Hi all I was in smith County Tyler TX low risk jail for a week yeah a week was enough for me! Really that jail wasnt bad at all! the food was Ok I didnt eat it but i tried it and it was OK for jail food, you can use the phone from 8 am to 11 pm thats when its lights out. you can talk for 15 min but u can just hang up and call em right back, it was really laid back and not near like the horror stories I have heard about the mens. The girls there were all very nice no fights at all while i was there. we all shared our commesary and ciggs and shampoo and stuff so i guess i got lucky but it is way over crowded. the guards were nice not rude. We even got to smoke there as much as we wanted. It was a very hard time for me cuz ive never been to jail before and dont plan on going back at but if anyone wants to know about Smith county jails ill fill you in. Plus I need info on Bradshaw state jail my Best friend is there...
Thanks guys. Melanie

my hubby was there and then they moved him to limestone county. now he is almost 3 hours from tyler. did u here any info about that.

I do know that that is suposed to be a holding jail for people going to prison also for jails that are over crowded like smith county I had a good friend in there for a DWI and he said it was not like any other county jail that it was more strickt. cant smoke and can only use the phone is aproved also he said he had only 1 cell mate there not 20 or 30 like smith co, but i think that could be better less fighting he also said his relatives could send him books to read through barnes and noble. They do get recreation time there unlike the low risk jail I was in. thats about it for now i can ask him some more tomarrow. Good luck to you and to him! Send lots of mail!
Melanie

My wife was in the smith county jail from Christmas day 1999 until October 2000 when she was sentenced. She was 17 at the time and she hated that jail. The Sheriff JB Smith is due to visit my wife in Gatesville this week.

Steve

Steve, Just curious why JB Smith is visiting her? All I ever hear about him is bad stuff. Smith county is crazy thats all i know!! I have 3 pending felonies for prescription fraud. here and Im scared to death about what they will give me I have no priors so i guess thats a plus. I guess I might end up where your wife is. Good luck to ya'll.

Smith Co is pretty harsh. My gal was sentenced to 10 years outta there for a probation violation. JB Smith & Co. worked sooooo very hard to fill the jails so they could push for a new one.....and the voters said NOPE.
Some interesting points about Smith County right here.....This was in the Tyler paper sometime last week:


Perhaps a few figures would be illustrative. According to May 1, 2006 statistics from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, Smith County was fourth in the state in terms of its incarceration rate with 4.6 inmates per thousand citizens. The state average is 2.62 per thousand. However, upon closer analysis we have the dubious distinction of being "No. 1."
Poor little Kennedy County is still technically at the top, but it had a 25 percent reduction in numbers, dropping from four to three with a total county population of 395. More than 50 percent of the inmates in the other two higher counties, Hudspeth and Bowie, are contract prisoners being held for other counties. Their in-county rate is less than the state average.
We are still way in the lead statewide in the category of inmates housed elsewhere with 265 per day. Lubbock is a distant second with 170. Not exactly a record to be proud of.
It is time to end the political rhetoric and for the public officials of the county and the city to come together and work to find both short and long-term solutions.

thanks for the info!!! i go to court tomarow afternoon for a plea for probation im so happy ! i was scared id go to prison im just a preppy white girl who got hooked on sleep med ambien. i need to be out so i can go to my NA meetings work and get my life back prison will not help me at freaking all my judge was in the paper and on tv for the NO NO thing she wants to place more drug related non violent crimes on probation or weekend jail so thats a plus good luck to me and good luck to you thanks for the reply Mel

Smith county is currently working out a deal with our neighbors to the east greg county to start housing our smith county over flow i believe they said starting in feburary 06

