i made a trip down to see my friend on Friday. After taking the Toll Road, paying for parking and finally getting inside the jail a large group of angry people were being told that the floor my friend was on was not allowed visitors. His floor was closed for painting or something and they were all moved to the 7th floor. This isn't something they can do spur of the moment so why wasn't anyone notified? I tried calling to see if they were allowed visitors today but I can't actually talk to a person and none of the preset options cover this. Is this normal? :(

with harris county yes its normal. when my husband was there i could never get a hold of a real person. most of the time i just got busy signals. i am glad i dont have to deal with the crowds there and so forth. i would give it another day before going through all of that again.

My boyfriend has been in Harris County for 1 month now and I have been turned away once (due to the escapee) and his friend was turned away due to "plumbing" problems. There are about ten numbers you can call. Only one will get you to a person. My suggestion...go to the Harris County Sheriffs Office website and go from there. They also don't let the inmates know, so they just sit there waiting for us. I also need to find out if I can inquire as to whether or not he has had a visitor on a particular day so I know that I wont be turned away when I get there. On the day that I got turned away...my car broke down on the freeway so I took a cab to the jail only to be turned away. I took the cab back to my car (on the side of the freeway) and ended up paying $50 for nothing.

This is a common problem at the Harris County Jails. I got fed up with how things went down there. I guess everyone should do what I did if the inmate has more than one visitor that wants to go. I would have them all call me before they went so no one would waste money on parking and be turned away. I made sure that it was fair to everyone that wanted to go. My son was there from 7-03 til 1-04 and we could never get anyone on the phone to tell us if they could have visits that day due to problems. I have waited for a couple of hours before only to be told that due to a fight they cut the visits off. Anytime anyone escapes don't expect them to have visits on that day. During the time my son was there they had a few inmates escape from 701 N. San Jacinto, only one made the news. We would be informed by other visitors about it. They would only cut the visits at the jail that the inmate escaped from. I don't kown if that has changed now or not. Good luck!

i just called 713 -755-8430 and someone answered it and its from harris county jail..

I did have a problems a few times when i couldnt get intouch with someone when my hsuband was there.. but most of the times i got someone.. and yes its normal for them to move them and not tell them they arent getting the visits..

My boyfriend has been in Harris County for 1 month now and I have been turned away once (due to the escapee) and his friend was turned away due to "plumbing" problems. There are about ten numbers you can call. Only one will get you to a person. My suggestion...go to the Harris County Sheriffs Office website and go from there. They also don't let the inmates know, so they just sit there waiting for us. I also need to find out if I can inquire as to whether or not he has had a visitor on a particular day so I know that I wont be turned away when I get there. On the day that I got turned away...my car broke down on the freeway so I took a cab to the jail only to be turned away. I took the cab back to my car (on the side of the freeway) and ended up paying $50 for nothing.
I was denied those visits both those times you mentioned. Is your boyfriend still in Harris county? My son tells me to be nice to the guards and thats is so hard to do since they treat everyone that walks into the building as if we are the bad guys. I go alomost every day before he egts transfered. Happy New Year!

Oh this is all so typical, floors being closed or pardon my umm speech the guards being a**holes!

I went to see my boo and on the 4th floor apparently they are rerouting how the girls walk to get to the visitors booth! Some Seargant doesnt want them walking past his desk, Sheesh!

It doesn't surprise me. The sargeants can be d*cks. And oh yeah, they can close any of the floors for any reason. They had to close the womens floor one day because an inmate tried to fight a guard to get a tampon. The guard was my mother in law and she was handing them out, but the inmate left the area and came back and demanded to get her tampon FIRST so she tried to grab them out of her hands and the inmate pushed her too. How stupid is that.......

I heard all about that, thank god my boo wasn't at that floor, sheesh some peeps I tell ya have to ruin it for the ones who are in there trying to make good on things!

But come on, dont be such an asshole to the point where they don't wanna let them walk down the damn hall for a visit, my god, sounds like someone has an ego issue?

I need to remind everyone of one of the policy's here at PTO. Please refrain from bashing police officers or CO's. Here is a copy of the policy

• Police/Guard/Correction Officer Bashing:
While we encourage full disclosure, investigation and the sharing of relevant information relating to abuses by Institutional staff (management, guards, jailers, CO’s,etc), blatant and unprovoked bashing of these people is not allowed. Please refrain from derogatory name calling as well. Further, it is a violation of PTO membership to go to any forum or site (ETC) where Correctional Officers are known to congregate and incite problems that may follow you back to the PTO website. If it is found that any member of PTO has gone to another website and created a problem, that then follows them back to our community, that member will be banned immediately.

Sorry forgot, just making a comment on how they were acting is all!

