Cops:behind the scenes

Description

Jo- When inmates come into jail what does the jail to prepare for withdrawals when the go through them?
Sgt. Bartelloni- There is no preparation but you have policy and procedure that if someone is identified that is actually going through a withdrawal from either alcohol or drugs they are immediately forward to mental health and a medical professional who will then assess, you know, and how bad they are.
Jo- How does the facility as a whole view these inmates?
Sgt. Bartelloni- well, we have more than one type of view, some people view them as individuals that need help, others obviously visualize them and feel like they’re just people who have done this to themselves.
Jo- So when these inmates come in do you know which ones are which, like do know which ones are the drug abusers, which one are the murders, which ones are like…?
Sgt. Bartelloni- well, we get, you get paper work on everybody. People who are addicted to drugs normally they do small crimes like breaking and entering, robbery, possession of stolen goods. There’s usually somebody that don’t rise to the level of aggravated assault, murder or anything like that. And you can usually tell by the way they come in they can focus, they can’t answer questions, they’re shaking, they’re sweating. There pupils are dilated. Some will slip through and the medical department will notice right away because they all have to be screened by medical when they first come in.
Jo- What are the processes that the jail goes through to ensure safety of other inmates from the people who are through withdrawals who may act out?
Sgt. Bartelloni- They will be placed in the infirmary.
Jo- So are they put in solitary confinement?
Sgt. Bartelloni- No, not necessarily, but other ones who are really violent they will be put into protective custody or isolation until they can get their chemical balance is adjusted so that they don’t become violent anymore.
Jo- what type of treatments do you as facility as a whole offer these inmates who go through withdrawals?
Sgt. Bartelloni- well, we have out drug programs where they will go to clinic escorted by officers obviously armed. Inside the facility we have drug consolers, we have mental health, we have step down programs inside the facility to maintain people who have abused marijuana…. Heroine, pills, drugs. They monitor them but you have to remember county jails aren’t state prisons. When you’re in county jail you’re only there until you go to trial. County is more along the lines of a band aid.
Jo- So, you obviously spend a lot of time with other inmates in the jail correct?
Sgt. Bartelloni- yes, I have
Jo- During that time that you were with these other inmates what were their views on the drug abusers? Did they look down of them? Did they look at them different? Did they not like them?
Sgt. Bartelloni- um, no no, not really, they didn’t really bother with them. Anybody who comes in normally who is a addict is normally someone who be classified as a minimum. So they won’t be trust into a general population setting that they’re surrounded by murders and car jackers, drug dealers. They are more or less on a lower level where they will have more freedom and they’ll be with less violent people.
Jo- Has there been death from withdrawals?
Sgt.Bartelloni- You know what, I haven’t seen any in at least 10 to 15 years. They monitor it very closely
Jo- so in the last decade would you say that the treatment for people who come in withdrawals has gotten better?
Sgt. Bartelloni- 100% better
Jo- How so?
Sgt. Bartelloni- well, they’re monitor more closely. Medical has gotten much better, regulations have gotten better, federal government monitors, there’s inspections by people that deal with medical departments, hospitalization, state inspection. So, all the inspections, you know, have ramped up medical care in all facilities.
Jo-What is your view on drugs and addiction?
Sgt. Bartelloni- There are people who use it as an escape and once they don’t realize that they are heading down a path of destruction….and it’s hard to make that U turn once you headed down that path. I empathies, I don’t sympathies. You’ve done it to yourself I don’t have sympathy for you, but I have empathy for you. It’s a behavioral issue more or less if you have that behavior in you where you’re compulsive, I don’t care where you come from once you start you can’t stop.

Participants

• Bobby Flay
  
• bartell3
  

Interview By

• bartell3