Francis (Frank) Paul

When I was in Jail.

Written by: Francis (Frank) Paul, St. Augustine, Florida.

When I was in Jail.

(Not in any particular order)
Based on my 60 hours (maybe a little less) in jail.
The following was written (typed) in about 2 - 2.5 hours on May 6, 2026.
It's a rough draft and has not been edited, modified or proof-read yet.
1,988 words, 10,487 characters

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The 4-5 men recently arrested in the upper cell block next to mine, stayed in their cells nearly 24/7.
There were 5-6 cells in the upstairs block I was in.

The private enclosed 8' x 8' showering area below (on level 1) in the middle ground area surrounded by 5' high concrete block walls and open at the top, did not get used by any prisoner during the time that I was there.

The guards/corrections officers did not interact or assist the prisoners with any sort of typical scheduled breaks from their cells; which should include (at least 30 - 60 minutes per 24 hours); getting fresh air, going out to the outside walk path/track, sunshine areas, picnic tables, basketball court/hoops, etc.

All of these outside recreational options (inside the main high security fence) were only there for show, and not being used at all, since the men, women, and even the passersby outside walking or driving down Lewis Speedway can see that those areas are constantly vacant and perpetually empty of man. (or prisoner.)

Rather than the guards doing much of anything to interact or assist the prisoners in any way, they spent time playing video games and/or reading books.

I noticed that the other 5-6 mostly younger / young men arrested in their 20's and 30's that had been within my upstairs cell block, were very polite and respectful, going out of their way to do so, calling me "sir." They were very likeable (or likable).

Even the pregnant women in jail were not allowed a bottle of clean drinking water free or to pay for it, but instead, are made to drink warm tap water which appeared to travel through old lead pipes from when the jail was built in 1952.

Every prisoner should be given at least 1 bottle of clean drinking water per 24 hours, or should have the option to pay for one or two.

Especially when the company contracted to maintain the menu/canteen/commissary is called "OASIS."

I noticed in the parking garage when first entering into the facility, there were what appeared to be hundreds of cases and thousands of bottles of drinking water. For mainly, obviously, the big thirsty NFL looking guards.
(And no, not just black guys, .. these are white guys.)

On the canteen (commissary) list menu/page provided by a company called OASIS of all names, no clean bottled drinking water is available. Again, I'm not so much concerned about the men. Even though it is important for a man to get some water too. It's the women who definitely should not be deprived of clean drinking water while being confined, pregnant or not. It should be a Law or a mandatory rule.

Come on all you fine young important Law-makers, making all kinds of Laws on a regular basis! How about water?

Under the beverages category section, you (or others) can buy; powdered flavoring only (similar to cool-aid) to mix with the warm leaded-pipe tap water. "Beverages" are not beverages, (no real liquid; punch, water, juice, milk, etc.) Only powder packs. Where's Jim Jones when you need him?

I realized it's very difficult to make a free phone call. No phone books or access to your phone contacts is allowed. Since your phone gets confiscated upon arrest.

I was put into a radiation machine to check for contraband. The guard let it run on my body for about 10 seconds. This happened 3 different times since I was arrested 3 times within a 16 month period.
Arrest #1: Charges from early 2024 were dismissed/dropped.  Arrest numbers 2 and 3 are pending.

The folks that finally showed up to attach my GPS ankle monitor for "AEM" were old people who could not speak English very well.

For dinner I got 4 pieces of white bread with 1 small (strawberry ) jelly, (Should I say Jam instead? I don't think so, that's what's between my toes) and 1 small peanut butter pack (the same size as a small McDonalds ketchup pack.)

I also got a piece of what appeared to be corn bread and a side of some type of uncooked looking canned greens.

I also got a small carton of apple juice the same size as the milk carton(s) provided in grade school, processed out of Ohio. (Very tasty and refreshing, especially when you won't drink the water.)

For a bed, I got a 3 inch yoga mat on top of heavy steel plate.

Is this any way to treat good American folks who are presumed "Innocent until proven Guilty?"

Is that saying really true? ... "With Liberty and Justice for ALL ..."
Just wondering who the: "ALL" are?

The commode in my cell (the entire time) was full of human waste and small trash items that may have been put in by the prisoner before me. I had to add to it a few times hoping that it would not over-flow.  It would not flush.

Finally, after nearly 60 hours in jail, a nice Southern Gal showed up to clean out the commode, just as I was leaving the cell.

The young man (in his late 20's) who was responsible for assisting me in the parking garage from the police truck going into the first set of doors asked me "if I had anything on me or in my pockets?" I told him "No I didn't."

A few minutes later, this late 20's-ish soldier looking fellow, put his hand in both my front pants pockets to check.

He immediately called me a liar as if I intentionally lied to him, since he found 1 piece of stray toilet tissue in my right pocket.

