If you're picking up property, bring a pen, in case they still haven't replaced the one they expect you to use that doesn't work. Also, be sure to have the booking number for your person.
When I was first introduced to the "systemic" processes involved in incarceration, Intake Transfer and Release (ITR) wasn't even a thing. I'm sure in some ways, it has streamlined aspects of booking and release. For example, if someone is processed, they'll likely be released through ITR. It's also evidently where you go to collect an inmate's property--if the "tank order" has been properly submitted. Although not the same place to pick up property for someone who is no longer in custody.
That's a big if, especially given the ongoing staffing shortages. Delays are common, and miscommunication is rampant.
Yes, public parking is located in the pickup lot, even for property retrieval. Security staff were kind and helpful, but the Detention Officers (DOs) assisting with property seemed understandably frustrated with the process. When I visited, they told me they hadn't received the tank order that had supposedly been submitted the previous week. I asked for clarification and got little more than a shrug.
The MCSO website states the public must bring the tank order to property pickup--but according to staff, that's outdated information.
Something felt off, so I went to the jail myself to retrieve the tank order. When I returned to ITR with it, a more informed DO finally explained what had happened. Here's the thing--not every inmate is a repeat offender who understands this complex, often contradictory system. My loved one is a first-time detainee with no knowledge of these procedures.
In this case, confusion was made worse by the fact that he was immediately placed under a 72-hour watch and never informed that he could release cash in his possession to an outside party. There's a 24-hour window to do this--but if you're under watch and no one tells you, how would you know?
According to a supervising DO, many staff members are new and still learning the process themselves. Unfortunately, this leads to inconsistent information being given to the public--often confidently, but incorrectly. In my experience, some DOs would rather pass on misinformation than admit they're unsure or ask someone more knowledgeable.
This creates a troubling cycle: inaccurate information is passed down and repeated until someone takes the time to correct it--if ever.
Bottom line: ITR is one of those places no one wants to be, but you might find yourself needing to go there anyway. If you do, be patient, double-check everything, and trust your gut when something feels off. You may have to advocate harder than seems reasonable--but you're not alone in that. read more
