Original text from the 1st AMA:

I saw horrific beatings happen almost every day. I saw inmates being beat senseless for not moving fast enough. I saw inmates urinate on themselves because they had been chained up for hours and officers refused to let them use the bathroom. This didn't happen because they were busy, this happened because it was fun. I saw an old man be beat bad enough to be taken to the hospital because he didn't respond to a verbal order RIGHT AFTER he took out his hearing aids (which he was ordered to do.)

I was fired after I caught the beating of a triple amputee (you read that right!) on video, and I got 7 officers fired for brutality. Don't believe me? here's a still from the video. This is one second of over 14 minutes of this poor man being beaten with a mop handle, kicked, punched and thrown around. As you can see in the video, he is down in the left hand corner, naked and cowering while being sprayed with pepper spray.http://imgur.com/I8eeq

After I was fired, I sued the Sheriff's Office and the Board of County Commissioners and I settled the night before trial. I consider every penny that I got blood money, but I did get a letter of recommendation hand signed by the sheriff himself, and I FLAT OUT REFUSED to sign a non disclosure agreement. One of my biggest regrets in life is not taking that case to trial, but I just emotionally couldn't do it. I also regret not going to the press immediately with what I had as it happened. I want someone to finally listen about what goes on in that jail. Instead of going to the press, I decided to speak with attorneys and help inmates who were beaten and murdered by detention officers in the jail. In the last 5 years I have been deposed twice and I have been flown across the planet 3 times to be deposed or to testify in cases against the Sheriff. I have also been consulted by 4 or 5 other attorneys with cases against the Sheriff. Every single time my name has been brought up (with 1 exception) the case has settled within a few months at the most. The record is 2 weeks. Some of those have gag orders on them or are sealed, so I can't discuss the ones that are under an order like that, but not all of them are like that. Let's talk about the two most recent cases I have been involved in: Christopher Beckman was an inmate. He was brought in on a DUI or something like that, he wasn't a career criminal, he was a guy like you, or your buddy, or your dad who fucked up and did something stupid while drunk. He had a seizure in the jail because he was epileptic and didn't get his medications. During this seizure he was hog tied, and ran HEAD FIRST into a 2" thick steel door, concrete walls and elevator doors. His skull was crushed and he died a few days later. I was deposed in his case and very soon afterward the family settled for an "undisclosed" amount of money other than the 1mil, and I promise you this..... they didn't get enough. The officers that did that to them? One of them pled out for a year in jail, the other got nothing. http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=14&articleid=20110606_12_0_OLHMIY608751 Dionne McKinney: She is the toughest woman on this planet. She fought for 9 and 1/2 years to take the sheriff to trial and she did it. NO ONE takes the Sheriff to trial in OK county and wins. It hasn't happened in a civil case since the 1970's (from what I understand) She was brutally beaten in the Jail in May of 2003. I testified in this case earlier this month.http://newsok.com/jury-finds-in-favor-of-woman-who-says-oklahoma-county-jail-detention-officers-assaulted-her-nearly-10-years-ago/article/3738355 Why do I live so far away? I fear for my life. I left oklahoma in march of 2010 after I turned over every piece of evidence that I had to the feds. When I have been flown in, I have been in and out in 2 days for depositions, but for the trial, I had to be there for almost a week. I spent 4 days barricaded in my best friends' house. When I left my family in OK after testifying a few weeks ago, I knew that I'd never be able to see them in Oklahoma again and flights to me are not cheap. Here is an absolutely scathing report from the department of justice about the Oklahoma County Jail in 2008. http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/spl/documents/OKCounty_Jail_findlet_073108.pdf

I did an great interview with the Moral Courage Project, and the last case I agreed to be involved with, won at jury trial! I'm ecstatic!

Now I can talk about the REAL problems going on, the thin blue line, or any other questions you may have.