It doesn't surprise me. The sargeants can be d*cks. And oh yeah, they can close any of the floors for any reason. They had to close the womens floor one day because an inmate tried to fight a guard to get a tampon. The guard was my mother in law and she was handing them out, but the inmate left the area and came back and demanded to get her tampon FIRST so she tried to grab them out of her hands and the inmate pushed her too. How stupid is that.......
Do the ladies still have a problem getting basic necessites there at the jail? I thought they got suied over that and corrected the problem?

I would like to hear from those who know what's going on inside the jail in Harris County regarding the overcroding, lack of basic necessities, noise, and/or if they are keeping it clearner to cut down on the staph that was so bad in there. I know they got suied; does anyone have any updates regarding that or how it has improved that place? I really would like to know.

I know that they have a new jail, but I get them confused as to which one is which. I know that they are still overcrowded and I know that the food stinks. I believe that they get their necessities, but I cannot be 100% sure, especially on the mens floor. My mother-in-law works the womens floor. When my husband was in HC, he was in seclusion because of his mom, but he said that the other guys were VERY overcrowded.

I can also tell you that there are BIG changes coming to the staff of Harris County. There will be fewer Sheriffs Deputies working the pods and more 'jailers', which are paid less and don't have to answer to the Sheriff's dept. The jailers are also trained less. The current deputies are going by rank and they have the option of testing again and being a deputy in the jail (based on rank is who will get it) or you can pull down to be a jailer. If you opt to stay a deputy, you will NOT have the option to be put as a jailer later. Or, you can go be a street deputy and ride in a car....they have to retest for this too. I understand that they are doing this to get more cops on the street, but it really BITES for the deputies who have been there for 15 years like my mother-in-law, but still don't have enough rank to stay a deputy in the jail.

I visit the jail on Baker St, it too is overcrowded, all the jails all overcrowded, my boo does get her basics thank god and some extra, the food is crap no wonder my boo eats candy LOL

About the staph infections, etc no clue I haven't ever heard any complaints except for the food and noise!

My son caught staph a few weeks ago, but it wasn't anything to get worked up about. he was allowed to see a doctor but he became up set that the doctor refused to give him any meds. Not to mention he was charged for the visit. Its is pretty bad on the inside and very crowded but what will all the complaining do to help make things better?

I visit the jail on Baker St, it too is overcrowded, all the jails all overcrowded, my boo does get her basics thank god and some extra, the food is crap no wonder my boo eats candy LOL

About the staph infections, etc no clue I haven't ever heard any complaints except for the food and noise!
Monkey is your loved one still in County?

Yes she is, she will be there for a while due to not knowing anything new about her case

I still visit Harris County Jail at least 3 times a week and I have noticed the staff has gotten a lot more friendly. Maybe I am not as threathened by them as I used to be, but no problems from the officers or staff as far as needing answers to any of my questions. Monkey, I have not been to baker st. before so I have not seen you or the hat you wear...lol.. sometimes the lines are so long I don't really notice who all stands in them.

ah ok the baker st jail is the only one I visit anyways

OMG, the same thing happened to me! actually it was my girlfriend who went down to hc to visit my man for me. she got there at nearly five forty five and sat until damn near visiting hours were over and then they decided to call her name over the PA and let her know he wouldnt be able to have a visit, why? no clue! and to top it off she was supposed to go see her man, and missed him sitting there waiting to see mine! BS!

Harris County has gotten so much worse then it ever has been in the past year. The lines are longer and the Guards are meaner and so many of us get denied visits over stupid things. My son was waiting in a line with hands behind his back for our visit, and took one look toward the window and saw me, he smiled at me. A normal reaction for any child who See's their mom. get this? the guard denied him the right to visit with me because he smiled. trust me I raised so much hell. I walked away simply because I did not want to cause him any problems. I have been going to see him for the past 13 months and never had this many problems before.

I just to work for Harris County Probation Dept. I used to live to wait probationers wait. It was a real chuckle to make them made and steamy, and then have them come in your office and have to act nice to get through their interview session. Doing anything with the County will be a hastle :)

HC will never get any better so peeps need to roll with the flow and things will be easier.

I am not defending the guards at all....but my mother-in-law is a sheriff's deputy for HC...She works double shifts 6 days a week because they are so short handed. So, she literally works 16 hrs for 6 days...that is 96 hours a week! Can you imagine being in that prison more than your own house? It does not give them a right to act stupid, but maybe having this knowledge will give those that are going for visits, a little more patience knowing just how much those guards are working.

Roll with the flow? I'm sorry. Since when do we "roll with the flow" when people are being treated badly? The only way to bring about change is to do something. Rolling with the flow allows the misconduct to continue.

I have to add to this post. not all guards at the HC jail are rude and treat people bad. I bet i met your Mother Dawna and I am sure she works hard under the circumstances. I have spent the past 14months in county jail visiting my son, so I can only imagine what it could possibly be like working in there. Most have been really great and then their are those who think a badge makes them powerful due to lack of self esteem and I ignore them.

