Personal Narrative: The Shadowing Experience

Deciding on the perfect date and time for the shadowing experience was challenging. I wanted to go with my “BFF” that had been assigned in class but being that one person never replied and we had to work around our work schedules it seemed like we would never get to visit. So, I decided to just schedule the time that was best for me and let my “BFFs” know. I emailed Lieutenant Sligh and set up a date. Although his initial email confused me because he said that he got off at 4 but we could still come. He did not give any specific instructions so needless to say, I did a lot of running back and forth to my car once I arrived.
I arrived at Alvin Glenn Detention Center around 3:30 PM on February 7, 2017 and attempted to check in with the guard at the front desk. I, along with Zaquarius and a friend who tagged along, had our phones because we believed that we needed a picture with Lt. Sligh were turned around. We put our phones away in the car yet to be turned around again because we girls were not properly covered. Luckily, I attended the Housing Fair on Greene Street so I had several big t-shirts we could change into. I hurried
Next, we went to bonds court. There was court going on so we were allowed to sit in (well stand against the wall) and watch. There was this specific inmate that could not be in the room with others so they cleared the remaining inmates to process him. After bond court was over we spoke with the judge. He told us how he started off as an IT major and he enjoyed his switch to Criminal Justice. He also spoke highly of Professor Saunders. Then, we went to the computer headquarters also known as the “heart of the jail.” This contained cameras, locks, and switches that controlled every single part of the detention center. We viewed the intake holding cells which were nothing like I thought. Inmates were walking around on the phone and talking to one another. Some were locked in cells