Link to original AMA: http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/16ktvd/iama_former_employee_of_a_jail_where_i_watched/

Link to the interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48QxwrZp4ZE

I was directly involved in 5 cases, and in all 5 of those cases, the case ended in favor of the plaintiff. I think it may be safe to say that the courts may agree with me at this point, and now all I need is for someone to listen to what goes on in jail.

EDIT::

PROOF http://imgur.com/juqB7i2

EDIT 2:

Here's a link to sign the petition to force ALL Law enforcement officers to wear cameras. This would be a great step in the right direction. Please sign and share.

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/create-federal-mandate-forcing-all-law-enforcement-officers-wear-video-recording-device-while-duty/qVhH09tw

EDIT 3: Thank you to everyone who has responded! I've been given some great advice and encouragement!

I am being bombarded with messages telling me that vice.com is the place to go to get this out to the right people, so all that I ask of you guys is to send them a quick email asking them to cover this, I want the abuse of inmates to stop, and the only way to do that is to get the right people's attention, so please help out, should you feel so inclined!

editor@vice.com

Thanks for all of the support again! I have faith in humanity tonight!

Comments: 3578 • Responses: 85  • Date: 

Kabuthunk2357 karma

So I take it that it's safe to assume that 'Blue code of silence' does indeed exist, and I'm very glad that you were one of the ones to not follow it.

But related to that, would you say that most cops follow that code of silence, or is that moreso just a small number of cops giving the rest a bad name?

countythrowaway2501 karma

Absolutely. It is real, and EVERYONE follows it.

When do you hear of cops testifying against their own "brothers?" You don't. 99.999% of them follow the code of silence. I just don't understand how they can look at themselves or sleep at night.

EDIT: IN MY EXPERIENCE everyone follows the code. I'm sure that there are good upstanding cops out there, but I haven't met many.

Spikemaw1621 karma

Thank you so much for fighting against the horrible corruption and evil. I admire you so much words fail. You live in exile away from you family, but you should be proud to do so, proud that evil people hate you so much.

I dream of a time when guards and police officers will be held to a higher standard, made to wear cameras, etc.

Keep up your important fight.

countythrowaway979 karma

Thank you! I wish they were held to the same standard as everyone else. They need to be held accountable for their actions. For there to be any real justice, there has to be accountability. For Law enforcement at any and all levels, that simply does not happen, therefore nothing will change until those who are committing the real crimes are in prison side by side with the people they beat.

Grasshound1282 karma

Were there specific types of people who were singled out, or did they treat everyone the same?

countythrowaway1940 karma

Poor, brown, drunk, high....

Basically people who couldn't defend themselves, or wouldn't remember it in the morning.

pardon_my_misogyny779 karma

Prisoners have the opportunity to get drunk or high in prison?

countythrowaway1989 karma

This isn't prison. these people had just been arrested and being brought to jail for the first time, so yes there were plenty who came in drunk, high, poor and/or brown.

mustafa28121219 karma

So you could potentially get pulled over for blowing .02 BAC over the legal limit or something and get beaten up like this if the officers decided they didn't like you or you looked weak/were African American?

countythrowaway2420 karma

Potentially?

I saw it happen almost daily.

IWantToBeNormal279 karma

What about disabled people, mentally or physically?

countythrowaway799 karma

Well, the video I have, he was a triple amputee, so I'd say yes.

A lot of inmates have mental illnesses, that's why they commit crimes and wind up in jail.

Insomaniacc10 karma

what do you mean by brown? like middle-eastern?

countythrowaway122 karma

I mean anything other than white. The officers I worked with, were for the most part a bunch of racist, toothless, redneck squidbillies.

FatherEarth2 karma

That's how I picture most police officers. It doesn't really take a lot of intelligence to do what they do (no offense).

countythrowaway6 karma

I've yet to meet a cop who was a MENSA member, so I'm sure your assertation holds some weight.

countythrowaway424 karma

I'm sure they do. The ones in my jail would make hooch (jail wine) and would have people send them drugs through the mail or during visitation.

that happens everywhere.

