If ever you find yourself in jail because of an offense, don’t lose hope since you’ll learn how to survive 1 day (24 hours) or a night in jail here. First of all, know that going to jail is not the same as going to the state prison. While they both do hold perpetrators until they are sentenced by the judge, jails are not designed for long-term detention.
Perpetrators who typically spend time in jail are the ones who are guilty of minor crimes such as petty theft, domestic violence, driving without a license, overdue parking tickets, etc. There are instances wherein perpetrators of heinous crimes spend time in jail. However, these types of criminals usually never spend no more than 24 hours in jail and are immediately transferred to a maximum security facility. While in jail, perpetrators of heinous crimes are usually kept in a separate cell both for his safety and the other prisoners’ safety.
There are tips you need to remember to survive a night in jail. First, do not instigate a fight with other inmates. Instigating a fight with other inmates can lead to serious injuries and even death. Also, getting into a fight will definitely worsen your case, which may prolong your stay inside the detention facility. Be respectful of your fellow inmates and law enforcement officers at all times. Disrespecting an inmate usually leads to a fight. Disrespecting a law enforcement officer is considered unlawful and may add to the severity of your case.
Second, know that you will only be spending 24 hours in jail. Consider yourself lucky since most perpetrators have longer jail times. Either you sleep it off inside your cell or sit in one corner and mind your own business to stay out of trouble.
Third, in the event that you get placed inside a shared cell, it would be in your best interest to try to stay awake until you get out. While most people inside the county jail are minor offenders, there’s still a possibility that one of them is psychologically unstable enough to wish you harm. Try to stay awake as much as possible with your back against the wall. Do not turn your back on an inmate and expose yourself for an attack.
Request for a solitary jail cell. County jail correctional officers are under no obligation to grant you that request. However, if you believe that your life is being threatened and you make the request in the friendliest way possible, the correctional officers will be more than happy to oblige. After all, their job is to secure each and every inmate who goes into the jail.
Fourth, it is good that you know your rights. Every time you get arrested and sent to jail, someone should read you Miranda rights, give you your phone call, and get you your lawyer. If any of these aforementioned rights are not given, they are in violation of the law and you should be released right away. Remember that you don’t have to spend a single second in jail if you don’t have to. If your rights are violated, you can sue them back.
Fifth, do not give correctional officers a reason to get physical with you. The quickest way for you to earn the ire of correctional officers is to disobey their direct order. Correctional officer demands may sometimes seem unfair and trivial, but following these demands is crucial to your survival. Being defiant and disrespectful towards jail officers may lead them to give you beating.
Jail officers will sometimes cross the line when it comes to implementing disciplinary action. Any inmate at the receiving end of an excessive use of force can file a complaint. However, getting jail management officials to remove a jail guard from their post for unnecessary use of excessive force is a time consuming process that usually ends up in the guard’s favor. The best thing to do would be to just follow their orders whenever they give it. Besides, you’ll just be in jail for the night and following their orders is a small price to pay just to stay out of trouble.
Lastly, do not lose contact with your loved ones. They are the people who you can trust and will never hesitate to help you during dire times. Always keep in touch with them and keep them informed of what’s happening to you while you’re inside. Law enforcement, while tasked of keeping the order and ensuring every inmate’s safety inside the jail, will not be mindful of how other inmates will treat you while you’re in jail. This is why it is better that you keep your loved ones who are in the outside world informed of your situation so that they can take the necessary steps to ensure your safety.
Spending a night in jail can be very taxing, especially if it’s your first time. However, try to think and look at it in a positive way. Spending a night in jail is still way better than spending time in the state prison. Inside the county jail, the number of inmates is fewer compared to prison. With this in mind it is safe to say that the number of people that might wish you harm. This doesn’t mean that it’s okay to keep your guard down. There are still a few unstable ones who end up in jail and may want to wish you harm. Keeping a positive mindset will help you keep your focus and avoid doing stupid things while serving your time.
Not provoking anybody, minding your own business, staying awake and watching your back if you end up sharing a cell with another inmate, knowing your rights, not provoking the correctional officers, and not losing contact with your loves are the best way to ensure your survival for 24 hours in jail.
So for those of you who keep on asking how to survive 1 day (24 hours) or a night in jail, the ideas mentioned above are the ways to do it.
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