First & foremost, I am very blessed to even have the capabilities to make this complaint, because I spent 6 VERY long years surviving Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer, went into remission for 2 1/2 yrs, and then it reared it's ugly head again about 8 months ago. I'm currently Stage III, and I have a 20% chance of living 5 years, but now it's down to 4 yrs & 4 months.
My boyfriend was arrested 4 months ago, and is housed at Lower Buckeye Jail. I've led a sheltered life, so going to a jail, let alone knowing someone on the inside and visiting them was VERY foreign to me. Due to my severely compromised immune system, from years of chemo AND radiation, I tend to avoid high-traffic public places, and the jail was a PRIME example of unsanitary conditions. I've been visiting my sweetie 3 times a week, every week, since his arrival, and since I'm very OCD, I highly regard and adhere to rules and regulations. I've read and analyzed the Dress Code at LBJ numerous times, and have never ONCE been turned away due to a violation of these rules, until last Sunday.
Ironically enough, on the day that we, Americans, celebrate and honor our freedoms, July 4th, I was informed that I had been "Banned from Visitation for 30 Days". When I inquired as to why, let's just say that the answer, along with many others mentioned later, was NOT forthcoming. My visit prior to this one where I was informed of the ban, I had worn jeans, two tank tops (the bottom one came up higher on the neck so "breasts & cleavage" were covered), and a long-sleeved, snap front, denim shirt. Since I didn't put the shirt on until just prior to passing through the metal detector, the DO said "we don't allow tank tops, " and I acknowledged that and noted that for that reason, I had brought the over-sized shirt to wear over it, thereby being within the parameters of the Dress Code. He told me I had to button the large shirt ALL the way up, and when I inquired as to why, since the shirts underneath already sufficiently covered my "breast & cleavage" area, he simply said "because."
Due to my upbringing, I kept the shirt buttoned up for most of the visit, however, since they don't allow even bottled water in the visitation section, I got significantly overheated. Now, for anyone who's ever been through Chemo or Radiation, you'd know that it's like putting your body into a microwave, and once you do that, you're body temperature will run VERY hot thereafter. The ban on water has always been an issue with me because of the body temp factor, but also because many of my medications cause dry mouth and I've passed-out shortly after 5 different visits from dehydration. When my boyfriend and I had about 3 minutes left, the DO who'd told me to keep my shirt buttoned up all the way came over and mocked me, as if I were a child, and said "Now I thought I told you to keep it buttoned up all the way?" I politely pleaded that "sir, I was too hot and simply unbuttoned the front to get cooler", and was astonished that he had SO little to do that he had to come reprimand me. I had NOT taken the shirt off, was NOT showing "breasts or cleavage", yet he yelled at me to hang up the phone and leave, which I did. I honestly NEVER thought such a minuscule infraction, which isn't based on the DRESS CODE AT ALL, but simply because the DO told me to do something, without justification as to why, and I didn't comply, so therefore I'm banned.
When trying to obtain copies of the jail's policies and procedures on "Bannings" and how I could appeal it, who could I speak with about it so that BOTH sides are heard, which, I THOUGHT was the foundation of our very Justice System, I was stymied at every attempt. I asked if I could get a copy of the Dress Code, which is a 1 sheet piece of paper outlining the parameters, and even offered to pay $. 25 or however much, yet was told "We're not allowed to give out copies." The last time I checked, the county jails and their personnel were part of the government, meaning they're funded by MY taxpayer dollars, yet these people, whose salaries I pay, spoke to me w / utter disdain, and finally produced a number, but no name.
I have been trying, since Sunday July 4th, to reach someone who can address this issue because I don't have the luxury of time to be jumping through these hoops just so I can see my boyfriend as much as possible before my pending, "experimental" surgery on July 20th. I consider myself a positive person, but at the same time, I'm a realist.
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