{"id":4406,"date":"2024-03-29T09:34:37","date_gmt":"2024-03-29T16:34:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.piercecountywa.gov\/executive\/?p=4406"},"modified":"2024-03-29T09:34:40","modified_gmt":"2024-03-29T16:34:40","slug":"an-unseen-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.piercecountywa.gov\/executive\/2024\/03\/29\/an-unseen-world\/","title":{"rendered":"An unseen world"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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I recently had the chance to go behind the scenes in a place I hope you will never see \u2013 behind the bars of our jail!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pierce County Jail is made up of both the \u201cold jail\u201d and the \u201cnew jail\u201d – and operates like a self-contained city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The jail has a medical facility, a dentist, laundry, kitchen, mental healthcare, and training facilities for Corrections Deputies. Minus the inmates, it reminded me a little of shipboard life in the Navy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A little bit of background on the \u201cCounty Jail.”\u00a0 Our jail is responsible for detaining adult inmates who are awaiting trial and before sentencing.\u00a0 If the inmate is charged with a misdemeanor, the city or county bringing the charges pays for the confinement.\u00a0 For the more serious felony charges, the costs are all born by the County.\u00a0 If an adult is sentenced for up to a year in confinement, they serve their time in the County Jail.\u00a0 For sentences longer than a year, they are sent off to a prison operated by the Washington Department of Corrections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you might imagine, running a jail in a pandemic was very difficult.  Today, a majority of the inmates have mental health issues or come in addicted to fentanyl.  And we have seen a sharp increase in the percentage of inmates who are charged with serious felonies.  All this means the inmates are in the jail awaiting trial for longer periods of time, have more challenging care needs, and are a greater danger to themselves and others – including our Corrections Deputies!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our deputies working in this tremendously challenging environment are professional, compassionate and respectful – firm and fair.\u00a0 Whether new on the job like Deputy Lazaro or a veteran with four decades of experience like Deputy Yelle, each person I spoke with was enthusiastic and proud to be part of the jail team.\u00a0 But they are also ever vigilant.\u00a0 During my tour, it was clear that Deputy Schiedeck had a keen awareness of our surroundings and was ready to head off any potential trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take a look at what happens in the Jail in this latest installment of Inside Pierce County:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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