MadeInWestGermany833 karma

Hooch is crazy.

countythrowaway358 karma

i smelled it a few times, and it didn't smell bad once everything had fermented. Our inmates usually used apples and oranges.

Wall-D388 karma

but ... but, you're not supposed to mix those!

countythrowaway147 karma

it smelled great, though!

glitcher21938 karma

What do you think can be done to stop this?

countythrowaway1615 karma

In the jail I worked in? The Department Of Justice needs to be made aware, repeatedly (which I have done) and I believe the jail should be taken over by the DOJ until the "powers that be" can comply with regulations on treatment and care of people in custody. Human beings are being murdered by the very people charged with their well being, and I have a problem with that.

glitcher21585 karma

While I appreciate the answer, and I do think it's a good one, I meant on a larger scale. Obviously this is happening other places too. Is there something that could be done to combat this on, say, a national level?

countythrowaway2009 karma

Apologies!!

It is happening in other places. I think the FIRST thing that must happen is that all officers wear cameras on their uniforms at all times. All data is sent to a NEUTRAL 3rd party agency and is kept there where no one can tamper with it, period.

I would put everything I own betting on 70% of the complaints and altercations would disappear, police departments would be cleaning out the corrupt, good ol' boys and the courts would no longer be clogged with cases of police brutality.

That would be the first thing. People must be made aware, laws need to be passed. The brutality must stop.

Riff__Raff1944 karma

So far, test projects show a 90% drop in excessive force complaints when cops wear cameras. This is the solution.

Also, thank you for doing this.

countythrowaway1244 karma

Isn't that amazing!!

This NEEDS to happen!!

Deidara77541 karma

Though its a sad day when people need to be constantly monitored to prevent such things. Whatever happened to integrity?

countythrowaway983 karma

It went right out the window when 18 year olds got set loose in a jail with no supervision and no consequences for their actions.

louiselebeau225 karma

As a corrections officer the only problem I see with wearing a camera at all times is the restroom and the fact I swear too damn much.

countythrowaway223 karma

HAHA!

If I had to wear one, that'd be my main complaint too.

SomeKindOfMutant224 karma

I definitely agree that officers should wear cameras on their uniforms at all times, and that the data should be stored by a neutral third party.

Suppose a police force starts wearing cameras on their uniforms but, instead of being maintained by a neutral third party, the data is kept within the department. If there's a case brought against an officer or the department and footage that should exist somehow "can't be found," what should the repercussions be for the offending officers and the department failing to provide the footage?

countythrowaway406 karma

This is just one of my crazy ideas, but I believe if you tamper with evidence then you should be convicted of the crime you attempted to cover up and you automatically get the toughest punishment.

The video I have is tampered with, but I can't do anything about it now.

I_NEED_MO_FUDGE438 karma

What's your opinion on the persecution of whistleblowers in law services? There's an ongoing case in Ireland where two whistleblowers were ignored and shunned for leaking info and you lost your job like you said

countythrowaway786 karma

Whistleblower laws are too tough for the people speaking out. I had a very blatant whistleblower case and it was an absolute nightmare.

The problem is that legal entities tend to demand more loyalty and demand that you turn a blind eye to their criminal activity while working to convict and send some guy to prison for 20 years for having a joint in his pocket.

They need to keep fighting. Never give up.

I_NEED_MO_FUDGE213 karma

Ye I struggle to understand the whole stigma/illegality. Surely if you see malpractice or something that shouldn't be tolerated its only right to report it right?

So much hypocrisy for a service that's job is to serve justice however it covers it's own injustices and acts as if they're entitled to do so

countythrowaway431 karma

That's my mentality, but who do you report the cops to? I tried to get someone's attention and was laughed at when I called the OSBI and the FBI. There is nowhere for whistleblowers to report without there being repercussions.

The Hypocrisy is staggering, I agree.

