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Adams County Jail
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- 1 Inside Adams County Jail: A Look at Life Behind Bars
Inside Adams County Jail: A Look at Life Behind Bars
The Adams County Jail is located in the city of Brighton, about 20 miles northeast of downtown Denver. As the main detention facility for Adams County, it houses inmates who are awaiting trial or serving short county jail sentences.
With a capacity for over 1,100 inmates, Adams County Jail sees its fair share of offenders pass through its doors. But what’s life really like inside? Let’s take a look.
Booking and Intake
When someone is arrested in Adams County, their first stop is booking and intake at the jail. Here, correctional officers catalog the inmate’s personal belongings, take fingerprints and mugshots, and conduct medical screenings and tests for drugs/alcohol.
Inmates must trade their personal clothes for a bright orange jumpsuit. They are allowed to keep underwear and socks if deemed appropriate. Each inmate is assigned a booking number that will track them throughout their stay.
The intake process can take several hours as staff confirms the inmate’s identity and logs details into the system. Inmates sometimes remain in temporary holding cells during this time.
Housing Units and Cell Assignments
After booking, inmates are escorted to their housing unit. Adams County Jail has 11 housing units, both dormitory and cell-style. Which unit an inmate is assigned to depends on security classification, medical needs, and available beds.
In the cell-style units, inmates are double-bunked in cells about 8 x 10 feet. Cells have metal doors with small windows and contain metal bunk beds with thin mattresses, a toilet/sink unit, and sometimes a desk. Showers are communal.
Dormitory units house inmates in large, open rooms filled with bunk beds. There is little privacy. Inmates share toilets, sinks, tables, and a TV room.
A Strict Schedule
Life inside Adams County Jail runs on a tight schedule dictated by the guards. Inmates must be ready and standing for frequent inmate counts and cell checks.
A typical day may look like:
- 5:00 am – Wake up call, breakfast served
- 8:00 am – Cell inspection
- 10:00 am – Yard time (1 hour in an outdoor enclosure)
- 12:00 pm – Lunch
- 1:00 pm – Cell inspection
- 3:00 pm – Programs, church services, AA meetings
- 5:00 pm – Dinner
- 9:00 pm – Lockdown in cells for the night
Inmates must keep their cell area clean and tidy according to strict rules. Unannounced shakedowns and cell tosses also frequently occur.
Jail Food – Bland and Boring
Picture bland, starchy cafeteria food and you’ll get an idea of the cuisine at Adams County Jail. Meals are prepared in the jail’s central kitchen and then transported to each unit.
A typical day’s menu includes:
- Breakfast: Cold cereal, bread, margarine, milk
- Lunch: Bean or meat burritos, vegetables, fruit cup
- Dinner: Spaghetti, green beans, bread, cake
Special dietary and religious meals are available by request, but most inmates complain about the boring, repetitive food. Portion sizes are strictly controlled. Many inmates purchase ramen noodles and snacks when allowed to use the commissary.
Commissary and Privileges
Inmates at Adams County Jail can access additional food, hygiene items, writing supplies, and other approved commissary products by using accounts funded by friends/family. They may also earn privileges like extra recreation time, TV access, or mp3 players by demonstrating good behavior.
However, privileges can be taken away as punishment for violating jail rules. Major rule infractions mean a stint in solitary confinement with loss of most privileges. Repeat or serious offenses can lead to criminal charges.
Programs and Education
To combat boredom and keep inmates constructively occupied, Adams County Jail offers several programs like:
- GED preparation – Classes and tutoring to help inmates earn a high school equivalency diploma
- Substance abuse counseling – For inmates struggling with drug/alcohol addiction
- Anger management – Teaching coping skills and alternatives to violence
- Parenting classes – Helping inmates reconnect with children/family
- Job skills training – Basic computer skills, resume writing, interview tactics
- Religious services – Various faiths offer bibles studies, counseling
Inmates sign up voluntarily and space is limited. For those not participating in programs, boredom is one of the toughest parts of serving time.
Medical Care Behind Bars
Inmates needing medical attention can request sick call to see a nurse or doctor. Common health issues inside jail include:
- Infections – Viruses and bacteria spread quickly in crowded living spaces
- Dental problems – Lack of care and poor hygiene take a toll
- Mental illness – Many inmates suffer disorders like depression, anxiety, PTSD
- Detoxing from drugs/alcohol – Withdrawal symptoms shake the body and mind
- Injuries/assaults – Violence does occur between inmates or during restraint
For minor complaints, nurses dispense over-the-counter meds. Inmates needing emergency or specialized care are transported to hospitals under guard. Medical fees may be charged to the inmates.
Staying in Touch with Outside Support
Maintaining contact with supportive friends and family can improve an inmate’s mental outlook and chances of successful rehabilitation. Adams County Jail allows:
- Phone calls – Monitored 15-minute calls, collect or using prepaid account
- Video visits – Scheduled remote video chats with approved visitors
- In-person visits – Non-contact visits with glass barrier or “reach-ins”
- Mail – Letters, cards, photos (no padded envelopes, cash, stamps)
The jail restricts visitation days/hours and screens both mail and visitors closely for banned items like drugs, weapons, obscene materials, etc. But overall, inmates appreciate chances to connect to the outside.
Getting Out – Making Bail or Serving Time
Every inmate hopes their jail stay ends quickly, whether by posting bail or beating the charges in court. But some end up serving their full misdemeanor sentence of under 1 year behind bars.
Others with felony charges may transfer to prison if convicted and sentenced to over 1 year. Adams County Jail also securely transports inmates to/from court appearances and medical appointments.
No matter the circumstances bringing someone to jail, doing time is tough. While Adams County Jail aims to maintain safety and order, boredom and loss of freedom burden inmates daily. Still, rehabilitation programs try to make the experience meaningful.
For jail staff, the mission is making sure inmates serve their debts to society humanely and return better primed for success. As one officer puts it: “We want to lock up their bodies but reach their hearts and minds.”