LEO's - Jail ??

[John J]

I put cash on a friends books in jail.

He gets released they give him a check for the balance.
He is Bipolar and homeless.

I am in another state.

He has no ID so the check is worthless.

Why am I forced to give cash and they offer up a check?

I called and was told it was "policy."

[Samuelx]

I put cash on a friends books in jail.

He gets released they give him a check for the balance.
He is Bipolar and homeless.

I am in another state.

He has no ID so the check is worthless.

Why am I forced to give cash and they offer up a check?

I called and was told it was "policy."

And?

[DEPUTYBILL]

Have him sign it over to you, and send it back to you?
I assume you gave him the money to use to buy things while in jail. Since he is no longer in jail, he should not need the money?
Not sure what county he is in, but he might be able to go to the auditors office and get it cashed with his copy of his booking/release slip as ID?

[DEPUTYBILL]

Also, the amount might be an issue. Did you give him $20,or $200. A large amount might have a "policy" of a check. Also does he have family or a social worker he sees? They might be able to help.

[John J]

The person is homeless

And has no ID.

I had planned to put a couple hundred in cash via another friend in the state where he is in jail. The cash-friend lives 30 minutes away so he cannot wait for the jail-ee to walk outside the jail.

The jail-ee is mostly non functioning and unable to figure out how to navigate the maze of jail rules.

I have written to and left a message for the jail commander asking for clarification and help.

Otherwise this person will be back in jail in hours if not minutes because he needs to eat and a place to stay. (That I am willing to pay for if a way can be found to get him cash.)

[Ron-Solo]

Most jails have gone "cashless" to prevent inmates from getting robbed by other inmates. When you put money on their books, they get credit in their account.

Most jails only accept cash or certain money orders because of the high amount of fraud committed by people with friends in jail

Large amounts of cash are not kept for security reasons and accounting purposes.

If your friend is that much of a basket case as you describe, having cash isn't going to help him, especially if he has a drug problem.

Sounds more like he needs help from a mental health standpoint. If he is that bad, the jail can place a psych hold on him until he is evaluated and will sometimes release directly to a mental health facility.

[jonc]

[DEPUTYBILL]

OK. if he is still in custody, you should try calling the medical staff at the jail.
If they are already aware of his problems, he might be on meds at this time.
If not, they may evaluate him, and get him some help.

If he is time served on, or whatever charge(s) have been dropped, the jail is not going to be able to hold him. If the medical staff feel he is a danger to himself or others, he can be placed in a mental health facility for a evaluation.

Again, if he has local family or friends that are willing to help, or has a social worker assigned though the court or mental health, there is not much you can do for him out of state.

[John J]

Correct

This person has been in many jails and been 5150'd a dozen or more times. His parents and I are unable to help him due to HIPPA and him not reaching rock bottom, yet.

There is zero mental health available in CA for someone without insurance. It has been one revolving door after another. The parents have spent in excess of $150K on schools, doctors, lawyers, etc.

I just need a way to get some cash to him in Oregon. I had a guy drive to the jail with cash but the jail said they would give him a check when he got out.

Western Union, banks etc all require a picture ID.
He has a copy of his birth cert. that is all.

Most jails have gone "cashless" to prevent inmates from getting robbed by other inmates. When you put money on their books, they get credit in their account.

Most jails only accept cash or certain money orders because of the high amount of fraud committed by people with friends in jail

Large amounts of cash are not kept for security reasons and accounting purposes.

If your friend is that much of a basket case as you describe, having cash isn't going to help him, especially if he has a drug problem.

Sounds more like he needs help from a mental health standpoint. If he is that bad, the jail can place a psych hold on him until he is evaluated and will sometimes release directly to a mental health facility.

[DEPUTYBILL]

This person has been in many jails and been 5150'd a dozen or more times. His parents and I are unable to help him due to HIPPA and him not reaching rock bottom, yet.



There is zero mental health available in CA for someone without insurance. It has been one revolving door after another. The parents have spent in excess of $150K on schools, doctors, lawyers, etc.



I just need a way to get some cash to him in Oregon. I had a guy drive to the jail with cash but the jail said they would give him a check when he got out.



Western Union, banks etc all require a picture ID.
He has a copy of his birth cert. that is all.

So his parents can't help him get a DMV id card? it sounds like he has had issues for years. I don't know what you really think you can do to help him. Just giving him money is not going to really help him. Sounds like he can't or won't try to help himself.

[M&P40FAN]

If you put money on his books for him to buy food items and such, they will most likely be stolen from him anyway.

[Che762x39]

He gets released they give him a check for the balance.
He is Bipolar and homeless.

He has no ID so the check is worthless.

Is he 18, 48 or 78? If he is from CA his parents should have got him a ID card. DMV does it here.

Actually you are 'enabling' him and not helping him. Give a man a fish and tomorrow you will have to give him another fish. Teach him how to fish and he will be ok.

[MontClaire]

tell him to go get an id at any check cashing places. not a big deal. the city of SF for example offers id to homeless, illegals and other criminals just for asking providing they give a valid address in the city.(shouldn't be hard to remember the walgreens street number)

[Zedrek]

There are plenty of services here in California for the mentally ill. The problem is that the person has to actually want the help.

Also, there are check cashing places that will cash a check without an ID. He needs to check around.

This person has been in many jails and been 5150'd a dozen or more times. His parents and I are unable to help him due to HIPPA and him not reaching rock bottom, yet.

There is zero mental health available in CA for someone without insurance. It has been one revolving door after another. The parents have spent in excess of $150K on schools, doctors, lawyers, etc.

I just need a way to get some cash to him in Oregon. I had a guy drive to the jail with cash but the jail said they would give him a check when he got out.

Western Union, banks etc all require a picture ID.
He has a copy of his birth cert. that is all.

[Ron-Solo]

In LA, a NIX check cashing card is better ID than a driver license.

They fingerprint and photo everyone. I wouldn't be surprised if they took DNA and a lein on your first Bon kid too.