I_NEED_MO_FUDGE216 karma

In Ireland there's an ombudsman which is a place you can lodge complaints about government/public bodies. Those two Irish gardaí went to the ombudsman and were laughed at saying that they would be torn apart for trying to go against the minister for justice. Luckily for them they had the meeting recorded and this was leaked once they were shit down

countythrowaway259 karma

That's the smartest thing to do... document everything.

vir_papyrus91 karma

[deleted]

countythrowaway259 karma

I have gigs of documentation. It's a lot to go through and would take a lot of time. Nowadays the media isn't interested in a piece that would be very time consuming, they want something quick, and this isn't something that is quick.

I've tried to get the media to listen, but they seem not to care.

TheDebtThatAllMenPay349 karma

What was the feeling like when you first witnessed something like this happen?

countythrowaway740 karma

The first one I remember was within the first week of starting:

I was outside having a smoke and my co-worker (who had just started too) and I felt the ground shaking under our feet. From where I was standing I could see inside the jail and there were 4 or 5 officers on top of someone, and one of them had gloves on and was slamming his head into the concrete floor. I didn't realize what was going on until I saw the pool of blood and the guys face. I was horrified.

TheDebtThatAllMenPay302 karma

I just felt sick to my stomach reading this. I can only imagine the emotions you felt actually seeing this.

countythrowaway448 karma

It's something that haunts me, that's for sure.

I've found that talking about it helps.

hellohaley102 karma

When did you decide to take action? If it started happening immediately when you got the job, how long did it take you to speak up?

countythrowaway484 karma

It was a few months in, when I started saying something. I'd see them go too far, and say something like "Why are you doing that to him, he didn't deserve that." then I'd have a meeting with my Sgt, who would tell me that we're a family and we watch each others backs, and don't say things like that.

Then I started documenting....

turtles_and_frogs316 karma

I think these kinds of things might be hard to change, because we often hear normal, everyday people say things like "oh, well they were criminals, so they deserve what they get." when did we lose a sense of compassion, or did we as a society never have it to begin with? How do we convince most Americans that yes, this is a big deal, and inmates' treatment should be getting national attention?

countythrowaway416 karma

It has to be relatable, and in most circumstances, people don't think about it until it is too late, and their friend or family member is dead or horribly injured.

The problem is that these are NOT criminals, this usually happened right after they got arrested, and usually haven't even been formally charged with a crime. These people haven't even seen a judge....

THE_fmradio235 karma

What sort of media coverage did this story get? Does it continue to get significant coverage? How can the media handle it better?

countythrowaway458 karma

It never has really gained traction, and that is disappointing to me. There have been a few small stories over the years, but I think if the media would actually talk to me and talk to the families of dead inmates and actually hold the people responsible accountable for their actions, then it would gain traction. If I could get the attention of the right people at the top, I have the documentation and evidence to PROVE that there is and has been abuse happening at that jail for the last decade.

I think there needs to be an exposé on that jail and people need to know who they are electing into office and what those people are allowing to happen. I can prove it, I just need a big enough microphone where the right people can hear me.

THE_fmradio93 karma

Have you followed up with the condition of the jail? Have the problems been fixed or is it still a problemed facility? Is there a larger issue here that maybe has more widespread ramifications or is this just a "bad Apple" scenario?

countythrowaway303 karma

Yep. Still just as bad. I've reported to to everyone I can, and sent everything I could to the DOJ and they did nothing. They chose to do nothing 10 years ago, so I hold them partially responsible for the continued abuse of inmates.

They did nothing to stop it, so they are just as guilty.

Jean_luc_tryhard190 karma

Why did you stay there for 3 years if you saw someone's skull bashed in after 3 days?

And did you or do you still have any post traumatic stress problems?

countythrowaway381 karma

I thought it was normal. That was my first job. I was raised in an extremely fundamentalist/ultra conservative household and I was always taught that you don't question authority. It took a few months for me to start speaking up, and I was also trying to go to college at the same time and my job was already set up around my schedule. It was an income I could survive on, and finish school.

