Dallas County Jail

Pre-sentencing

Interview with Charles, m ray, Leon, Jean, Accountant, Lil Will, Cam and Hot attorney

JM: Tell us about the pre-sentencing process:
Charles: Every time I have been in the county jail it has been for probation violations on the same case. I didn't really see much of a difference between pre-sentencing and post sentencing. I was always arrested in the adjoining court house, and put into a holding cell in between the court house and jail. Then I was taken into another larger holding cell, then taken to central intake. if you are good, you now get to sit in chairs while getting booked in and watch TV. After the bookin paperwork is complete, prints, and pictures are taken you will be placed in another large holding tank until you are dressed out in jail clothing. You then are placed back in holding until you are assigned a housing unit, and given an armband. When you are finally classed and given a housing assignment you will be taken to a housing unit and issued a clear bag with bedding and such inside. The bookin process takes about 10 to 12 hours on average.
m ray: ITS HORRIABLE DEPENDING ON WHAT JAIL YOU ARE AT THEY PULL U OUT AROUND 5 AM TO SIT IN A HOLDING CELL 2-3 HRS JUST TO GO MEET YOUR COURT APP ATTERONY
Leon: I was arrested in Richardson, transferred to Dallas County 1 full week later. I could not post the bond so I remained there until my first court date 3 months later.
Jean: Mine was a probation violation. I have been incarcerated numerous times for it, from place to place. It just depends on where they pick you up, or where they find you. I was picked up at the border. As far as my case goes, I've been incarcerated three times in Dallas County. One time was a transfer, so that doesn't really count. You don't have to go through the booking process or anything like that. Normally, that pre-sentencing thing would be for if I got pulled over for a traffic violation. For me, basically, there was always a warrant for my arrest. The police would ask me if I have any warrants, and I'd say no, and they'd ask me if I was sure, and it would go from there.

A couple of times I had the chance to bail out. What you do is go to the county jail, and they run court all through the night. If you're picked up at 2 in the morning, you'll see the judge at 3 or 4 in the morning. You're going to be held to see the judge to make bail. He's the one that's going to bail you out or not.

So then I bailed out. At Dallas County, if you're making local phone calls, they're free. You'll be in a holding situation, which is quite unfavorable, and you'll be in there with everyone and their dog, and all the women are together. Fighting for a phone is tough. I know every number I need to know in my head because you can't take your cell phone with you. You can't take anything. You just go in there with your clothes on, and your shoes on. It's so cold. They keep the temperature down because they have staph infections that run rampant there. People are drunk and sick - you've got hookers... they keep the temperature down to keep the threat of diseases lower.
Accountant: N/A
Lil Will: Bond the fuck out if you can. you sit and sit and sit and sit. Most times you get a letter weeks or months later with the name of the public defender that you never see until you trial if you have one. They want you to plea all the time whether you did the shit or no.
Cam: My trial was quick and i was fortunate to get Probation on my case.

JM: Did you have police stop by your house for questioning?
Charles: No
m ray: no
Leon: The Richardson police came to my apt. with a search warrant and kicked in the door. The next day I was interviewed by a Richardson detective.
Jean: No, I was picked up on a warrant.
Accountant: No. I was on my way to the airport, and was stopped by the Irving police department, per the cop for speeding; however others seem to think "racial" profiling...
Hot attorney: A bunch of DPD, some of whom have been fired for being crooked.
Lil Will: Yes they usually stop by with black suits and door slammer.
Cam: no.

JM: What was your court appearance like?
Charles: Only time I ever saw the judge I was just dressed in the jail uniform, it was a 5 min process, I might have said one word, the judge and my attorney did all the talking. it wasn't a formal hearing.
m ray: you sit in a holding cell packed full of inmates for up to 12 hours waiting to plea out to your case which is what usaully happens to walk in the court room for two secs and get your sentance then go back to the holding cell for another hour or two i have spent 15 hours in a holding cell and havent seen anyone
Leon: I was taken to the court house at 5:30 am. I sat in a holding tank (extremely overcrowded) if the tank capacity said 16 people they put about 25-30 people in each one. My lawyer showed up I talked with him about 5 minutes or less he told me the plea bargain offer. The second time I was taken to court was the same but they offered less time and I accepted. If you get lucky and get done early you will get back to the jail cell about 2:00 pm. Otherwise you don't get back until about 5-6:00 pm.
Jean: The court appearance really sucks. You're already incarcerated, and you have to wear the icky jumpers, you don't have any makeup, you probably haven't had a shower, and it's quite uncomfortable. I was on probation, for a white collar crime, and they treated me as if I would probably rape 17 little kids down the street. In other words, I looked like an inmate already. You look like an inmate, and you're treated like total dirt by the judge because the living conditions at Dallas County are absolutely unfavorable. It's the worst hell hole in the world. You're dirty, and they don't have proper toiletries, and you don't get anything until you actually are charged and are moved into General Population.
Accountant: OH MY GOD, the worst ever. This was the only time that I had been in jail, so I wasn't expecting to share my court appearance with all the other inmates, verbally stating your case/explanation in front of everybody.
Hot attorney: Expensive suits.
Lil Will: kangaroo courts. I dont mind doing time for the shit I done but it seems like once you done done some little shit you cant catch a break even for the shit you aint done.
Cam: Very Intimidating yet odd.