Callaway County Prosecuting Attorney Announces Procedures Regarding In-Custody Defendants

Callaway County Jail Procedures

As some of you may already know, the Callaway County Sheriff has been working to limit public access to the Callaway County Jail to help reduce the possibility of COVID-19 transmission and make reasonable accommodation for attorney-client contact.

Inmates still have phone contact availability with their attorneys.

In addition, the jail will be using the visitor pods to allow for attorney-client meetings.  These pods separate the attorney from the client by a glass partition.  While it will significantly reduce the possibility of virus transmission, these pods are not airtight and are not intended to be.  Although there are six (6) pods in the visitation area, only one pod will be used at a time to insure attorney-client confidentiality.  The Sheriff was able to work with the vendor to disable the recording system so that those contacts are NOT recorded.  That is true even if there are signs posted to the contrary.  Also, the Sheriff has thoroughly tested the system to make certain that the conversations are NOT being recorded.


EFFECTIVE MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2020 –

JAIL VISITS

Attorneys wishing to arrange personal meetings with clients will need to contact the jail staff to book a time for their attorney/client meeting in the visitation pod.  Please enter the main lobby at the Law Enforcement Center and be prepared to show a driver’s license and Missouri Bar card to the jail staff (especially in the evenings with staff who may not be familiar with individual defense attorneys.)

To start, the meetings times will be limited to 30-minute increments so that as many attorneys who need to start that contact can have that access.  The jail will work with attorneys to increase the length of the meeting so long as there are no bookings of the pod immediately after your 30-minute time period.  As the process goes along, and depending on demand, the Sheriff may extend the length of visits, thereby reducing the number of appointment blocks.

The available days are Monday through FridayPRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO PUBLIC DEFENDERS ON TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS.  Requests for Saturday and Sunday visits will be accommodated as best as possible.  If you need a weekend booking, please contact Captain Robbie Harrison at 573/592-2458 prior to the proposed weekend appointment time.  (weekend appointment blocks/times will remain the same as weekdays)

The available time periods are as follows:

9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. (*ends at 11:00 a.m.) – 4 appointment blocks

1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (*ends at 4:00 p.m.) – 6 appointment blocks

6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (*ends at 10:00 p.m.) – 8 appointment blocks

*Please note – the stopping point at 11am, 4pm and 10pm are HARD DEADLINES to accommodate the passing of medications, meals and head count.


COURT APPEARANCES

ALL defense attorneys are asked to be in the courtroom for criminal proceedings and NOT report to the jail for dockets.  Inmates will still appear by video but attorneys will no longer be at the jail in direct contact with inmates appearing in court by video.  Again, the purpose of this is to reduce the possibility of introduction of COVID-19 into the jail or, should the virus be introduced into the inmate population, transmitted from inmates to attorneys. Per the administrative order entered March 16, 2020, inmates will NOT be transported to court unless the judge orders it.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding during these difficult times.

Christopher D. Wilson
Callaway County Prosecuting Attorney
10 East 5th Street
Fulton, Missouri 65251
Telephone:  573/642-0714
Facsimile:  573/642-5725