As for PTSD, I'd say yes. Certain things bother me more than others, but seeing cops wail on someone still sets me off every time.

tomlu709173 karma

This AMA is so much better than all the vapid celebrity ones. On-point answers, no dodging questions, not trying to sell anything.

countythrowaway18 karma

Thank you! I tried!

bjornkrage169 karma

isn't it odd how officers who report this get fired, while officers who do the deed just get "suspended indefinitely with pay"?

countythrowaway161 karma

Of course!!

then they get hired on at another agency with a promotion!

EWbroWTF164 karma

I spent 4 days in LA country jail for a DUI and I was amazed to find out that the inmates weren't the ones to be feared, it was the officers. Is this the case in most jails, or just very large overcrowded ones like Rikers and LA county?

countythrowaway151 karma

It appears to be a very widespread problem.

gerryhanes151 karma

How long did you work at the jail for?

Was there brutality from the start, or after a new warden took over, or what?

What did your professional duties at the jail consist of?

countythrowaway255 karma

3 years.

Day 3 was the first time I saw someone's skull be bashed into the concrete.

I did a little bit of everything while I worked there. I set charges and bond, filed paperwork, answered phones, that kind of stuff.

I worked in Warrants for a bit, and when I was fired, I worked in Central Control, so I could see everything that happened inside (and outside) the jail.

xfjfjfj125 karma

[deleted]

countythrowaway200 karma

Vaguely. I've heard of it, and if I remember right, there's a Ted Talk featuring him. From what I've gathered, the cliff notes is that good people easily turn bad in the right circumstances, something I like to call the 'Heisenberg Effect'

I think it's the structure of the job, the training, the fact that they beat it into your head from day one that "INMATES ARE NOT HUMAN BEINGS, DO NOT TREAT THEM AS SUCH," A lot of it was 18 year old kids who wanna play cops get thrown into a jail after 12 weeks of training with a license and ability to kick ass. Then I think the YY chromosomes kick in.

mindfulmachine109 karma

County, huge appreciation for your effort. The prison system in the US is ironically one of the biggest injustices I have ever seen. I've had two family members go to prison and based on their feedback, it seems most inmates come out worse than when they went in. A lot of prisoners have mental illnesses and instead of help betting better they end up with more reason to not trust people. Question: do you think it would help if prisons had live stream cameras throughout so anyone can see how these prison guards are acting too?

countythrowaway151 karma

They always come out worse than when they went in. The system is designed to fail.

Not so sure about live streaming cameras where anyone could watch. There is a lot of nudity in jail.

I think that cameras on the officers should become mandatory.

southernrain104 karma

Are you seeking some sort of compensation for them firing you? Isn't that illegal for them to do??

countythrowaway195 karma

I sued them and settled out of court back in 2007.

What they did was very illegal.

Happyaneurysm92 karma

Did they plan the beatings or was it spontaneous and unpredictable?

countythrowaway172 karma

Well, for a while I worked in receiving, so sometimes it was planned (when we'd get a call that a fighter was coming in) or sometimes officers would pick them out when they were coming in the doors. It depended on who was working and what kind of mood they were in that night.

bleedingheartsurgery118 karma

just reenforces for me that they arent any better than the individuals being brought in.

countythrowaway155 karma

Most of the time, they are not.

kerkula84 karma

The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons. Fyodor Dostoevsky

countythrowaway39 karma

I agree.

And that makes me sad.

megaman231181 karma

What do you think of private prisons? Do you think that the U.S should adopt more of a rehabilitation model of incarceration?

countythrowaway283 karma

There has to be an active rehabilitation model ( Like the one is Norway, I believe) where inmates get out and actually become productive members of society.

Private prisons are prisons for profit, and there is nothing ok about that.

