad that you were able to go to the Jail tour, this was my second time going and I really found both times very educational because each tour we got to see or hear something new. I too was also super excited my first tour to see the inside of a jail for the first time because I had never been in one. -wags123
DeleteThis jail tour can impact your life in so many ways and that is awesome that you are wanting to go again because each time you go you are able to learn something new which is great. There is always new information to be learned even though you may see the same things multiple times.-Blues123
DeleteThe tour was a great experience for anyone who is interested in Law Enforcement due to the many different jobs it offers within corrections. It is also used as a stepping stone for people who want to move up in law enforcement, and like I stated in my blog; I think it is great because you learnt the use of verbal Judo.-as123
DeleteOn Monday March 2nd, I was given the opportunity to attend a tour at the Peoria County Jail with my Intro to Corrections, and Intro to Investigations classes. This tour was something that I had been really looking forward to, being that I had to miss it last semester due to work. While at the Peoria County Jail we all had the chance to meet the sheriff and go on the tour guided by him. Throughout this tour he walked us through the jail in a way that an arrested offender would. I enjoyed going through the booking station and getting further information on the process, as well as the meaning of certain cards located in the room with the storage of inmate’s valuables. I also enjoyed hearing the sheriff talking about his beliefs towards strip searched and how he believes they are not necessary due to the possibility of it hurting the dignity of the offenders. The sheriff also explained that there are certain areas of the jail that are used for people with mental illnesses, this is also the area where people are held on suicide watch. It was very interesting to hear that no inmate has been successful with suicide while being help on this watch. Later we took a walk down to the women’s part of the jail, where we got the opportunity to see an occupied pod as well as an unoccupied pod. The occupied pod was interesting to see, watching what the inmates do on a regular basis as well as learning information about what the correctional officers do while watching the inmates. My favorite part was having the chance to walk around an empty pod, this gave me and the rest of the class the opportunity to see how these inmates live and what they have to do to spend their time. At the end the sheriff concluded with more useful general information, as well as his personal background. I had a very good time at the jail tour and learned some very valuable information, as well as confirmed that the criminal justice profession is the profession for me. -LW789
ReplyDeleteI also thought it was interesting to listen to Sheriff Asbell talk about his view on the strip search. Personally I think it's a good idea that they stopped doing it, because some people can be booked into the jail for such low level offenses. I think the fact that no inmate has successfully committed suicide while being on watch is a very good look for the jail. -CRJB123
DeleteThe tour of the Peoria County Jail has always been very informative and this tour we just took I felt was very beneficial for everyone. I feel like every time we are allowed to tour this facility we can learn something new whether it be big or small. I think hearing about the story of why the commitment reports were no longer posted by the Sheriff was very intriguing. The impact that those reports had on society was a very positive deterrent for a while because people who were arrested would not want their family to see their picture on this report. Stopping this due to the incident the Sheriff spoke about made sense because it was apparently causing too much of an impact on the arrested. I also really enjoyed the end of the tour where the Sheriff had an open floor for questions because he really went in depth beyond the questions, talking about many other subjects and how they relate to those questions. After touring multiple times it has really been ingrained; into my mind how important the dignity of the prisoner can be and how that can impact their re entry to society. It is also very important to remember that they are still human just like us, and that we all make mistakes. We can not put ourselves above them in a sense of class because even though there are some individuals who have committed very harsh crimes, the others are people just like we are. The importance of working corrections before being on the streets was also stressed and is a very good idea. It is crucial to understand verbal judo especially if you choose to be on the streets working because those words can have such a large impact on how your contact can be with society. -Blues456
ReplyDeleteI think that treating each inmate with respect is a must if they are going to give you that respect back. Too often people think that when someone is locked up in jail that they must be bad people, but a lot of the time they're just regular people who made a mistake. I think that treating the people in jail with respect shows them that they are still people too, and not animals. -CRJB123
DeleteI like how he handled the problems with the criminal report online, he was very professional about the whole thing. I love his main views and how much respects the inmates, because like he said, they are still people just as much as any of us.
Delete-Bears123
On March 2nd, I attended the tour of the Peoria County jail with my online Corrections and Police Operations classes. We met with Sheriff Asbell who gave us the tour and told us about his path and all the things that go on in the Jail. That was my first time meeting Sheriff Asbell and being in that jail so it was a very cool experience. We started off by going to where they first bring in the offenders. It was really cool to show us how the process worked and what it looked like for people when they first get there. He started talking about how much money it costs to house the people and the steps they go through. We were talking right next to suicide watch and the male blocks. Currently there was a man on suicide watch and the Sheriff told us how there has never been a suicide while they were on watch which was really good to hear. He told us that suicides do happen and how they do everything they can to prevent them. We then went to an empty female block and walked around to see how they lived. Sheriff explained to us how the blocks work and what the people are allowed to do. We then went up above another female block where they showed us the different kind of blocks and it was kind of wild to hear that there were three women there for murder while we were there. After the little tour the Sheriff sat us town and talked about his story and views. I liked how he focuses more on helping people and treating them with respect. He said he is not the most liked Sheriff because he views things differently than the other sheriffs in the state. I personally love how Sheriff Asbell runs things and how he views his job and inmates. -Bears123
ReplyDeleteAll of Dr. Whites' classes and I were allowed a chance to go take a visit at the Peoria County Jail with Sheriff Asbell. I had as of late taken a similar visit the past semester however I was upbeat that I had the option to catch wind of new data and see two or three distinct things the second time around. I think I saw more this visit since I've found out more and taken more classes since the main visit. On this visit, one thing that was unique and was intriguing to hear was the man on the suicide watch. He unmistakably had psychological maladjustment yet I discover it so fascinating tuning in to the things he was hollering out. One thing that we did any other way was that we were permitted to go up into the post territory about the cell squares. Each side of the post could see through three diverse cell squares. We found a good pace female segments and a portion of the prisoners could see us and they appeared to be eager to see us since I am accepting that they are exhausted. I didn't understand that they for the most part have one prison guard for every post. The sheriff revealed to us that the detainees would once in a while, and may never, leave the little zone for their entire time in the prison, which could be as long as four years on the off chance that they were anticipating preliminary. I delighted in hearing the sheriff discussing his convictions towards strip-looked and how he accepts they are a bit much because of its chance harming the poise of the wrongdoers. I am grateful that Dr. White spends his time to help us with these tours and speakers, what a great way to learn. -smiley123
ReplyDeleteAll of Dr. Whites' classes and I were permitted an opportunity to go take a visit at the Peoria County Jail with Sheriff Asbell. I had starting late taken a comparative visit the past semester anyway I was cheery that I had the alternative to find out about new information and see a few unmistakable things the second time around. I think I saw more this visit since I've discovered more and taken more classes since the principle visit. On this visit, one thing that was exceptional and was captivating to hear was the man on the suicide watch. He unquestionably had mental maladjustment yet I find it so interesting checking out the things he was hollering out. One thing that we did some other way was that we were allowed to go up into the post an area about the cell squares. Each side of the post could see through three different cell squares. We found a decent pace of female fragments and a part of the detainees could see us and they had all the earmarks of being anxious to see us since I am tolerating that they are depleted. I didn't comprehend that they generally have one jail watch for each post. The sheriff uncovered to us that the prisoners would on occasion, and may never, leave the little zone for their whole time in the jail, which could be up to four years in case they were foreseeing primer. I got a kick out of hearing the sheriff examining his feelings towards strip-looked and how he acknowledges they are excessive as a result of its opportunity hurting the balance of the transgressors. I am appreciative that Dr. White invests his energy to assist us with these visits and speakers, what an incredible method to learn. - smiley456
ReplyDeleteWhen I visited the jail I noticed a lot of positive improvements going on through the work of Sheriff Asbell. The first statistic that really caught my attention was the information on how the daily jail population has decreased over the years. During the start of Sheriff Asbells career there were around five to six hundred inmates sitting in the jail on a daily basis. As of today the daily population has gone down to the mid two hundreds. This a huge step in the right direction, and hopefully the jail population can continue to decrease. Sheriff Asbell understands that people make mistakes, and that a majority of people in the jail are good people who messed up one time. I think this outlook on people in jail is very positive, because so many times when people think of everyone in jail they associate them with being bad. I’m not saying that everyone in jail is a good person either; there are many bad people sitting in jail. No matter what kind of crime the person committed, Sheriff Asbell believes in treating everyone with respect, because at the end of the day they’re all human beings. An example of this respect Sheriff Asbell shows for the people in the jail is that he asked us not to stare at the inmated, because they shouldn’t be treated like zoo animals. With this respect being given towards the people in the jail, Sheriff Asbell expects to receive this same amount of respect back. Something else that caught my attention during the jail tour was the fact that Sheriff Asbell got rid of the strip search of everyone that is booked into the jail. Most jails do this when booking someone into the jail, but Sheriff Asbell feels that it violates people's natural human rights. In my opinion I think this is a good idea, because some people who are booked into the jail do something as little as not paying a fine. To strip search someone for not paying a fine would be a bit ridiculous. Overall I really enjoyed the jail tour considering the fact that I’ve never been in a jail before. I think the jail is doing a great job with the guidance of Sheriff Asbell, and hopefully it will continue to improve. -CRJB123
ReplyDeleteVisiting the jail on March 2nd was the first experience I've had with that sort of thing. It was very eye opening to me to see how it would be inside the facility since, before then, I had not had any experience with it. Only videos and pictures to think of what it would be like. While pictures and videos are a good representation of what it was like, a first hand experience is much much better and way more educational in my eyes. Once we got into the jail we were shown the place where everyone going in and out of the jail go to. They have all their belongings on them stored away while they are inside the jail and are searched to make sure they are not bringing anything into the facility that they should not have. Seeing the secured rooms also near the front it was eye opening to me to see that people will struggle with things inside there that could be threatening to them or other people, so they are place away from everyone else so they can get medical help if they need it so they are not a danger to themselves or anyone else around them. This is so when they are able to be released they are on the right path to reentry into society. Another thing that surprised me was the little amount of space in the cell blocks. There is enough space for how many people get put in there but, it's not as much space as many of us in our day to day life are used to. So, I'm sure it can feel a little cramped if you are new there for a few days until you get used to it. Many of the officers there seemed to know what they were doing and seemed to care about the inmates, because they want whats best for them so they can see them be re entered into society once they are able to leave. It was a very good and educational experience that I enjoyed a lot. -Cubs789
ReplyDeleteOn March 2nd I had the opportunity to take a tour of the Peoria jail. It was my first time ever visiting the jail, so I was a little nervous. The jail was bigger than I expected and lasted about two hours. During those two hours, three points stuck out to me the most. The first point that stuck out to me was the suicide watch unit of the jail. The Sheriff of Peoria said that most of the time they have someone on suicide watch. He also said that when people come to jail it is because they made a mistake and most of the inmates are depressed. But if an inmate goes on suicide watch it is looked at as a sign of weakness among the other inmates. The second point that stuck out to me was the issue they had with viruses spreading through the jails at a rapid rate because it is such a confined space. The reason this was brought up was because of the spread of the coronavirus and the concerns the sheriff has with it reaching the jail. The third point that stuck out to me was a story the sheriff told about how backwards the criminal justice system is. When he was a patrol officer, he pulled over a young man on his way to a job interview. When he pulled over the car, he found out the car was not insured and had to right the young man a ticket. Well he was late to his job interview and didn’t get the job. So, this young man was jobless and had a ticket to pay so to pay for this ticket he resorted to selling drugs. He got caught selling drugs and was sent to jail and after he was sent to jail, he was then stuck in the criminal justice system for the rest of his life. Jwilliejack789
