The Devil’s in the Details
Even though we write fiction, authenticity matters. It’s the details that make our stories authentic and create an immersive world for the reader. As a crime fiction writer of a series that is legal adjacent, I believe my responsibility is to get the details correct.
My second book has a scene involving a corrections officer and an in-person family visit with an inmate. This scene was necessary to establish relationships that were key to the plot. While I’d been inside that particular jail many times in the past as an attorney, I’ve never been there as a visitor.
Like most authors today, my first stop was the internet. I was dismayed to discover that family and friends could only have remote video visits. Well, that wasn’t going to work. That had to be wrong.
TAIT Radio with BOB
I called the jail directly, not expecting to get anywhere. After numerous transfers, I finally connected with a counselor who was willing to speak with me. No, the only in-person visits were on special holidays such as Christmas or Father’s Day. Worse yet, these visits were in a group setting. It looked like I had to go back to the drawing board.
Then the counselor asked why I wanted to know. I explained I was an author writing crime fiction— a fact they could verify since my name appeared on their caller id—and described the scene.
The counselor spoke to another person in the room. After a brief consultation, the other person, who was in charge, got on the phone. “You’d have to put in a motion and get a court order. Then we’d arrange a contact visit.” She laughed. “But you’d have to find a judge that would do that.”
Since I had a fictional judge in my fictional pocket, that wouldn’t be a problem. I thanked the counselors profusely for solving my plot problem.
Close-up of BOB
My scene also required the corrections officer to leave the room when an incident occurred in the jail. In the first draft, a radio squawked out a code. Something about that scenario didn’t feel right, so I decided to call a lifeline — my neighbor, Tom, whose company provides radio systems to prisons and jails.
Just like the counselors, Tom was glad to help. He brought over a demo radio. When I described the scene, he immediately disabused me of codes and messages that inmates can hear. I learned that guards carry their radio in a leather holster on their duty belt along with two sets of cuffs and a couple cans of CS spray, a.k.a. tear gas. A speaker mic, connected by a curly cord resembling an old telephone cord to the radio, clips on the guard’s collar. The guards listen to the radio through a corded earpiece that could be stored in the speaker mic.
These radios are more than glorified walkie-talkies. Each one has a screen that displays a unique id such as a badge number or an officer’s call sign. The radios have accelerometers much like the Apple watch feature that detects a fall. If the radio accelerates, goes on its side, or is in a horizontal position, a “man-down” is issued. If an incident occurs, the guard pushes BOB (Big Orange Button) located on the speaker mic. If BOB is held down for three seconds, an emergency is broadcast.
Wow! Did I have a wrong detail in my jail scene! A small detail, but nonetheless, an important one for authenticity. Armed with my new information, I fixed my faux pas.
I learned a valuable lesson. Research on the internet doesn’t always deliver the goods. Whenever possible, seek out a person with the right experience.
And don’t be afraid to ask.
Really good information and a wonderful reminder that getting details right certainly matters.
Thanks Debra. One thing I’m super careful about are the guns. It it a pistol or a revolver? Automatic or semi-automatic? Double or single action? Caliber? Number of rounds? Thank goodness one of my critique partners knows guns!
Brooke, is the information about guests exclusive to the county or state where you set your book, or is it throughout all prisons, both state and federal? Makes me wonder if the writers of all the TV shows and movies I’ve watched over the decades haven’t bothered to do any research or have simply ignored the facts. This wouldn’t be the first time. Novelists seem to held to a higher standard.
Lois – Great point. The rules will be different depending whether for a jail or prison as well as state or federal. Federal detention centers (jails) and prisons appear to allow contact visits, even for the SHU (special housing unit). County jails are trending toward video visitation, probably due to funding and staffing issues. If a story is sent in the past, then contact visits were most likely still allowed at jails. It’s simple to check and I’m glad I did!
Enjoyed reading this post. Your research makes for a whole separate story! Fun being an author.
Thanks Saralyn! Confession: I love the research part of writing!
So do I!
Love this blog, and what a great resource you have in your neighbor Tom. My suggestion: get a life insurance policy on him ASAP especially if Brie plans to visit Florida prisons, which I am guessing she does 😉 Great blog, Brooke.
Thanks Donnell! Brie is staying in Florida for the time being!
Research can truly lead down a rabbit hole, but it’s such a good authenticity check. Glad it paid off, Brooke.
Yes – and I’ve fallen into that rabbit hole so many times!
A phone call to the right person can keep me from the rabbit hole, although my questions can often raise suspicion, like the time I called a small town police station to ask what their procedure was if I found a dead body. The dispatcher misunderstood and thought I was making a report. It took some fast talking to assure her I had not found a body.
LOL! What a story! That’s great!
Research is imperative, and nothing beats an expert in the field. In my experience, experts like to share their knowledge. Great post!