Interview with Aaron, Jessica, Walter, Margaret and Sherry
JM: How often could you receive visitors? Aaron: Once a day we could have visitors but I never got a visit since the
jail was so far away from my family. Jessica: I only had visitors once, after about a week. Walter: You can have up to 1 visitation of up to two
people in one day. Margaret: YOU COULD RECEIVE VISITORS 3 TIMES A WEEK, AND
IT WAS ON A COMPUTER SCREEN. Sherry: Everyday, you get the kiosk, and put in the time
you want to have a visit.
JM: Was the check-in process lengthy for those who came to see you? Aaron: I do not know because I never got a visitor. Jessica: It took about an hour for them to get in. Walter: Most of my family lives outside of Tampa so I
never had a visit, but I have in the past. The
process isn't very lengthy but you must first
fill out a form in the POD to get them in the,
computer system. For anyone to visit you, the
address and ID info you provide on this form
MUST match what is on their ID Margaret: NO IT WASN'T VERY LENGTHY, AS LONG AS THEY HAD
THE RIGHT IDENTIFICATION. BUT IT WAS ALL WORTH
IT, BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ONLY OUTSIDE CONTACT
YOU HAD Sherry: Not that I know of, you go to the visitation
building, and stand in line to show your ID, and
they tell you which screen to go to.
JM: What was the visiting environment like? Aaron: It was a large window with a phone attached to the upstairs part of
our pod. It wasn't very private but it was better than talking to a
computer screen. Jessica: I was put in handcuffs and leg irons, and
brought to a little booth where I could talk to
my family on the phone. Walter: Sterile. Visitation is all conducted entirely
over video screens with a pay phone reciever
attachment. All contact visits have been
eliminated for years. It is barely any better
than being on the phone, because you can not
actually be in the room with your loved ones.
visits last 40 minutes Margaret: IT WAS OKAY, BUT A LITTLE CROWDED, AND THE
CUBICLES ARE SO CLOSE TOGETHER, AND YOU HAVE TO
TALK IN A PHONE SO YOU CAN BARELY HEAR THE OTHER
PERSON. I THINK THEY ARE FOR LIKE AN HOUR LONG,
BUT IT FEELS REALLY GOOD TO GET A VISITOR COME
SEE YOU Sherry: I would say that it was a little difficult
because of the video camera, it would go in and
out, and it was not clear, sometimes it would
not work, and you could hear the other people
and see the other people, the environment was
too closed in, and crowded.