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Subscribe to Cases that cite 455 U. S. 591U.S. Supreme Court
Sumner v. Mata, 455 U.S. 591 (1982)
Sumner v. Mata
No. 81-844
Decided March 22, 1982
Title 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d) requires federal courts in habeas corpus proceedings to accord a presumption of correctness to state court findings of fact unless specified factors are present. In earlier proceedings in this case, this Court held that the Court of Appeals had not followed § 2254(d) in concluding -- contrary to the California Court of Appeal's decision on respondent's appeal from his state murder conviction -- that pretrial photographic lineup procedures used by the state police were so impermissibly suggestive as to deprive respondent of due process. The case was remanded so that the federal court could review its determination and either apply the statutory presumption of correctness of the state court findings or explain why the presumption did not apply in light of the factors listed in § 2254(d). The Court of Appeals then concluded that § 2254(d) was irrelevant in this case because its findings of fact did not differ from those of the state court, the disagreement being over the constitutional significance of certain facts. It reinstated its conclusion that the pretrial procedures were impermissibly suggestive and that respondent therefore was entitled to release or a new trial.
Held: The case must be remanded again. The ultimate question as to the constitutionality of the pretrial identification procedures is a mixed question of law and fact that is not governed by § 2254(d). In deciding this question, the federal courts may give different weight to the facts as found by the state court, and may reach a different conclusion in light of the legal standard. However, the questions of fact that underlie this ultimate conclusion are governed by the statutory presumption. Thus, the circumstances of the pretrial identification procedures in this case present questions of fact as to which the statutory presumption applies. The Court of Appeals should either apply the presumption or explain why it is not applicable in view of the factors listed in the statute.
Certiorari granted; 649 F.2d 713, vacated and remanded.
This is the second time that this matter has come before us. In Sumner v. Mata, 449 U. S. 539 (1981), decided last Term, we held that 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d) requires federal courts in chanrobles.com-red
habeas proceedings to accord a presumption of correctness to state court findings of fact. This requirement could not be plainer. The statute explicitly provides that
"a determination after a hearing on the merits of a factual issue, made by a State court of competent jurisdiction . . . , shall be presumed to be correct."
Only when one of seven specified factors is present or the federal court determines that the state court finding of fact "is not fairly supported by the record" may the presumption properly be viewed as inapplicable or rebutted. [Footnote 1]
We held further that the presumption of correctness is chanrobles.com-red
equally applicable when a state appellate court, as opposed to a state trial court, makes the finding of fact, and we held that, if a federal court concludes that the presumption of correctness does not control, it must provide a written explanation of the reasoning that led it to conclude that one or more of the first seven factors listed in § 2254(d) were present, or the "reasoning which led it to conclude that the state finding was not fairly supported by the record.'" 449 U.S. at 449 U. S. 551.
Applying these general principles to the case at hand, we found in our decision last Term that the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit had neither applied the presumption of correctness nor explained why it had not. See Mata v. Sumner, 611 F.2d 754 (CA9 1979). Instead, the court had made findings of fact that were "considerably at odds" with the findings made by the California Court of Appeal without any mention whatsoever of § 2254(d). 449 U.S. at 449 U. S. 543.
In reaching the conclusion that the Court of Appeals had not followed § 2254(d), we rejected the argument, advanced by respondent Mata, that the findings of fact made by the Court of Appeals and the California court were not in conflict. [Footnote 2] Mata was convicted in 1973 in state trial court of the chanrobles.com-red
first-degree murder of a fellow inmate. There were three witnesses to the murder, each of whom identified Mata as a participant in the killing. [Footnote 3] On appeal to the California Court of Appeal, Mata argued for the first time that the photographic lineup procedure used by the state police was so impermissibly suggestive as to deprive him of due process. After examining the evidence, [Footnote 4] the California Court of Appeal rejected this assertion. It concluded that the pretrial procedures had not been unfair under the test stated by this Court in Simmons v. United States, 390 U. S. 377 (1968):
"Reviewing the facts of the present case to determine if the particular photographic identification procedure used contained the proscribed suggestive characteristics,
we first find that the photographs were available for cross-examination purposes at the trial. We further find that there is no showing of influence by the investigating officers: that the witnesses had an adequate opportunity to view the crime; and that their descriptions are accurate. The circumstances thus indicate the inherent fairness of the procedure, and we find no error in the admission of the identification evidence."
App. to Pet. for Cert. C-8.
The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reached a different conclusion, [Footnote 5] and did so on the basis of factfindings that were clearly in conflict with those made by the state court. We noted that the Court of Appeals had relied, inter alia, on its own conflicting findings that
"(1) the circumstances surrounding the witnesses' observation of the crime were such that there was a grave likelihood of misidentification; (2) the witnesses had failed to give sufficiently detailed descriptions of the assailant; and (3) considerable pressure from both prison officials and prison factions had been brought to bear on the witnesses."
Sumner v. Mata, 449 U.S. at 449 U. S. 543. [Footnote 6] chanrobles.com-red
We concluded that the "findings made by the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit are considerably at odds with the findings made by the California Court of Appeal." Ibid. We remanded so that the Court of Appeals could review its determination of the issue and either apply the statutory presumption or explain why the presumption did not apply in light of the factors listed in § 2254(d). We expressed no view as to whether the procedures had been impermissibly suggestive. That was a question for the Court of Appeals to decide in the first instance, after complying with § 2254(d).
