An Hour in Jail Kilted

[Riverkilt]

Yesterday, local Justice of the Peace asked me to go to the jail and do a formal DUI court screening. Got a chance today when a client no showed to their appointment.

Today I'm wearing my USA Kilts casual MacLean Hunting tartan kilt, green kilt hose, no flashes, Z Coil shoes, white shirt and green sweatervest.

Have worked and volunteered behind bars for many years so know the drill on what's allowed. Took off my kilt pin and sporran and left them in the car. Just took in car keys in my jacket pocket.

To get to our jail you have to go through the County Sheriff's Office substation. There were three deputies on duty. The deputy who let me in is the husband of a coworker and he said, "We have a pool going here. Do you wear anything under your kilt?" My response was a most polite, "Only when I'm working." They laughed and the Sergeant said, "I win!"

Once in the jail no problem or comment from the Detention Officers, my inmate client, or other inmates. Did the screening and left. No problems.

Kinda fun to push the boundaries a little bit...thought there are other's who'd been behind bars kilted as part of their work...??

But hey, point is if I can wear a kilt to jail in the rural canyonlands of Arizona I expect one could, and should, wear a kilt most anywhere.

Ron

[Caradoc]

Kinda fun to push the boundaries a little bit...thought there are other's who'd been behind bars kilted as part of their work...??

A few years ago, one attendee at an SCA event ended up being booked (drunk and disorderly) into Madison Street Jail in Maricopa County in a great kilt.

I don't know how hospitable the jail is wearing a kilt on the other side of the bars.

[cessna152towser]

Often been behind bars to visit clients when I was a young lawyer, but never kilted. It was common to receive a telephone call around 1 or 2 in the morning from the Glasgow police to say they had one of my clients in custody. If you didn't go within the hour you would lose a publicly funded client. Once you got there they locked you in the cell with the client to discuss what you would say in court next morning. Just rattle on the bars to let us know when you are finished seeing your client they would say. Yet they took great delight in pretending not to hear and keeping you locked in the cell for an extra half hour or so when you just wanted to go home to bed. I remember one Young Offenders Institution, now closed, where I would go during the day to visit young clients on remand. You had to walk across a courtyard from the gatehouse to the cell block (where they at least had the decency to bring the client to an interview room rather than seeing him in the cell), and always got a barracking of comments shouted from cell windows as you walked across the courtyard. Hard enough in a conventional business suit without breaking the mould by going kilted. No wonder I chucked criminal defence work in favour of a local government career, starting as a schools lawyer and ending up thirty years later as a town hall manager. Now as a semi-retired. part-time self employed one of my roles is sitting as District Court Assessor twice per month, an activity which I am able to do kilted.

[GMan]

I have never been in jail (either side) Kilted or otherwise, yet I do mentor families in the process of getting kids out of gangs, better jobs, staying in school, etc.

The first time I appeared with this one family and their son who was framed by the gang (since he was attempting to leave) for murder. The judge stopped the proceedings and asked me the reason I was Kilted, of course with respect every human deserves, I stated the heritage with him and he asked if I was from Scotland or Ireland. I said no, that I was from Denver. He said Thank You and the proceedings went on. A little bit later a note came for me from the judge himself, and he wanted to see me in chambers.

We had a good time with me telling him all about Kilt wearing and such as the whys and wheres of attaining a Kilt.

Good story Ron, and keep up your good work!

[Frank McGrath]

I have not seen the inside of a jail since I was eight years old. Yes, eight. Our cub scout den toured the not yet opened jail in Montgomery County, Md. When the electric lock closed behind me, right then and there i swore that I would never hear that sound again. And I haven't.

[McClef]

I worked for the UK Prison Service in a civilian administration capacity for several years but only had one moth-eaten kilt at the time so I didn't wear it to work. :eek:

[Aldisimo]

I'm really glad that the title of this thread is ... misleading [intentionally, I'm sure].

[Carolina Kiltman]

My only time on the wrong side of the bars, was when I was in a college Choir and we were on tour. Usually we stayed in private homes, but in one town there was a flu epidemic, and the only hotel (about 10 rooms, small town) filled up with the girls in the choir. The boys were taken to the city jail (only one inmate, a drunk) and we spent the night as "guests". . . . . Never had any desire to spend time there in an "official" capacity!

As this was about 60 years ago, I am sure times have changed.

[Nick the DSM]

aww, i thought you actually went to jail in a kilt. now i'm heartbroken...


no not really!

i bet the inmate was like "man, when i get out of here. i'm soooooo buying a kilt!"

[Casey_in_Carolina]

I'm in and out of the local jail on an almost daily basis, bringing new "guests", and end up in regional jails and detention centers now then to extradite one back home. To be honest, I don't know that I'd want to go in the jail kilted. Not for any comments, or what people might think, but when(not if) it hits the fan, I don't want to be scrabbling around on the floor with at least one, possibly more "guests", with my 'naughty bits' in easy reach. These guys(and girls) have no scruples when they decide to fight, and scratch, bite, claw, spit, kick, knee, elbow, head butt, and generally flail around enough, that I want everything as secured and protected as it can reasonably be, without suiting up in bomb detail armor.

That's just me, your mileage may vary


Casey