Well the dear Judge that came out saying all that about rehabilitation is the very judge that sentenced my son, who's NEVER been in trouble for ANYTHING other than drugs, to 5 years in the pen. It was his 1st offense. We thought surely since she had just said that, and had a big write up in the paper about the rehab thing, that she would have mercy on this 20 year old. Especially since it happened BEFORE his senior year in H.S., but no, he got 5 years...so much for her wanting rehab for drug offenders. I heard that this same judge's son got busted, but the case got swept under the rug, and he got sent to military school... Go figure! As far as good ole J.B. goes,I heard he is part owner of most private clubs and his officers sit out side and arrest drunks when they come out. Talk about double standards...
I hope I dont incriminate myself or my son. If there's a chance, Jessnkat, protect me and delete this. I hate to be so negative, but I was born and raised here, I dated a deputy and my brother in law is one of J.B.'s boys (Jailer)
Glenda, Saved by grace

Also , when Chad was in Mclennen and Falls counties, he was being held for "overcrowded" Smith county. Lots of their overflo goes to Limestone. They dont just want a jail they want a whole new court system and the judge wants underground walkways to and from her car. Sounds like a case of guilty conscience to me.
Man, this is a sore subject for me...
Glenda,(still) saved by grace

Eph 4:26 (http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/Eph/Eph004.html#26) Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Forgive me Lord !

well i got 4 years def. probation for 4 counts of prescription fraud from kent i was very very very happy!! i paid my lawyer 8 G's and he was talking to kent before i went in and plus he is in good w the DA so im thinking god gave me a second chance and i will not mess this chance up trust me!! Also with this judge u have to catch her on a good day i think and plus she had just came back from vacation. so i thank God every day for this chance at a real life. and yes smith co is sick and twisted BIG TIME thats all im gonna say... thanks to all ur responces. best of luck to u all

Hi I live around Smith County, my boyfriend was at Bradshaw, I can
tell you just about anything you need to know.

you can tell the we all live in or around Smith county, I'm one county
over, and we did have that judge. Thank the good lord she got
moved back to Smith county. But she needs to step down. JB is
a character all of him own. Yall remember there was a book written
called SMITH COUNTY JUSTICE. It was talking about everything
we all know. Interesting. and Sad.

I am trying to find a list of policies and procedures regarding jail confinement in Smith County Women's Jail. When a person reports to the county jail to serve a 10-day jail sentence, can any personal items be brought? What about shoes, underwear, eyeglasses, books, notebook, pencil, etc.? If prescription medication is needed, can that medicine be brought if it is in a prescription bottle? Thank you for any assistance you can provide.

What ever your wearing, thats what comes in with you. and unless you want to buy more off commisary, I suggest you put about 3 bras on 3 panties on 3 pairs socks on, and they must be white (at least for men, not sure about women, but I'd wear white anyway so you cant go wrong) Just stack 'em on your body. The shoes you have on, so make sure they're comfortable, and your glasses can come with you. No notebook ect... Bring your prescription meds, they will be given to the nurse there to administer to you.
Hope I helped some :)

hello everyone! I was sentenced to 30 days in smith county jail. Hopefully they will send me to the low risk. I was told that for good behavior that one day equals 3days. So I would spend 10 days for good behavior. I want to know if this is true. Also, I have never been in jail before and was wondering if there is anyone out there that can tell me what I should expect. I am scared to death! Please let me know!

hello everyone! I was sentenced to 30 days in smith county jail. Hopefully they will send me to the low risk. I was told that for good behavior that one day equals 3days. So I would spend 10 days for good behavior. I want to know if this is true. Also, I have never been in jail before and was wondering if there is anyone out there that can tell me what I should expect. I am scared to death! Please let me know!

I've only dealt with Tarrant and Denton but I'm guessing they are all about the same. You will be booked in 1st(photo,fingerprints ,etc..) then you will be assigned a unit. The 3for 1 is for Trustees. You have to ask to be one and work whenever they ask you to.You usually have commissary come by twice a week in county. They will give you a inmate handbook to explain all that.(visitation,buying phone cards etc..) If not working you can watch TV,read,and whatever else they have available to do. You will be fine.:thumbsup: