How Is Your Body Inspected on Entering Prison?
Going to prison is not a pleasant experience. Even the act of being admitted to prison can be a humiliating and invasive one. When you go to prison, you are searched and examined thoroughly before they release you into the population or assign you to the cell. The length of intake searches can depend on what type of facility you enter.
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Contraband and Weapons Search
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Intake personnel conduct a thorough search of your person before admittance into prison. This holds true for overnight or pre-hearing stays as well. Thorough searches ensure that you are not bringing any weapons or contraband such as drugs into the prison with you. Usually, this is the first type of search someone will conduct; however, every facility sets its own procedures for processing prisoners.
Strip Search
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If you are being admitted into a prison long term, you may be subject to a strip search. The prison intake workers will collect your clothes and personal belongings during this process. These will be sealed and kept for you until the time of your release. You also have the option to designate a person that can come and pick up your belongings instead. Illegal items found during the search result in charges for having them in your possession. This will add to your sentence.
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Medical Evaluation
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Medical professionals inspect you before you are taken into the prison. Again, the severity of this examination depends on the rules of the particular facility. A nurse or doctor will conduct the screening. Tuberculosis tests of some kind are required. Chest x-rays or skin testing can screen for TB. Complete physicals are required at some facilities.
Documentation
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Often when you are admitted to jail, much of your examination will be documented. Fingerprinting is a part of the standard process during prison processing. A photographer will document the intake with mugshots. Medical, dental and vaccination records are added to your file. You may be given additional vaccines or the options of receiving them.
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References
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- Photo Credit the old jail image by mavrick from Fotolia.com
