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Closing Advice

Interview with Jason, Kat, JM Advice, Brian, DavidP, keke, Teabag, Crystal, Edward, isaac, Lucky, Laydie, Kathy, Lisa, Apache, Janet, Ron, Ryan, Laetia, Laura, Fernando, Gail, George, Rich, Mark, John, Juan, Erik, Scott, Shawn, Dominic, James, Carl, Josh and Jose

JM: What else would you want a friend or family member to know if they have a loved one going to this jail?
Jason: PRAY with all there heart that God keeps them safe..Never stop until they are out..
Kat: Know that your loved one and be prepared to be mentally degraded by guards at Cook County regardless of your charge. You will not have a pen or paper for a week or two because you have to order them from store. Take some cash with you to put on your books when you go in this will speed that process up.
JM Advice: Know 3 to 5 phone numbers - many people now store all their friends' and family members' phone numbers in their cell phones. However, your phone is confiscated when you get checked into jail before you get to make your phone call. Have 3 to 5 phone numbers memorized or written down to carry with you to jail so you're prepared when you get your call.
Brian: Well, I'd want him to know, first of all, if he thinks it's going to happen to him, it's all about preparation. Obviously, I didn't know what to prepare for, because it was my first time in jail. Now, I would memorize at least three to five different phone numbers. A lot of people have a lot of different numbers, but it's all in their cell phones. You need to know a minimum of three to five phone numbers to call, because that's obviously the first thing you need to do when you're in there. You need people to call to bail you out. I think a lot of people don't realize that because they think, "Well, I've got it in my phone." But they don't let you keep your phone. If I didn't remember those numbers, I would have been in there longer than I would have had to have been, because no one knew that I got pulled over.
DavidP: Well, I would say stay out. It's such a dirty, mean place. The guards are mean, the inmates are mean. All I would say is that as much as inmates get on your nerves and grate on you, you may think you're tough, but you're never tough enough. Keep your mouth shut. You can talk with people, but be careful who you interact with, and don't start problems. You'll either get killed or get thrown in the hole. The guards don't waste a second. You're either going to get hurt, or you're going in the hole and get your time extended. Also, have your family and friends put money in your account. The best thing is the commissary. Be aware of it, let people put some money in your account. For $20 a week, they give you snacks and other things. Because of the food, you'll be starving in there. You have to have something. For $20 or $30 a week, it gives you more of a decent living.
keke: no
Teabag: Watch ya back and Plug In !!!
Crystal: Have your family send you money to buy socks, underwear, sweatshirt (its very cold in winter and you shiver all night) if you are there more than two weeks.
Edward: keep your mouth shut,hope for the best and expect the worst.your there because you screwed up just do your time and go home,listen to the officers.try to get a in house job that helps pass the time.
isaac: respect the co's they have no rules and if i had to deal with alot of shitheads all day id be an ass too for the loved ones send mags books letters and be there for phone calls it helps
Lucky: It's not that bad.
Laydie: be considerate of the workers time and patience and treat them with the utmost respect for you are in there hands while serving time
Kathy: Be prepared for sadness , long waits, disrespect, filthiness
Lisa: stand by them because it hard been in cook county jail and i pray for everyone that in custody at cook county jail because the officers there are very nasty. so to anyone that has family in cook county jail stand by ur love ines because its hard been there
Apache: watch your back
Janet: VISIT AND WRITE SHOW THE PERSON YOU HAVENT FORGOTTEN ABOUT THEM.
Ron: GET THEM OUT.....IT'S HELL
Ryan: Good Luck
Laetia: They have no rights and are verbally abused. no food, water, no phone.
Laura: Trust no one but yourself. Conservation, meditation, thought and writing are key. Read in your Law Library. Be informed, educated, vigilant! Keep your sanity, and your head up. Face your fears. There are people out there nowhere near as lucky as you to have a place to sleep even if it's a cell. Life is bigger than you can imagine.
Fernando: know this,do everything possible to get them out of there,pay the bond,borrow,beg,the conditions there are not agreeable to being held there,its dangerous also,and quite stifling as everyone is out for their own needs
Gail: Give them all the support you can possibly give.It's not about the money but rather the security of knowing that although they may have done wrong you still love and accept them.I've done almost a year standing on my head with no communication whatsoever...It hurts to fel that nobody cares.
George: Please bail them out if possible ,it's like living in a zoo.It's dirty and stinks all the time.Some of the inmates are very nasty and that does not help at all.
Rich: SPEAK WHEN SPOKEN TO,MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS, IF U A NUTRON BE THAT A7 IF UR MOB RELATED YOU BEST TO BE UP ON YOUR HISTORY OF SAID MOB & HAVE PEOPLE IN OR ON THE STREETS THAT CAN VERIFY UR CLAIMS.
Mark: Pray!!! Because it is a life or death matter inside that jail. it is a war zone in our own country by our own people and most of the criminals are the correctional officers themselves. Do not trust anyone in jail even the guards. just keep to yourself and sleep all day as much as you can to avoid confrontation.
John: let them know its a long process try to come see that person as often as you could in they really need monry fore commissary to eat in there because the food ids horrible
Juan: to write them to send the money to have on the books..little goes along wayy...your loved ...to be by there side ...write them and take their calls if possible..its really hopeful to know someone there for you on the other side
Erik: IF GOING TO COOK COUNTY JAIL, BAIL THEM OUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, OR MAKE SURE THAT YOU GIVE THEM MONEY IN THEIR JAIL ACCOUNT TO GET THE NEED ITEMS, FOOD, AND ON THEIR PHONE
Scott: If possible make bond, this jail makes your decision making abilities detrimental. I environment is straight negative and nothing good can happen from being in it. Make bond or really, just stay the hell away.
Jason: GET MONEY ON THE HOME PHONE ASAP. KEEP A LITTLE MONEY ON THERE BOOKS FOR NESSISTIES. WRITE OR VISIT TO KEEP THERE SPIRITS UP. GET THEM OUT IF THEY ARE WEAK IN NATURE.
Shawn: pleae dont ever come to see me this is not place for people to come and see you it is probably better off b/c alot of things csn happen there
Dominic: I would want them to understand that visiting a relative who is being held at this jail can help the relative emotionally. It is a very bleak and stressful place and sometimes one is prone to think about giving up all hope.
James: write a letter, keeep thre spirits up, keep bad news thats on the outside on the outside. who ever is in there has enough to worry about already. send a little money on the weekly. 20 bucks will do wonders as will ten you stay hungry.
Carl: if you don't know anybody keep to yourself till you know who you can trust stay out of other people business and don't come in there think you can beat everyone
Josh: I would tell them to ask for the drug unit. Yeah you sit in meetings all day but your not locked down 18 hours a day with gang bangers wathching you.
Jose: Make the most of your time. There are a lot of good people in jail with interesting stories. Just because a person goes to jail does not mean they are a bad person. Stick up for what you believe is right.

JM: If somebody knows they will be serving time in this jail what is your advice to them?
Jason: Pray, stay to your self as much as they can, do not give any info about your outside life.
JM Advice: Know how to get to the jail - you may need to tell someone how to come cover your bail or tell them how to come visit. If there's a possibility of going to jail, you should acquaint yourself with how to get there so you can tell others how to find you.
Brian: Well, if someone thinks they're in that situation where they think there's a good chance that they're going to go to jail, they need to not only have the phone numbers, but have their friends know where the county jail is. A lot of people, depending on where they live, know people or have friends in jail, but don't know where the jail is. There are a lot of different locations. They should just let their friends know, in advance, what the address is. They should give them instructions, if there's a good chance that they'll get pulled over, or if there's a warrant out for their arrest. They need to inform their friends. Their friends might want to help, but they might not know where to go. They can look things up on the internet and figure those things out. If someone's in a situation where there's a warrant out for their arrest, they should know they could be arrested at any point, and go to jail. If someone feels that they're in that situation, they need to be prepared. Know the numbers, know the address, know exactly the situation because if they don't, they could be in there for many more days than they should be. No one would even know that they're there. And another thing is, in terms of bailing them out, if it's a higher bail, obviously they'll need more money.
DavidP: Be aware of commissary, have people put money in your account, stay out of trouble, and try to get that time off - get out as quickly as you can. That's about it - try not to go there at all. Just try to prepare yourself before going - be aware of what I've mentioned. Also, once a week, you do have visiting time, also, but it's a real old and small building with smoky glass. You can hardly see the person, and you have to put your mouth right on top of the glass to talk, and the other person has to put their ear right there. It is a weekly visiting time, but it's a hassle for the visitors, because they have to go through all these checkpoints, and it takes an hour to get through. It's difficult once they do get through, but it helps to have visitors come.
keke: never go to cook county jail its nasty it stank the female gaurds are haters they are sheisty the men get treated better and they talk to you like you aint sh* they try to make you feel beneath them when they aint on sh* theyself i hate cook county gaurds
Teabag: Stay the f* outta jail!!!!
Crystal: Pray and try to figure out which guards are sadist, psychopaths, and sociopaths. Say very little to them. Stay away from them. Follow orders. Don't ask for anything unless you have to. Ask your attorney as many small specific questions as possible and keep your mouth shut about your case and personal info.
Edward: if you can go to dorm 4 or dorm 1 c deck.as far as i know these are working decks.working really helps pass the timetry to find someone in clothing to.they can get you cloths that fit.after getting your cloths "DOC" was them regardless if they been washed.all of mine were extreamly dirty coming back from the wash.keep the cloths that you have because the next clothing change you wont get ones that fit also if you take the tooth brush that they give you and a pen that you buy from commissary you can make a tooth brush.the tooth past is really good for cleaning your cloths too along with the soap.use your grey box that is givin to you with your bunk to wash your cloths in it.to press your cloths for court use the space between the bunk and sleeping mat and lay on it for a couple of days.
isaac: dont tell anyone when getting out people like to cause shit right before u leave
Lucky: Save your milk cartons and your lunch trays.
Laydie: co-operation respect patient and keep a low profile but on and understandable level ,most of all go along with the program ok.
Kathy: Be brave and cautious and try to be patient.
Lisa: stay out of cook county jail its the nasty place every and the officers are very very nasty and get away with talking to inmates like shit
Apache: walk real slow and time will go
Janet: TRY NOT TO GET THERE AT ALL STAY OUT OF TROUBLE AND DO YOUR TIME DONT LET YOUR TIME DO YOU!
Ron: KEEP TO YOURSELF PERIOD DON'T GET ARRESTED..!!
Ryan: Mnd your bussiness and do your time dont let your time do you!!!!!
Laetia: If you are not guilty, get a lawyer, talk to the press. If you have no money, you will never walk out of jail
Laura: If you do the crime, you will do the time. Take this as you will, whether the time be in jail or karma.
Fernando: my advice is that they keep to themselves,dont talk to other prisoners,get looked at medically,dont engage any activity that the jail disallows and stay in your bunk,get as much rest as possible
Gail: Ride it..........Accept the fact that you made a bad decision.get the help that you need while you can.We all like to think that if things are going bad according to us that there is no way out.Apply yourself to your talents.Give your mind a rest.Let go of all those bad habits and negative thoughts that you once had and replace them with good.We were not born bad.There is good in everyone and I believe that there is also good in you.Take this time to reassociate yourself with the REAL YOU! Sometimes incarceration can be a blessing in disguise..Minus the probes and the coughing...:( Starting today YOU are who defines you and nobody else.You are good! You will survive! Now you must ACCEPT the CHANGE!!!!!! :)
George: Get ready for a new life.What you do at home ,most of it you cannot do here.In the shower you better were shoes or else you may catch a fungus disease.