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting to hear Sherriff Asbell talk about suicide watch at the jail. No one that has been on suicide watch has committed suicide. The people that have committed suicide have been the people that are not showing any signs. This is sad because the officers did not know and did not try to help.-Legion123
DeleteI had forgotten about how Sherrif Asbell had pulled over someone as a patrol officer and I now remember how I felt when he was told that story, it really shows how people get rapped in this endless cycle but seeing how much Sherrif Asbell is educated about his job really brings me hope for the future of Peoria County. sun456
DeleteThe jail tour with Sheriff Brian Asbell was very interesting. It was interesting from the beginning where the Sheriff had talked about the process inmates go through in booking. One aspect that I really like was how the Sheriff only hires people onto patrol after they have worked in the jail. I think that this is a route I would like to take and the experience in the jail would be invaluable. I believe that this is perhaps one of the best was to learn how to be effective communicating with people before you are given a gun and a badge. This can be shown due to the high turnover rate in the jail where people really do use it as a stepping stone of sorts to advance their careers in the criminal justice field. One aspect that really surprised me during discussion with the Sheriff is how he spoke that all prisons and jails should be private one on condition. That one condition is that they only receive profit if their prison or jail is shown to be effective at rehabilitating people and not just simply holding them in custody. I can definitely understand where the Sheriff could see this working effectively. My one question would be how is it implemented effectively? The Sheriff has shown that he in an educated person of interest and really cares about what he does. It is always interesting to hear population statistics on the jail. The sheriff spoke on how the jail has been declining in overall population since he has be in office and that women nationwide are becoming inmates at higher rates but it is not true for Peoria County. I believe a steady decline shows that the Sheriff is doing what he can to keep recidivism down which is an epidemic in our society. CP3123
ReplyDeleteYes! Sheriff Asbell explained how he hires people because he has a way of doing it. He said most people come to the jail to gain some experience first, then start to hit the streets once the correctional officer is ready. He also says that every person who works in the jail is required to start as a correctional officer. He says that our biggest weapon is our mouths. If we learn to know how to speak to people, imagine hitting the streets, you can be one of the best officers because you would already know how to talk to people because you worked as a correctional officer in the beginning. - Canelo123
DeleteI also found it interesting how it is only after being a correctional officer that they are then allowed to patrol. I feel like it is a great way for officers to get comfortable talking to offenders and maybe see their perspective. Slim789
DeleteAlright. So, last week I think it was, I had the opportunity to go for a tour of the Peoria County Jail with my classmates and SHeriff Asbell. Now, it's definitely not my first time, but it's always nice going back to learn more and see if any changes have taken place. First, we came into the entrance where they would process the person for paperwork, searches, fingerprints, and just getting him or her ready to be processed into the system. He spoke about the index cards on the walls and how some of the index cards had a color to them to distinguish whether the inmate was being held for transfer to the Feds all the way to first-time offenders. He also spoke about suicide watch afterward. I remember him saying that he never had suicide on suicide watch within the last 10 or some years I believe. The person being put in a suicide watch is watching every minute. Now, as we went around to see more of the facility, Sherif Asbell, spoke about how he divides females and males separately. Also, one thing that skipped over is that everyone (offenders) have to earn certain things that they desire, such as if they want snacks they are only going to get it with good behavior. Sheriff Asbell says it's a “privilege” and not a “right” and when he said that I can see that not only for them but for everyone in general, like school is a privilege as well or the things that we have is a privilege. When we went to see how the beds, bathrooms, cells looked like, Sheriff Asbell, explained, that nobody gets out of their ground for only three reasons such as medical, court and lawyer stuff came up, and one other one that I quite didn't catch on. When I see the rooms, it feels very isolated and you can only stay in one spot.
