JM: What else would you want a friend or family member to know if they have a loved one going to this jail? Karl: Try to spend the money for a private attorney,
if at all possible. Arrange to have magazine
subscriptions received at home repackaged (easy
with today's laser printers) and sent in.
Otherwise, it is suspected that the staff
confiscate for their own use the various
publications ordered by the inmates, even though
the Minimum Standards they are supposed to
follow prohibit this without good cause. Make
sure that your inmate has at least $5.00 per
month to be able to print copies of legal
material from the Lexis-Nexis system. Assist
the inmate with legal matters by going to a
public access law library and copying various
law cases he or she needs to be able to preserve
his or her rights. Remember that the Niagara
County (and probably most any other) jail is
simply a cash cow, and the more inmates that are
housed, the more money they can get from the
federal government. If possible, bail your
inmate out, if he or she has a reasonable amount
of bail set. That'll fix their boat, if enough
inmates get bailed. Address the constitutional
violations by the jail with your Congressman or
Congresswoman or senator. Wilford: try and keep to your self or keep a small circle.
stay out of trouble because getting written up and
placed in segregation is like a jail within a jail
and its the worst place to be.
JM: If somebody knows they will be serving time in this jail what is your advice to them? Karl: Yes. Don't do anything to come to jail in the
first place. If you do get stopped by the cops,
remember that you do not have to talk to them,
no matter what you say, and there is even a law
case, People v. Howard, 50 NY2d ( ) that ruled
that, unless you have committed a crime, that
you can walk, or run away from any police
officer and the only recourse they have is to
arrest you. Wilford: make sure to have money for commissary lined up
because commissary is currency in jail and is very
important. also try and get into a working unit to
help pass time.
JM: Please list any other jail or rehab facilities you have been to. Wilford: erie county correctional facility
erie county holding center
renaissance house
291 elm rehab
white deer run
new beginnings
turning point
clearview