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One Sunday morning, I stopped at the county jail to visit my 23-year-old son before going to church. * I "took a number" and waited for it to be called (about 15 minutes).  Approaching the deputy sheriff's desk, I gave him my son's name, and provided my identification card when asked (to confirm that I am indeed the visitor I claim to be).  The deputy THEN advised me that I was dressed inappropriately to visit the prisoner (my top was sleeveless).  Inappropriate for a jail viist, but probably the "best dressed"  at my church.  Go figure.

I stomped out to my car, mumbling to myself like many people in Fresno do (and we are a scary bunch, let me assure you), pulled a t-shirt out of the overnight bag I carry in my trunk (prepared like a boy scout!), and stomped back to the county jail, where I (repeat from *) with a second deputy who had materialized.  Total time approaching an hour at this point.

THIS time, I was allowed to enter the elevator, proceed to the 5th floor, and take a seat at one of the phones, where I waited for my son.  After several minutes, an announcement came over the loudspeaker demanding to know who was there to see my son.  I raised my hand and the voice told me I couldn't see him because his "pod" was in "lockdown".

Now, this is something those geniuses in the lobby already knew, that the visit wasn't allowed for disciplinary reasons.  The whole red tape and hoop-jumping really got to me.  When I got back to the lobby, I pointedly, but politely, inquired of the two deputies why they didn't just tell me he was in lockdown at the beginning.  Was their behavior just done to harass me?   Empty apologies followed, with the second accepting total responsibility.  NO, I wanted to scream.  The creep who vetoed my attire knew and should have told me no visit AND advised me on the sleeveless business. THAT was what irritated me more than anything. DUMBASS DEPUTY.

I got through the red tape with persistence, but didn't get the visit with my son.  It's still on my mind to contact "internal affairs" and make a formal complaint concering the subhuman way prisoners' visitors are treated by some of the deputies. 

Thanks for letting me vent on this one.