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I agree that it feels very isolated in those cells. Being in those cells except for some small exceptions is very strict. You would very much so have to be able to get along with the people in your pod with you, or you are going to have an even worse experience.-Legion123
DeleteMonday evening, we got the privilege to go out to the Peoria County Jail, and take a tour of the facility. Having been their before, and having a good experience I was excited to go back. We arrived at the jail and got a brief introduction to the facility, and an overview of what happens within the jail by Sheriff Asbell. He is the Peoria County Sheriff, and runs the jail and all of the Peoria county deputies. He talked about how the daily average of inmates in the jail has gone down significantly in the past couple of years. He then moved us over to intake where people first get processed into the jail. He talked about the mental health that goes on within the facility, and the more ideas and wants to see get implemented not just in his jail, but all over the country. We then went and got to go up to a watch area of the female pods, and got to talk to two young corrections officers about their experiences and what type of schooling that they had undergone before getting hired on at the jail. One of the officers was an ICC student like us and had taken criminal justice courses. She said that she wishes she would have made the decision sooner and that she loves her job. We then went and got to go into one of the pods and look around. We talked about how you are stuck in that pod for however long you are within the facility. It was a small space and I do not know if I could stay in there for a long period of time before going crazy. We then got to go into the gym and have the Sherriff talk to us about his career and what he stands for. It was a great tour.-Legion123
ReplyDeleteGoing to jail was an incredible experience for us as criminal justice students. Sheriff asbel spoke about many different things involving the turn around he has provided to the peoria county jail. He has also shown us many different places within the jail, allowing us to open up our minds through law enforcement and where we might want to land. He then spoke about the lateral steps coming from corrections. He talked about how working in the jail can allow you to move other places after and opens you up more to different agencies that may want to recruit you when looking at your background. He then explained the reason why they don't carry firearms in the jail because that is something that can easily be taken away from you. That's why in corrections, you have to learn verbal judo in order to calm a situation down in order to not escalate it. He then goes on to state how it is a very big part in Law enforcement to have those skills because the things on your belt are not going to get you to where you want to go, you have to use your verbal commands in order to distress a situation. Sheriff Asbel then explains a lot of the stats that the jail has, we have seen a very large decrease in the stays at the peoria county jail, and in all, that is what sheriff asbel sees as success.-as123
ReplyDeleteOn March/ 2/ 2020 I went to jail, lucky no charges were pressed and I didn’t even have to go through a strip search. With my entire stay there I really enjoyed myself in the slammer. If you’re wondering how, it's quite simple. I was on a jail tour given to my university by the Sheriff of Peoria county. Now I have been on this same tour several times and everytime I went through it, I thought it kind of just seemed like a walkable recruiting video for the sheriff's department. Although it can act as a recruiting technique, it showed many students that there are other jobs in law enforcement other than being a police officer. Along with stating that most of the best cops learn their techniques while working in the prison system. This being said Sheriff Asbell does a great job presenting each area in the jail along with the jobs assigned to them. But this latest tour Sheriff Asbell was more gritty and showed/talked about the darker side of corrections and patrol. I enjoyed that way more to hear the goods and the bads that come with the job over just the goods like he presents in his other tours. The first time I went on this tour I was extremely impressed with the energy and positive attitudes from the deputies who were working in the jail at the time. Even on the latest tour I was still impressed as the morale around the building was higher than expected. The biggest factor of high morale was clearly stated by the employees of the jail and that was their paychecks. Both officers said they had loved their jobs but had also said they loved their pay just a tad more. And I do not blame them one bit for saying such things. The tour was so much more informational on things other than how the jail is run, I learned more things off these tours than I probably have ever learned in a ride along in a squad car. I highly recommend going on the tour more than once, Peoria county jail gets a 5 star yelp review in my book.
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On Monday March 2, my class was given the opportunity to go take a tour at the Peoria County Jail. At the beginning of the semester I was told we would be getting the chance to tour the Peoria County Jail and the juvenile detention center, and I jumped at the chance to go somewhere that I could potentially work at. During the tour he took us around the jail starting with the place that they check all the inmates in at, then next to one of the empty female pods where the inmates sleep, then next to where the workers go to watch over the pods of the inmates. I strongly agree with the sheriff and his reasoning's about not wanting to do strip searches on inmates unless they suspect something to help keep some of their dignity. I like that the sheriff shared his views on what things he felt that needs to change in the criminal justice system. The sheriff also told the group of us on the tour that the are certain areas at the jail for mentally ill people. A fact that I never knew was that the sheriff told us was that the majority of the people who complete suicide are not the ones on suicide watch and it usually has no warning signs. I have also now figured out that I now for sure want to go into the field of law enforcement. I am very glad I got this opportunity to go on this tour and got to learn all the things that all of us did on that tour. -pearles789