Rich: MAN DO WHAT YOU GOTTA DO & DO THE TIME DON'T LET IT DO YOU. DON'T BE A CRASH DUMMY FOR ANYONE BY STARING SOME SHIT THAT WILL GET U MORE TIME. BE A MAN LAST & ALWAYS, YOU CAME IN BY YOURSELF SO PLAN ON LEAVIN BY YOURSELF
Mark: Pray!!! Because it is a life or death matter inside that jail. it is a war zone in our own country by our own people and most of the criminals are the correctional officers themselves. Do not trust anyone in jail even the guards. just keep to yourself and sleep all day as much as you can to avoid confrontation. All of my above has been answered and told truthfully!!!
John: if i knew they would b servibng time in the cook county jail is that if you don't gang bang don't try it in jail stay to yourself in just follow the rules in conduct yourself like a man
Juan: be prepared to do some soul searching...hopefully your not unjustlly incarcerated but depending on time have your family or some willing to send you new books ..reading and using you imagination is gonna be the only tool you have to keep your sanity
Erik: MAKE SURE THEY AHVE A STRONG MIND, AND ARE NOT SCARED, OR UNAWARE OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS, MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW ALL RULES, AND SHOW RESPECT, IT WILL MAKE TIME EASIER
Scott: Mind your business, read books, read books, mind you business and pray you leave in better shape than you came. Do in day at a time and don't count the days.
Jason: DOUBLE UP ON YOUR SOCKS AND DRAWER BEFORE YOU GO IN. GET YOU PHONE READY TO RECEIVE CALLS. WRITE DOWN IMPORTANT NUMBERS AND HAVE THEM HANDY TO TAKE WITH YOU INTO JAIL
Shawn: stick to yourself pick a side make sure you dont open your big mouth and if someone wants to fight you better be resdy to go b/c if you dont you will be labeled a vic
Dominic: My asvice is to mind your own business and be on your best behavior because some inmates who are fighting very serious charges with very strong chances a being convicted, may try to send you off simply because they have nothing to lose.
James: get you money together before you go. take all you contact information in ahead of time. prepay time on your phone that you are going to use. deal with being lock up leave the world to the world
Carl: if you don't know anybody keep to yourself till you know who you can trust stay out of other people business and don't come in there think you can beat everyone
Josh: Same thing.Ask for the drug unit during the pleminary hearing. It takes 30 days but that's the easiest. Guys are behaved because their mandated and dont want trouble. More freedom.
Jose: Get enough money to constantly get commissary and stay out of the way of gangs and fights. Mind your own business and you will be fine. It's not too difficult. Stay out of other people way and make sure you shower and keep up with personal hygene.

JM: Please list any other jail or rehab facilities you have been to.
Laura: None.
Fernando: none other
Gail: Osceola County, Kissimmee Florida about a year IYC Warrenville as a juvenile for about 2 years.Audi Home at the age of 14 for shoplifting..My first charge...Because I was removed from the home of an alcoholic father and placed in a group home with two alcoholic hosts..They wouldn't feed me and I stole some tamales..Way under $500 dollars but MY WELCOME into the judicial system while I steadily was abused by the parent I loved....... OK I'm drinking and telling all.....But I won't forget that if I tell 3 stories I'd like $75 dollars...haha j/k Peace! I hope you heard and felt me through my writings because that's only the beginning of where it starts....Michelle V
George: N/A
Rich: N/A IT WAS A WRAP AFTER COOK COUNTY JAIL
Mark: none
John: I went to Vienna department of corrections
Juan: haymarket rehab center
Erik: SUMMIT COUNTY, AKRON, OHIO
Scott: Cook County Jail division 6 Gateway substance Abuse center.
Jason: LASALLE COUNTY JAIL
Shawn: will county stepping stones rockford roecrsnce etc
Dominic: I have only been to Cook County jail.
James: missouri deoc
Carl: Dupage county jail,Allen county jail,Indiana prisoner intake
Josh: Lake County Jail, Indiana
Jose: Walworth county jail. Denver county jail. Dupage county jail.