Cosmicpalms73 karma

From inmate or staff, what was the single most appalling thing you saw when you were working there?

countythrowaway240 karma

Probably when I watched them drop an 80 year old man on his head for not following orders when they had just made him take out his hearing aids.

I can't stand to watch old people cry. That one killed me.

trygold71 karma

[deleted]

countythrowaway240 karma

It's not disappointing. People are winning cases, the Department of Justice is FINALLY investigating the jail I worked in. The public in OKC is starting to see what kind of problem they have.

It will change, maybe not now, maybe not for 20 more years, but I will keep fighting until the right changes are made.

MizzleFoShizzle66 karma

Were these inmate victims violent or non-violent offenders? Not that it matters in my opinion, just trying to understand.

countythrowaway143 karma

It was anyone and everyone. Charges ranged from Public Intox to DUI, Possession of drugs... whatever.

I rarely, if ever saw someone with a big charge, like rape or murder get thrown a beating in front of me, though.

theasianpianist69 karma

Do you think that's because the officers thought someone accused of those crimes would be more likely to fight back or resist? Or because those cases tend to get more coverage and therefore their chance of exposure heightened?

countythrowaway130 karma

I have my suspicions, but I don't know.

I think they behaved for a few reasons:

  1. That inmate, more than likely killed someone. Let's not make them try again.

  2. Usually the upper brass was there for high profile arrests.

  3. They weren't in my dept. long, they were usually moved up to the floors quickly, as the had no chance to post bail.

youaretotallyawesome65 karma

I don't have much to say really, other than you are totally awesome for standing up for what is right.

So, thank you :)


I try to make people realise how awesome they are!

countythrowaway46 karma

Thank you!

cheesytomato63 karma

I want to thank you so much for being an honest cop. What happened that made you fear for your life, though?

countythrowaway157 karma

I was followed, harassed, threatened, I lost several jobs, but the kicker for me was when my former co-workers looked me in the eye and told me they would kill me.

Thank you, BTW!

cheesytomato53 karma

Did you report them? That's assault and they could be arrested, correct?

countythrowaway106 karma

I tried. They could have been, but by time the DOJ got around to looking at it the statute of limitations had ran out.

BorisTheButcher58 karma

Would any inmates try to defend themselves and if so what would happen to them?

countythrowaway149 karma

They did.

They wound up in a body bag or in ICU. No matter how big you are 10 trained officers are going to win any fight.

ElenaDisgusting56 karma

Thank you for all you've done! My question to you is what do you think of Dorners manifesto and why do you think the situation was handled the way it was? (Being basically burned alive without any trial)

countythrowaway93 karma

It made me cry. I sat right here and sobbed while I read it. I know what he went through.

He was set up and murdered by LAPD. I knew that's what they'd do to him and what they'd do to me if they got the chance.

lauryndp_14351 karma

Wow I had no idea. I live in OKC and even applied for a position at that jail once. I've heard stories of people being fired because of assult but I had no idea it was a regular thing. What was the last straw for you after working there for 3 years?

countythrowaway100 karma

I was fired for reporting the beating of a triple amputee, and documenting the evidence and then raising hell about it.

It is a regular thing, and has been one for years.

ldpop147 karma

You are a man with an outstanding sense of morality, and I can only hope that if I'm ever in a circumstance with a tough decision to make, that I'll make the right one like you did.

countythrowaway36 karma

Thanks!

TurbanatorUK45 karma

This may seem like a silly question, since I'm not familiar with the prison systems in the US. Is the prison government-owned and the employees thus employed by the government, or is it just the building owned by the government and the guards from a private security firm?

Not that it would make any difference really, violence is violence, but I can imagine either private employees being free to do what they want if they are just on an anonymous contract, and even with government employees given that jobs are hard to lose once you're 'in'.

Another quick question, was everyone involved with the beatings? Were there some guards who didn't partake in this like yourself (aside from not standing up and objecting)? Were you encouraged to join in?