ReplyDeleteOn March 2nd, I had the privilege to attend a tour of Peoria County Jail. The tour was given by the Sheriff Brian Asbell. The facility was much larger than the Woodford county jail that I had previously taken a tour of. First we entered through the booking area where the offenders enter the jail and are searched for any items they posses at the time of the arrest. It was here that Sheriff Asabell talked about how he likes to run the jail. It was very interesting to hear about how he did not use strip searches since he liked to treat the people with respect and dignity. It was a little hard to focus on what he was saying because in this area was also the suicide watch section. There was one inmate that was very loud and argued with one of the guards that was watching over the tour group. After we left the booking area the group was split up and went to an empty pod as well as a working pod. I went to the empty pod where the sheriff talked about how the doors work, how visits and phone calls were handled, and how the guards go on patrol. After that the group went up to the active pod. It was interesting being able to see real prisoners. I found it a little strange that they would pace back and forth on the second level of the pod. However, I suppose that there is not this much excitement on an average day. It was interesting to learn how the prisoners were divided up and guarded by certain guards. After this we were all gathered into an old gym where the sheriff talked to us about mass incarceration among other things. That was the end of the tour after that. Slim 789
ReplyDeleteI agree that there was a lot of information on how the jail is run. I think that Sheriff Brian Asbell did a good job at answering questions and giving his input along with the correctional officers that were with us. After the tour when we gathered in the gym, the sheriff did give us very useful and helpful information. -softball456
DeleteOn Monday I had an opportunity for the second time to visit and take a tour around the jail. I had a tour of the jail when I was in high school which was fairly interesting, but I feel that this time around there was a lot more information about how this particular jail was run and some of the ways things had changed since Sherrif Asbell. I think one of my favorite parts of the tour was being about sit down down and ask him questions. I really loved all the information that was given because he held nothing back. I also really liked all his policies and ideas that he had. One policy that stuck out to me was how he changed the way SEG was run. Instead of being able to lock anyone up just because an officer was mad at an inmate, he makes the officers go through a bunch of paperwork so that inmates would spend less time in SEG. Another idea that I really liked was having a person come in at least once a day for mental health for the inmates. Being a psychology major and a mental health advocate I really liked knowing that people are getting some of the treatment they really need. Since we don’t have and mental health institutes like what north campus use to be, the jail has become the biggest holding for those people. Something that really made my skin crawl was just standing in one of the blocks knowing that that is where you have to stay for almost your entire day. I would go insane if I wasn’t ab;e to go outside of just lay in my bed comfortably, but that is the cost of breaking the law. Overall I felt that the trip was super insightful and I’m excited to go back to visit the Juvenile center later this semester sun 456
ReplyDeleteOn Monday March 2nd, I visited the county jail. I thought it was very interesting and helpful. It made me realize that I do not want to work in a jail. I do not think I could handle the same criminals everyday. In my opinion I think correctional officers might have it worse than police officers. When I went on the visit I thought it was cool to go up to the tower and look down on the female inmates and see what they do while they are locked up. Also hearing the people on suicidal watch. I also like how Sheriff Asbell said that there are good people that are locked up because they made a bad mistake. I also think it is nice that therapists come in and the inmates are able to talk to them. I also learned what the different colored cards mean. For example, the green cards are the more dangerous inmates. I do think it is a good idea that male correctional officers aren’t allowed to be with the female inmates but female correctional officers are able to be with the male. When I went on a jail tour in high school we got to see the K9 dogs attack the officers arms and listen to the commands that the officer gives the K9. I wish we got to see a little more than that. I also wish we could have seen the male side to see what they do when they are in jail. The correctional officers say there are a lot more males in jail than females. I did not know that when in jail you do not know the time of day. The only way to tell the time of day is by the tv programs that play throughout the day. -softball456
ReplyDeleteSheriff Brian Asbell did an amazing job with the tour through the Peoria County Jail. To be honest I never really thought about being a correctional officer. My mind has been set on being a police officer for the city. I wanted to be on the streets helping people and to be honest the pay is better. Sheriff Asbell did say, "yes, the pay is a little less, but retirement plan is better than what the city police department can offer." So this had me thinking, if I could work my way up faster to get the hours I desire for my family, while still making a difference, and have a better retirement plan, why not? Not to mention training is only 5 weeks verses 14 weeks. This really has my attention. My main focus will always be my daughter, she is the reason to be a better person and role model. I want to be able to provide for her, while also be there to love her and guide her in her future. To do that in the police department will be hard because it takes longer to work your way up to the top to get the desired hours to do that. After Officer Duncan came to our class and I hear his stand point on being a parent and being a police officer, and how your job will always come first before your family, it made me rethink everything. Then hearing Sheriff Asbell on our tour and showed us how everything worked, I thought maybe this is my path I'm suppose to make for my family. -Brianna123
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