Elenamary

I just went to the Jacksonpike Prison.  My friend is there (don’t worry it is a misdemenor however it was her second offence so she got 30 days!)

I recently lost my wallet and as such don’t have my drivers license or even my student ID, so I had to use my passport at the prison.  My roommate also lost her drivers license and used her student ID.
When we presented my passport and my student ID, the sheriff(?) told me that my ID wasn’t acceptable she then
asked her co-worker if it would be alright to accept my passport has ID.  When she was informed that it was okay
she told me she was going to need my social security number and something with my address on it (she never asked my roommate for either).  I handed her my book of checks with my address on it and asked if it was necessary to give my social security number.  She responded that yes it was, and I inquired what if I didn’t have one?  She responded that everyone has a social security number.  I explained to her very politely and with lots of respect that international students didn’t have SSNs.  She then asked me “Are you legal?” mind you she had my US passport in hand.  And lord of all people, to ask me if I am “legal”, I am NOT the one  you want to ask.

I told her yes that I was.  I asked her if I could write my SSN down rather than say it aloud.
She got lots of attitude and said that she didn’t see why I couldn’t just say it out loud.  I explained it made
me uncomfortable and that I would be more than happy to write it down and that I appreciated her understanding.
I was damn respectful, I would’ve made my nuns proud.

Plus I really wanted to see my friend.

The story gets much better.  After seeing my friend I went back and asked the woman
for her name and identifying number.  She refused to give it to me and told me she didn’t have to because it was
“personal”.  I explained that as a civil servant in a civil setting it was not, and that her identifying number
was given by the government.  She said again “I don’t have to give it you.  It is my name it is personal.  And you
won’t tell me what it is for.”  I asked if I could speak to her supervisor.  She called him and he refused to speak to me.
I asked her if I could have his name and identifying number.  She refused again. I asked her are you refusing to
give me your name or an identifiying number and your supervisors name and identifying number”  she responded yes and
told me that i needed to get out of her window.  I explained to her again that as a civil servant this was a
very acceptable request.  She walked away and took someone else at a different window.

Anyway I am pissed.

I’ll be filing a formal complaint tomorrow.