The catacomb of the Salt Lake County Jail was an education for some members of the Sheriff's Advisory Board, a glimpse of the justice system's bottom line.
To learn about the jail as well as its patrons, the group was provided a temporary passport to areas where a candy bar served as currency and an inmate pressed his tongue to the glass and watched for a reaction.The tour was only a portion of an extensive eight-hour training session. As members of the newly formed advisory board, the men and women wandered the Hall of Justice as if on campus.
"The jail was very interesting to me," said board member Barry Bank, a retailer from Sugarhouse. "We saw some people in there that are rough people."
A lecture titled "History and Evolution of Law Enforcement," was followed by another called "Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office and Structure, Legal Duties, Jurisdiction and Authority." And that was just half of the morning's agenda.
In the afternoon, the group moved through the jail at a quick pace and on to "Disciplinary Process and Review" and "Emergency Driving, Pursuit Driving Theory, and Accident Board Review Process."
It was a heady dose of law for a group of mostly rookie observers. The Saturday tour was the first time many had ventured into a prison facility.
They asked about escapes, riots and prisoners' rights. Some commented on the cramped quarters of the facility and the crimes of some of the inmates.
"To me, this is very intimidating," said one board member. Several people experienced slight to strong cases of claustrophobia.
One man rounded a corner in the bowels of the jail and became disoriented. Rubbing his head, he questioned his direction.
"I think we've been this way," he said. "Maybe not, maybe not."
Following the training session, several of the board praised Kennard and his staff for devising an extensive training agenda.
"They are going the extra mile," Bank said.
"After Saturday, I'm very encouraged," Richard Williams of Sandy said. "There are some . . . strong personalities, but I think the board cannot be intimidated."