[Flying Dutchman]

Some misconceptions about jails, especially ours.......

Myth: You have a right to a phone call.
Fact: You have the right to CONSULT with an attorney prior to answering questions if you are detained. This is based on the Miranda rights. People confuse consult with phone calls. We used to provide paper, pen, envelopes and two stamps a week which legally covers that right. You do not have a right to not answer questions pertaining to booking. You cannot be released until you are booked, and you cannot be booked without certain information. Tghis hardball tactic was rarely used unless the person being booked was uncooperative.

Myth: Females work with female inmates, males with males.
Fact: This violates anti-discrimination laws. It was always policy, though, to have females search females out of common sense. Detention officers, while not sworn law enforcement, are the responsible and authority in a jail.

Myth: Jails are full of criminals.
Fact: A jail is a temporary holding facility for those who are either: awaiting trial, sentenced to the jail or awaiting transport to other facilities. Most inmates in a jail are there because they cannot afford the bail to get out. They are ACCUSED of a crime, which does not make them GUILTY of the crime. This is why jails are not held to the same standards as prisons. In Kansas there is no set standard for jails, each county can establish their own as long as it follows certain Federal guidelines, which are not much nor are they enforced.