With over a quarter-century of experience visiting my clients at the Men's County Jail, Wayside, and Lynwood, I've gained a profound understanding of the jail system. This extensive experience allows me to provide you with reliable advice and insights into the challenges of visiting inmates. While some issues persist, significant improvements have been made over the years.
However, a comprehensive investigation of the Los Angeles jails a few years ago did help address some of the issues related to visiting inmates and certain practices of deputies in LA County that make it difficult to see inmates.
If you're planning to visit a loved one, friend, or family member in the Los Angeles County Jail, it's crucial to do your research and be prepared for the unexpected. Visiting hours and rules can be complex, and unforeseen events, such as floods or lockdowns, can occur, so patience is essential.
There can be floods at the jail; there can be lockdowns. All kinds of issues tend to arise there, even for attorneys, but for the general public, it's a different matter. They will make you wait there as long as they want, and they really don't care if it's an inconvenience or a problem for you.
So, you probably want to coordinate your visit by going online to book information with the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department. Once you've identified where the person is being housed in LA County, you can research online to determine the procedures for seeing that person. Have their booking number ready, and be prepared to spend some time there. The booking process can be complex, so it's important to be patient and prepared for potential delays.
It does take a while to visit somebody in LA County. Another thing you want to do is determine which jail they're in and, within that jail, which facility they're in. If the case is in Men's Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles near Broadway Street, then there's just really one place to go. You give them the booking number, and they can pull up the person and get them in to be visited.
On the other hand, if you're going to Wayside, which is out in Valencia, Castaic area at the Peter Pitchess Honor Ranch, that location has a number of different housing locations, so you're going to want to have that information so that when you go there, you're actually able to see your inmate and not be shut out and waste a trip down there.
Even if you go down there perfectly prepared, you can still get shut out because if there's a lockdown at the jail, they just turn everybody away, and you have to come back another day. The reasons why lockdowns occur remain a mystery to most.
Still, it's usually due to a fight, issue, or disturbance within the jail, or a technical problem on the part of the Sheriff that blocks someone from seeing their loved one or family member.
What About Attorneys Seeing Inmates In Los Angeles County?
Attorneys are obviously given priority when it comes to seeing their clients, and it's much easier for an attorney to visit a client than it is for someone from the general public. However, speaking as an attorney who has visited inmates in Los Angeles County for many years, I can tell you that it is not always easy.
As I write this post, I am waiting at the Men's Central Jail to see one of my clients, as there is a flood near the entrance where attorneys are allowed to enter. And, of course, they have no other entrance, so you just have to wait. They just don't care, and there's not much you can do about it. I understand the frustration and helplessness you may feel in such situations.
The FBI sting against the Sheriffs was a significant event that brought to light some of the issues within the Sheriff's Department. It was one of the only bodies or entities that could hold these individuals accountable and compel them to act in a proper manner, rather than making people wait a long time or abusing their power. The Sheriff's Department undoubtedly holds considerable power and can undertake numerous actions if it chooses to.
The bottom line is that the best way to see an inmate, obtain information, ensure their safety, and have someone speak with them is through an attorney.
An attorney has a lot of different authority, and somebody who knows what they're doing and has been around the block is obviously going to be able to get into jail, see the person, and hopefully make that person feel better that they've got somebody on their side fighting for them. As an attorney, I am committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of my clients, providing them with the support and reassurance they need.
The attorney can also appease the family and let them know that the attorney has checked on the person, they're okay, and somebody is there to help them, providing a sense of support and reassurance.
Related:
