I have a few questions about big city county jails...?

Question

1. do they mix in all inamtes from all different backgrounds into one big group? or do they seperate people by severity of crimes, race, etc? if so how does it go?

2. are people in the county jails at risk for violence like in the state prisons? or are most of them there serving short sentences or awaiting trial?

3. and finaly, what times of crimes warrant sentences in county as apposed to crimes that warrant time to be served in a stte prison?

Answer 1

Each County jail is run slightly different. Most larger jails will segregate based on possible gang affiliation. Most all jails also classify offenders by severity of crimes, and house them in cell blocks accordingly. You are classified at intake based on prior arrest and conviction history, as well as the severity of the crime you are being charged with currently.

A lot of time county jails are more violent than state prisons. Most offenders in jail are as you said, awaiting trial or serving short sentences. Generally any felony conviction where the sentence is more than one year imprisonment will be carried out at a prison. All misdemeanor convictions will always be served at the county jail, and can never be over one year in length.

Answer 2

In Los Angeles County:

1.  The populations are segregated: blacks, hispanics (this usually includes whites), g*y, hospital ward, mental, keep aways, green lights (hit on their lives), witnesses separated from defendants, high profile, s*x offenders, trustee, etc.  There are lots of race related rioting.  They all have a code designated by the LA Sheriff's Department.  It is usually also on their wrist band, like a hospital name.

2.  All facilities are dangerous.  The unique danger posed at the County Jail is that the population turns over every several days.  Plus, hundreds of inmates are transported to 44 courts everyday w/in the county.  The offenses range from the most despised of society, death sentence or capital cases, multiple homicides, serial rapists and killers to John Loser who failed to pay his traffic tickets and they went to warrant.  They are all mixed together.  The serious and violent offenders are awaiting trial and/or sentencing.  The misdemeanor offenses are serving less than one year custody time.

3.  Only defendants convicted of felonies go to State Prison or if they violate their Parole.  Felonies range from simple drug possession to sales to rape, robbery and homicide.  

Answer 3

.   Many people in the county jail are innocent of any crime.  They haven't been convicted of anything.  THe sheriff has to guarantee your safety.  Or he pays $Millions.  Everyone mixed together.  Big crimes in State.

Answer 4

I've spent a lot of time in the Harris county jail (Houston)

1) Not really, but sort of. You are graded based on multiple things, a first time killer and a 7th time pot head are likely to be mixed.

2) You will be boxing in Harris county jail. Sentences range depending on the part of the jail you are in. Over half the county jail here is doing months on a small crime, the others are waiting to get convicted and shipped to the big house.

3) Minor crimes are for county time. A little pot, a fist fight, the first couple of DWIs if no one is hurt, unpaid tickets. Anything that isn't described as a felony. The rest is of the stuff will send you upstate.