Being Booked Into The Tulsa County Jail

On the local news, you hear about people being arrested all the time. So Newson6.com thought it would be interesting to find out exactly what happens when you get booked into the Tulsa County Jail.

To make this experience as real as possible, Newson6.com reporter Margaret Stokes decided she needed to go through the process herself.

When you arrive at the Tulsa County jail, the subject will already be handcuffed. So on came the handcuffs, and the long process began. While the officer filled out all of the paperwork, I'm asked to sit in the small waiting room for what could take anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes.

Now if you've been arrested for say public intoxication or a DUI, you will be asked to go to the intoxilizer room where the breathalyzer is located.

"You blow into it, and when you blow into it will read your percentage on alcohol," jail officer Jeremy Taylor said.

Next, it‘s time for me to go into the sally port and be searched for contraband. 

"The sally port is a secure area where you can take the subject into. You can put them on the wall and keep them contained into a room and search for any kind of contraband on him or her. That way the contraband can be removed from the jail, " said Taylor.

This is where my mock arrest starts to feel a little too real and very uncomfortable! So what happens if the person who's arrested doesn't cooperate?

"When people stop acting like adults we'll put them in a holding cell. If they can't control themselves or follow our rules," said jail officer Rachel Berkowitz.  "We don't always have problems. Every once in a while especially if people are on drugs or depending on their mental state, we're going to have more issue with them. Or if their drunk we're going to have more issues with them.  People know when they break the law. They know we have to do our jobs. Especially since we explain it as we're doing it."

Next it's through the metal detector and into the holding room.

"You'll have a seat right here then over at the desk they are going to put your information into the computer. Your charges, name, date of birth, age, social, next of kin where you work if you do work," Berkowitz said.

I had no idea inmates were allowed to walk around freely and the officer explained that Tulsa County Jail is part of a direct supervision jail. A direct supervision jail is where people have the opportunity to self govern; with the belief that most of the time people do just fine and act like adults as long as they are given the opportunity.

If they don't act like adults, they are once again put in a holding cell.

"We'll give you a list of bondsmen that you can call, and they'll probably come out here and help you," said jail officer Rachel Berkowitz.

Now if you don't make bail you continue the booking process with a medical screening- and then it's time to change from your street clothes into the lovely bright orange jumpsuit. These uniforms are washed, but they are re-used as inmates leave and more come in.  (Margaret Stokes: "I found out once I was already in the clothes, it wasn't much fun.")

After that, it's time to give more information to the officers, you then walk to the jail cell.

Although they are as polite as possible, the process of being booked into the Tulsa County jail is pretty intimidating.  Margaret's suggestion - obey the law and avoid the place altogether!