In any case, I'll avoid that region for the near future, and I thank you for helping out those who cannot help themselves. :)

countythrowaway90 karma

This is owned by the County government. Everyone there is an employee of the County.

Now, not everyone was, there was the "Black Boot Tribe" on one of my shifts who did the greatest portion of beatings. The "Slap A Hoe" tribe was on another shift that I worked. Some of the officers had the same mentality that I did which was to not be involved in their altercations, because once the altercation was over, they all sat in a circle and wrote their reports together.

Crappler31939 karma

I don't really have any questions, but I just want to say thank you for having the courage to do what you did, and to let you know that you're a fucking hero.

countythrowaway39 karma

Thank you!

arethesesimplertimes39 karma

Honestly, while I have strong moral beliefs and constantly maintain a strong stand against bullying, there is just no way in hell I would have the tenacity to see through what you are doing. If I was around you I'd shake your hand - the hand of the bravest man that I've ever met.

countythrowaway97 karma

I'm a lady, so you can give me a high five then!

Thank you, though. Seriously.

Nunsense34 karma

You mentioned giving an interview with the Moral Courage Project. Did you receive help or advice from any other prisoner advocacy group, if indeed any such groups exist?

countythrowaway66 karma

They do exist, but they have their own agendas.

If there was one that would actually help, that'd be amazing!

MistaSmiles28 karma

My biggest question is this: Why? You may not have the answer, but I don't understand why the guards would do this? Why wouldn't the city stop them if it cost money in lawsuits?

countythrowaway116 karma

Power is the fastest way to corrupt someone. Give an 18 year old power over other human beings and they will abuse it. Give power to bullies who never grew up, set them loose in a jail and give them a license to beat other humans without repercussions and this is what happens.

The county has paid millions out to inmates and the families of dead inmates, yet they seem to have no desire to stop the abuse. I suppose they figure its cheaper to keep paying out lawsuits than it is to completely dismantle the jail administration and start over.

UnrelatedInsult20 karma

How many of these were gang related?

countythrowaway57 karma

The Officers in that jail had a "gang" they called it either the "Slap A Ho" tribe or the "Black Boot Tribe" depending on who they were.

Usually those guys just sat there and shut up until their bond was posted. I just made sure that the gangs that didn't like each other stayed the hell away from each other.

etaveras9920 karma

Has any of the guards ever threatened you for talking

countythrowaway58 karma

Yep. I've had my life threatened many times.

joshislurking18 karma

Late to the party once again. What are your thoughts on the overuse of solitary confinement in correctional facilities?

countythrowaway44 karma

Solitary makes people crazy. It doesn't take long to do it either.

Solitary needs to GO.

MitchellN12 karma

What do you think about Joe Arapaio?

countythrowaway39 karma

He's just as bad. The DOJ is in the process of taking over the jail, if I heard correctly.

LouisBeck11 karma

WHat do you do now for work and ends meat?

countythrowaway55 karma

I work in an office. I make ends meet. I'm not driving a Bugatti, but I'm also not afraid to close my eyes anymore, so I'll take it as a fair trade.

theasianpianist8 karma

Having seen what you've seen, do you believe that people in postitons of authority and trust (e.g. police officer, politician, etc.) should receive harsher punishments for crimes betraying that trust, but only while acting as a representative of their respective office?

countythrowaway15 karma

Absolutely. I believe they should receive the harshest punishment under the letter of the law.

YourGirlsSideNigga8 karma

Where specifically does this mostly happen? I would assume that they are very strict with this type of stuff in the northeast and along the east coast.

countythrowaway23 karma

It happens everywhere, just no one can speak out about it, unless they want what I got, which was a one way ticket to the other side of the planet.

dirtymick6 karma

Thank you for what you do.