I would like to add to my prior comment to say that those who work hard and treat everyone decently get huge kudos from me.

If, however, a CO abuses their authority, as some do, then we shouldn't be just rolling with the flow. Hopefully those COs that do the good work either report the other COs or find a way to get them to curb their abuse of authority. Turning a blind eye to something like this isn't right no matter who does it - us (the visitors), the good COs, the Wardens/Jail Supervisors or the inmates.

Exactly!!

My husband has been in the HC since September 2006 on San Jacinto, there visitation is a joke it supose to start at 5pm but they make you wait almost all the time until 6pm. And as for the things that go on in there like inmates being beaten down for no reason by the guards I have sent letters to the Internal Affairs divison for these inmates but Iwas told they are to busy to send an investigator to check it out every time an inmate has a problem So basicly they don't care I have also sent copies to the media but still NO ONE CARES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT Then they want you respect the law the way I see it the if the law wants respect they have to earn it just like everyone else. I just wish people will stop being afraid of the law and help their loveones out who are being missed treated by theses officers some of them really don't deserve it But they do have rights that are being violated.

My husband has been in the HC since September 2006 on San Jacinto, there visitation is a joke it supose to start at 5pm but they make you wait almost all the time until 6pm. And as for the things that go on in there like inmates being beaten down for no reason by the guards I have sent letters to the Internal Affairs divison for these inmates but Iwas told they are to busy to send an investigator to check it out every time an inmate has a problem So basicly they don't care I have also sent copies to the media but still NO ONE CARES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT Then they want you respect the law the way I see it the if the law wants respect they have to earn it just like everyone else. I just wish people will stop being afraid of the law and help their loveones out who are being missed treated by theses officers some of them really don't deserve it But they do have rights that are being violated.

I wished more would report what actually goes on in there. It goes unreported more out of fear that they will only beat on the inmate more after the report. Some people don't believe what goes on there until they have to deal with the place then they are outraged over it.

I have a son who has been in HC for over a year now. It is a very frustrating place and the people who work there are non educated people who wear a badges and throw their weight around on inmates who in no way fashion or form can defend themselves from verbal or physical abuse as long as they are under their custody. Remember one thing, we the family members are not locked up and we can take action on behalf of our loved ones.

Trust me, threaten them with the Internal affairs and watch them squirm even the media scares the hell out of them. they do not want to be exposed. They do not want the public to know exactly what goes on in that building.

The 14 months my son has been inside he has been thrown against a brick wall while the guard has him by the throat. He caught a staph infection and they would not allow him any medical care. He has been denied a visit with me because he saw me through the glass window and reacted with a smile. He has a night shift female guard that is in his cell block on the night shift who continues to remind them what a bunch of losers they are by calling them every name in the book and she tries very hard to beat them down with verbal abuse. The list goes on and I am one of those Mothers who do not back down. I raised hell each and every time and trust me they also backed off because I will not tolerate him being abused and the system hates people like myself and Cheryl because we are the type of people who can expose them and they do not want to be exposed. Don't worry it will not cause your loved one any problems nor will they abuse him because things sure looked up for us after all the complaints I have made. My son is not a trouble maker serving his time towards coming home. He is doing well and I am thankful that I do not have any complaints to date.

Not ALL of the HC guards at bad people. They do not ALL behave this badly. I totally agree that there are guards in HC that can be total jackasses and on a power trip. But, there are also lots of guards that are working 16 hour days, 6 days a week. How tired would you be? Your son/daughter may not be making trouble, but there are countless others that do start shit with the guards and eventually that will wear anyone down and cause your attitude to change. My mother in law has told me countless stories of the women in her cell block....the most recent was when a woman was in line for her tampons and she pushed my mother in law up against a wall because she was not moving fast enough for her. They deal with all the inmates at once, not just one at a time. They have to make sure that everyone gets what the need or goes where they are supposed to go. They are only human and as long as HC is short staffed, there will always be problems. Hell, even when they have enough staff, there will probably be problems.....this is not a hospital or a rehab or any clinic. This is jail...where someone is paying for their mistakes and NO ONE is going to have PERFECT days. It is not meant to be a joyous time. I know for a fact that my mother in law has been doing this job for 18+ years and she is damn good at what she does.....yet, HC sheriff's dept keeps threatening to put the actual sheriffs dept personnel in patrol cars and bring in regular guards (someone that did not go to the academy for training). And yet, hmmm...she shows up for work EVERY single day knowing that SOMEONE is going to act like a fool today. I just want everyone to recognize that not ALL guards are bad or hateful. They deal with a LOT of bullshit that none of us get to see...and I for one, could never do their job. Could You? how long would it take before you got a little pissy with an inmate? I don't feel sorry for her because she chose this occupation, but I do find it noble that she wants to do her job everyday knowing that there will be problems.

I'm done ranting now.........