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Benefits of city's jail outweigh costs


Sunday, June 22, 2008 10:15 PM PDT

Chief David Main, retired Captain Larry Manetti and everyone else who worked on the design of the new police facility realized including a jail would be costly and complicated. They also knew how valuable it would be to the community to have our own jail. In several valley cities where they do not have their own jail, people arrested for property crimes such as shoplifting, vandalism or grand theft are cited in the field and released. Those arrested for fighting, trespassing or other "persons" crimes may also be cited and released in the field.

If you are arrested in Lodi, you are transported to our city of Lodi jail and booked. Some spend a few hours in jail; others will spend one or more nights, depending on the day of the week they are arrested. Most everyone in the Lodi jail appears in front of a judge before they are either released or transported to the San Joaquin County Jail. Many people who have spent time in our jail comment that they don't want to return. The Lodi jail definitely serves as a deterrent to crime in our city.

Lodi P.D. has maintained the city jail since the department was formed in the early 1900s. Here are a few jail facts:

• There are 10 cells that can hold two prisoners each.

• Each cell has two beds, a toilet, a sink and a phone where the prisoner can call collect.

• There is one male sobering cell and one female sobering cell.

• We have two interviewing rooms where officers and/or detectives speak with prisoners privately.

• There is one day room for prisoners who are being held temporarily.

• The jail has two phone cells where arrestees can place phone calls to relatives, friends, bail bond companies, etc.

• There is one safety cell for prisoners who are violent.

• Two shower cells are located in the jail.

• There are no bars on the cells. Most modern facilities have cells with windows made out of safety glass.

• Windows in the jail can be fogged electronically for prisoner privacy or to keep them from making visual contact with jail personnel or other prisoners.

• Jailers have keys, but the doors are controlled electronically.

• The facility is inspected frequently by the State of California Board of Corrections.

• Jailers check the status of the prisoners every 30 minutes.

• Jailers and dispatchers monitor the jail via a system of cameras that show everything from the sally port (driveway where the officers enter the jail) to the outside of the cells to the visiting area.

• Prisoners are fed three times a day. The meals consist of different types of burritos, frozen dinners, orange juice, V-8 juice and wheat bread.

• There is no television, radio, books or any form of entertainment in the Lodi jail.

• It takes a jailer an average of 20 minutes to book one prisoner. Jailers must inventory and list all personal property, review the 33-question medical questionnaire, and digitally fingerprint and photograph each person being booked before moving them into a cell.

• 5, 164 people were booked into our jail in 2007. That's 430 arrestees per month.

Any comments, questions or advice for Behind the Badge can be e-mailed to jbiskup@pd.lodi.gov, or mailed to Jeanie Biskup, Lodi Police Department, 215 W. Elm Street, Lodi, CA 95240, phone (209)333-6864.

Reader Feedback

Giovanina wrote on Jun 27, 2008 7:40 AM:

" I am also curious about that statistic on illegal aliens.

Plus it would be even cheaper to just give them baloney sandwichs, a carrot, and some good ole Lodi water. They don't need V-8 juice, thats expensive. "

T & C wrote on Jun 25, 2008 6:02 PM:

" dman you hit the Nail on the head! The sheer numbers of people hiding "ILLEGALS" in their homes, apartments and garages is staggering! It doesn't men it is right or okay! If people want to live in America, ALL Must OBEY our immigration laws. Someone in England who desperately wants to live in America, must go thru the LONG tedius Process! Just because Mexico is next to our border gives them "NO SPECIAL PRIVILIGE" to Invade our Country. There is no pressure for them to learn to read, write or speak or learn our laws! Squatting is ILLEGAL!English, "

papercut wrote on Jun 25, 2008 1:51 PM:

" And the Lodi Police Department does have the authority to arrest and deport any proven suspected illegal alien. Just ask any officer or your police chief. They just don't want to do that and create any more of a worse rift with the Latino and Pakistani community. Dman gives the facts. Sad, but that's what's best for all Lodians. "

papercut wrote on Jun 25, 2008 1:48 PM:

" How many of those 5164 booked were actually jailed? "

dman wrote on Jun 25, 2008 7:55 AM:

" I doubt very much that LPD admin reads these blogs. So dont expect a response from them. I can tell you though that ICE comes to LPD jail every morning before court and goes through the arrest log looking for illegal aliens. Don't ever count on local police to become psuedo ICE agents. It's to much a political issue due to the shear volume of Latinos in the our community. If the police get involved the way you want, they, and the city, we be accussed of racism. That is just a cold, hard reality. You can say that about any city in California. "

T & C wrote on Jun 25, 2008 7:06 AM:

" Still no response about "Illegal Statistic Bookings"! HMMMMM! "

T & C wrote on Jun 24, 2008 8:08 AM:

" I love the NO TV policy. All prisons and jails need to adopt this policy. Let them do their FULL time and they would NOT be so eager to break the law again! "

papercut wrote on Jun 23, 2008 10:14 PM:

" T & C, if they're really bad and illegal, they'll be sentenced to 30 days hard labor at one of the plastics plants or cottage bakery. The lucky ones will just get 10 days at wineandroses. LOL "

T & C wrote on Jun 23, 2008 5:47 PM:

" " Your article was most interesting, but you failed to state what happens during the "Booking process" when you ascertain that someone is illegally in Lodi (United States)! Please state what the LPD policy regarding illegal offenders is? This is a relevent question I hope Jeanie will response to. Do you just book and release anyone determined to fit the "Illegal" status or do you transport to San Joaquin County Jail for deporation proceedings? I would like to know statistics on how many "Illegals" LPD has booked in 2007 and so far in 2008, since you're quoting statistics!" "

T & C wrote on Jun 23, 2008 4:08 PM:

" Your article was most intersting, but you failed to state what happens during the "Booking process when you ascertain that someone is illegally in Lodi! Please state what the LPD policy on illegal offenders is? This is a relevent question that I hope you Jeanie will post the LPD response. Do you just book and release anyone determined to fit the "Illegal" status or do you transport to San Joaquin Count Jail for deporation proceedings? I would like to know statistics on how many "Illegals" LPD has booked in 2007 and so far in 2008, since you're quoting statistics! "

Giovanina wrote on Jun 23, 2008 12:02 PM:

" Getting officers 287(g) training is also worth the cost. As illegals are leaving other states, they are arriving in good ole Lodi. The population increase is obvious. We also need some ICE raids or some CDL checkpoints. "

Comments on this story are now closed.