I replied: "No, Satan the devil is the father of the lie."  He appeared to be stumped by those words and didn't say anything else to me.

Getting out of the police cruiser vehicle in the parking garage, not fully out of the vehicle yet, Officer Briggs said I was arrested for "Sextortion." At the time of my being cuffed at my house, he took me bare-footed, not allowing me to put on shoes. It was close to dinner time and he may have been moody and hungry at the same time.

When I was being released from jail, the nice guy at the glass window asked me about my shoes. I told him the story about being rushed out of my house, so he gave me a free cheap pair of used black rubber Crocs which I'm still wearing 14 months later.

The blonde nurse was very nice and re-wrapped my index finger which had been cut 2 weeks earlier. She fits her job really well.

I realized that I'm "Innocent until proven Guilty" but it surely seems that I'm being treated as the Guilty party.

The main downstairs holding cell made for about 10 people had a commode near the west wall which seemed to be almost in the middle of the room.

I was photographed by a male staff member who looked like this was just a part-time job for him, as if his main job was a tackle in the NFL.

The mugshot photographer (in my opinion) tries to capture a "bad photo" (based on facial expressions and sadness being locked up) and ends up using one of the worst (lesser attractiveness) ones he can get.

I have wondered if their mugshot photo device actually adds filters to make the person (the photo of the person) really look bad or different, or not as attractive, to give the State even more of an advantage for a conviction or a guilty plea. (Anything to win.)

(If they don't get arrests and convictions and pleas, they don't have a job.)

If arrested, a citizen who is "presumed to be innocent" should have photos taken upon arrest, but they should be kept out of the public eye; unless required to be shown (publicly) at a later time for being on the wanted list, an escapee, bail-bond jumping, etc.

The "innocent citizen" should be allowed to use the photo on their state ID or Driver License to assure the above described method of getting the mugshot photos and the adding of "bad or unattractive photo filters" is not really possible or intentionally taking place.

It is such an unfair playing field for a any Defendant charged with a crime; Going against The "Unlimited Machine," and facing: "The Hammer."  But I'm workin' on it.

The bright lights stay on 24/7.

Every morning at about 4:30am, the yelling for breakfast starts with: I can't recall what was on the tray, since I passed on that meal twice, not really trusting what was actually on/in it. Rather, gladly going hungry.

I only drank about 10 ounces total (60 hours in jail) of the warm tap water, but I did get 2 small cartons of apple juice which helped keep me alive.

When I was in jail, (based on a "victim's" totally false accusations), I had to sign up and pay for a GPS ankle (bracelet) monitor which has now been on my body 24/7 for the past 400+ days, so far, at $9.00 per day.

I have a strong immune system and regularly work out, but I believe this device is harming the health of everyone (anyone) who is subjected to it for any length of time.

The GPS device connects to the Satellite(s) relaying location and charging information to a main computer system, documenting the persons movements.

..."which calculate a new location coordinate every 1 to 15 seconds or generate roughly 1,440 location points per day. The receiver passively processes satellite signals on an ongoing basis to build a location history..."
Says: PrivacyInternational.org

In order to get out of jail, I had to pay thousands of dollars (bond) as a way to obtain my freedom as an "innocent person." After 400+ days so far, my (bond) money is still tied up and still not able to be used.  Almost $5K.

Those ones arrested who can not bail/bond out of jail should at least be given options; an opportunity to get out, learn a trade, get to work, and put all of the Mexican's out of business who are on all the roofs - doing the roofing.

When getting released from my jail cell after about 60 hours, walking past one of the guards I said: "Goodbye Torture Hotel!" He said: "It's worse in other jails.." I said: Oh yeah! Where? Russia?

Sitting in the waiting chairs ready to get signed out of jail, a 40's age self-proclaimed Puerto Rican American Iraq War Army Veteran responded: "Me neither!" when I told him that I did not drink the water.

I told him that I only drank about 10 ounces of it in the past 60 hours. He said he only drank about 6 ounces of it in the 48 hours he'd been in jail.

He said he was charged and arrested for his bad temper during an argument with his girlfriend when "flipping over a couch in his living room" caused the arrest. He did not admit if their was anything more to it.

The above : "When I was in Jail" my thoughts and moments written down as notes to myself.  Anyone else reading this, who may agree that things could be adjusted and changed for the better, speak up.

(Or, maybe don't speak up. You might get arrested for it.)

I have about 50 more items I'd like to add, so, y'all come back! Hear?

Francis (Frank) Paul, St. Augustine, Florida.

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Thanks for stopping by! ... Francis (Frank) Paul ...  Y'all come back now! hear?

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“One may choose to overlook idle gossip against him, but when someone commits perjury against you before a court of law it is certainly proper to defend yourself and offer evidence to refute lies that have been told.  
They should not be allowed to stand in the record against you.”
... Frank Paul