York County Prison

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Pre-sentencing

Interview with Lola, Eve and Pat

JM: Tell us about the pre-sentencing process:
Lola: Pre-sentencing was a lengthy process. Each charge I was suited up, and taken to the court. I sat for hours without anything to drink.
Eve: On arrival, you are processed. You give a health history, hand over personal belongings. You can keep a wedding band as long as it does not have any stones. You may also keep a small religious necklace, as long as it's small and on a small chain. You are given a retina scan and have your photo taken and given an arm band. You are handed 2 prison jump suits, a blanket, 2 sheets, 2 towels, a washcloth and put into a holding cell, which consists of 2 benches in the women's side. Within 24 hours, you see the nurse who takes vitals and a health history and given a TB test. You are usually put into Pre-Class, where you are locked in an invidual cell for 22 hours of the day. You are allowed out after dinner for 45 minutes to take showers, use the phone, etc. and also a 45 minute trip outside in the morning if you want. There are 2 bunks per cell. Within 24 hours you also see the counselor, who will give you 1 free 3-minute phone call, a small bag with a comb, tooth brush, soap, shampoo, tooth paste, 3 envelopes, a pencil and 10 pieces of paper. She'll also give you 2 sports bras and 2 pairs of underwear. They usually give you a pair of shoes if your shoes you had on were not allowed. Sneakers or flip flops are allowed. Depending on how long they think you'll be there, you'll get assigned to a block or you can stay there. Some ppl were there for a few days, some for a couple weeks, some for a month. You also see a psychologist too within 24 hours. Then you are assigned to a block, where you will be allowed to be in the dayroom during the day.
Pat: as soon as you walk through the doors you get some what processed sent to the holding cell and with in 24 hours "when not busy" you are finished being housed by the counsler now they have pre- housing i think for 48 hrs wich is good because it helps find if there is any thing that might harm other inmates

JM: Did you have police stop by your house for questioning? If not please give us details on how you came to be arrested.
Lola: No, I was arrested on the spot and taken to jail after processing at local police station.
Eve: Supposedly a confidential informant told the police we had a "marijuana growing operation" on our rooftop. They then came by on trash day and checked the trash can closest to the front of our house and supposedly got what they needed for a search warrant. They broke down our door at 6:30 a.m. and tore apart our house. They then took us to central booking where we were held until 2 p.m. when we had a video arraignment.
Pat: no i was arrested for a p.v but i was at a friends house waiting for them to inspect the place as a homeplan for my boyfriend and they arrested me

JM: What as court like? Please give as many details as you recall.
Lola: Nothing major, I took a plea bargain.
Eve: The first video arraignment was while in central booking. They cuff your hands and ankles and keep you in a holding cell with a bench. If you ask they will give you a PB&J and ice tea around lunch or dinner time. You're fingerprinted and at your arraignment, the judge reads you your rights, asks if you understand, then sets bail for you. They then set what's called a "dummy date" for your preliminary hearing in front of a magistrate. If you can't make bail, you go to the prison. If you are in because of fines, you will have a video arraignment within 2 days usually and the judge will either let you go or sentence you to a certain number of days, usually it equals out to about $40 per day.
Pat: well you go to jail and unfortunatlly jail was a littel faster with thier process then court was you wait as long as 6 to 7 months for them to send you the paper work alone then when the time comes you go to the court house where you wait in the holding cell down in the basement when your time they bring u upstairs to the court room holding cell then into the court room and beleive it or not u are in and out that simple but u are brought down stairs to the holding cell again to wait hours for them to finish with every one eles to get done then they send you back to the jail to complete your sentence

JM: What were your original charges? What did you end up being convicted of?
Eve: Possession with intent to deliver and manufacturing, possession of drug paraphernalia. Still haven't had my preliminary hearing (3 months later). I bailed myself out. I was given a $50,000 bail with no prior record.
Pat: p.v