You likely can't answer something like this, but maybe a lawyer in the thread can. It seems that whenever I see cases like these, there's a pattern that goes: accusations made, accused's vehement denial, accuser's truthfulness asserted and evidence hinted at, defense's further denials with accompanying character dispersions, video evidence surfaces, recantment/settlement/fini.

Am I imagining that or do the prosecutors follow a rough plan like this in order to let the accused dig themselves ever deeper and finally destroy their own credibility?

countythrowaway10 karma

From my knowledge, personal experience and the simple fact that every case I've been involved in has won, I can tell you that for some reason, in Oklahoma that' how it works.

Ginger_sloth4 karma

This absolutely infuriates and disgusts me, and as someone who LIVES in Oklahoma county, this terrifies me.

countythrowaway7 karma

Don't go to county.... If you do just shut up and call someone to get you out ASAP.

nickyjayyy4 karma

YOU LET OPIE DIE

countythrowaway24 karma

No, I didn't. The pigs I would have been working with let Opie die.

Don't put that evil on me, Ricky Bobby.

edubinthehills3 karma

There have been issues like this at the St louis work house on hall street in missouri. What suggestions do you have for inmates to report this appropriately?

countythrowaway12 karma

Document, Document, Document. The inmates need to write letters documenting their abuse and send it to their family, who would compile the letters and take it to an attorney, who would then contact the DOJ, FBI and everyone else.

Dates, times, places, officers names... everything. Document it all.

hoontur3 karma

How common is this in jails? Does it depend on what part of the country it's in?

countythrowaway5 karma

Pretty common from what I understand. It probably depends on what part of the country one is in as well.

TheFrenchPickle2 karma

When you write that you can "really talk now", what exactly were you not at liberty to disclose during the last AMA?

Thanks, very interesting read BTW

countythrowaway3 karma

I couldn't discuss specific cases or the details about the brutality that I witnessed, now I can.

xCharlieScottx2 karma

Ever read the book "The Lucifer Effect" by Philip Zimbardo?

countythrowaway1 karma

I am familiar with it, yes.

ontopofyourmom2 karma

So, you've moved to another country? I am ashamed that you had to do that. I hope you've been able to pick things up, make new friends, etc. You don't deserve it.

countythrowaway4 karma

I won't disclose my location exactly, but I am, in my opinion, safe.

I did up and move, but in hindsight, it was the absolute best thing I've ever done for myself.

djb855112 karma

How would you reform the prison systems if you were king (ie. anything you say will be done).

countythrowaway1 karma

  1. Everyone wears a camera.
  2. The "whistleblowing" process would be much easier
  3. There would be a neutral 3rd party who reviewed any and all video evidence and made recommendations for prosecution.

LothartheDestroyer2 karma

What can a normal person do to.help raise awareness? Is there a charity? A non-profit?

countythrowaway5 karma

I don't know of any charities in Oklahoma. I'd say contact the ACLU and be involved in inmate outreach programs. When you hear of someone being beat while in jail, listen to them, try to help them. That's all anyone can do until the right people take notice.

shittingonlawns2 karma

How infuriating is it that injustice like this is accepted and not fought for?

countythrowaway1 karma

It's disheartening, but doesn't stop my resolve. There are solutions to these problems and until they cease, i will not stop fighting for the voiceless.

GilmoreHappy10021 karma

Was the prison single or uni-sex? If so, did female guards assault female/male prisoners? Did you witness rape either male on female or male on male?

countythrowaway1 karma

We had male and female inmates.

This was a jail, not a prison. these people hadn't been charged with anything. Some of them were just in jail for public intox. This isn't a hardened prison.

Rape, while i'm sure it exists, i believe is over glorified on TV. I only heard of a few while there, and never witnessed anything like that.

derpepper1 karma

Do most officers partake in this or does a silent majority just stay out of it?

countythrowaway1 karma

It depended on the shift. On some shifts there was much more of a "family"mentality. These people lived together, worked together and partied together. Those guys were the absolute worst.

On another shift, there were some, but then there were some who did not participate.