The two above photos of Sunset Marina were taken about twelve years apart. The top photo shows the Monroe County Jail which was opened in 1994. This was about four or five years before the Key West Golf Club Community was developed. Six years later the Sunset Marina was built. Neither were attracted the location because of the jail but despite of it and its neighbor to north, Mt. Trashmore, the long time landfill. It was about this that the landfill was decommissioned and the sky high pile of trash was covered with soil and protective membrane and the planted to avoid erosion. It is this jail where the wayward spend a day or too many if they disobey the law. Some came here to stay a few days, some came to start a new life, some may leave here to spend more time behind iron bars as guest of the State of Florida. .
All of these photos were taken during the booking process at the Monroe County Jail. All of these people are presumed innocent. I saved some of these photos because many people were bandaged for what seemed to me to be minor charges like "open container" violation. I see tourists walking the streets of Key West everyday with drinks in hand. They do not get arrested. Many were arrested for violating probation or failure to appear. One person was arrested for child molestation and another for murder. You can't tell by looking.
Remember Sergeant Phil Esterhaus would tell the policemen "Let's be careful out there"? I say the same thing to those who come to Key West.
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