On remand, the Court of Appeals found that it was not necessary for it to apply the presumption of correctness or explain why the presumption should not be applied. 649 F.2d 713 (CA9 1981). Rather, agreeing with the argument advanced by Mata and the dissenting opinion in Sumner v. Mata, supra, the court concluded that § 2254(d) was simply irrelevant in this case, because its factfindings in no way differed from those of the state court. [Footnote 7] It argued that its disagreement with the state court was "over the legal and constitutional significance of certain facts," and not over the facts themselves. 649 F.2d 716. It found that whether or not the pretrial photographic identification procedure used in this case was impermissibly suggestive was a mixed question of law and fact, as to which the presumption of correctness did not apply. And it reinstated its conclusion that the pretrial procedures had been impermissibly suggestive, and that Mata therefore was entitled to release or a new trial. [Footnote 8]
We have again reviewed this case, and conclude that the chanrobles.com-red
Court of Appeals apparently misunderstood the terms of our remand. Nor did it comply with the requirements of § 2254(d). We agree with the Court of Appeals that the ultimate question as to the constitutionality of the pretrial identification procedures used in this case is a mixed question of law and fact that is not governed by § 2254(d). [Footnote 9] In deciding this question, the federal court may give different weight to the facts as found by the state court, and may reach a different conclusion in light of the legal standard. But the questions of fact that underlie this ultimate conclusion are governed by the statutory presumption, as our earlier opinion made clear. Thus, whether the witnesses in this case had an opportunity to observe the crime or were too distracted; whether the witnesses gave a detailed, accurate description; and whether the witnesses were under pressure from prison officials or others are all questions of fact as to which the statutory presumption applies. [Footnote 10]
Of course, the federal courts are not necessarily bound by the state court's findings. Section 2254(d) permits a federal court to conclude, for example, that a state finding was "not fairly supported by the record." But the statute does require the federal courts to face up to any disagreement as to the facts and to defer to the state court unless one of the factors chanrobles.com-red
listed in § 2254(d) is found. Although the distinction between law and fact is not always easily drawn, we deal here with a statute that requires the federal courts to show a high measure of deference to the factfindings made by the state courts. To adopt the Court of Appeals' view would be to deprive this statutory command of its important significance.
Our remand directed the Court of Appeals to reexamine its findings in light of the statutory presumption. We pointed the way by identifying certain of its findings that we considered to be at odds with the findings of the California Court of Appeal. We asked the Court of Appeals to apply the statutory presumption or explain why the presumption was not applicable in view of the factors listed in the statute. The Court of Appeals did neither. Accordingly, we again must remand. Again we note that
"we are not to be understood as agreeing or disagreeing with the majority of the Court of Appeals on the merits of the issue of impermissibly suggestive identification procedures."
449 U.S. at 449 U. S. 552. [Footnote 11]
The motion of respondent for leave to proceed in forma pauperis is granted. The petition for writ of certiorari is granted, the judgment of the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is vacated, and the case is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
So ordered.
Section 2254(d) provides:
"(d) In any proceeding instituted in a Federal court by an application for a writ of habeas corpus by a person in custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court, a determination after a hearing on the merits of a factual issue, made by a State court of competent jurisdiction in a proceeding to which the applicant for the writ and the State or an officer or agent thereof were parties, evidenced by a written finding, written opinion, or other reliable and adequate written indicia, shall be presumed to be correct, unless the applicant shall establish or it shall otherwise appear, or the respondent shall admit -- "
"(1) that the merits of the factual dispute were not resolved in the State court hearing;"
"(2) that the factfinding procedure employed by the State court was not adequate to afford a full and fair hearing;"
"(3) that the material facts were not adequately developed at the State court hearing;"
"(4) that the State court lacked jurisdiction of the subject matter or over the person of the applicant in the State court proceeding;"
"(5) that the applicant was an indigent and the State court, in deprivation of his constitutional right, failed to appoint counsel to represent him in the State court proceeding;"
"(6) that the applicant did not receive a full, fair, and adequate hearing in the State court proceeding; or"
"(7) that the applicant was otherwise denied due process of law in the State court proceeding;"
"(8) or unless that part of the record of the State court proceeding in which the determination of such factual issue was made, pertinent to a determination of the sufficiency of the evidence to support such factual determination, is produced as provided for hereinafter, and the Federal court on a consideration of such part of the record as a whole concludes that such factual determination is not fairly supported by the record:"
"And in an evidentiary hearing in the proceeding in the Federal court, when due proof of such factual determination has been made, unless the existence of one or more of the circumstances respectively set forth in paragraphs numbered (1) to (7), inclusive, is shown by the applicant, otherwise appears, or is admitted by the respondent, or unless the court concludes pursuant to the provisions of paragraph numbered (8) that the record in the State court proceeding, considered as a whole, does not fairly support such factual determination, the burden shall rest upon the applicant to establish by convincing evidence that the factual determination by the State court was erroneous."
Respondent argued:
"All of the facts set forth in the opinion [of the Court of Appeals] are drawn from the record, and do not contradict any finding of primary fact made by the California Court of Appeal."
Brief for Respondent, O.T. 1980, No. 79-1601, pp.19-20.
Two other inmates -- Salvadore Vargas and David Gallegos -- were also convicted of taking part in the murder.
The California Court of Appeal summarized the pretrial procedures as follows:
"Three inmate witnesses testified that they saw the stabbing take place. All three -- Childress, Almengor, and Allen -- identified all three defendants. . . . The witnesses were shown a number of photographs of Tehachapi inmates in an attempt to identify the slayers. Almengor was interviewed and shown photos on October 19, 1972, the day of the incident. He made a possible identification of appellant Vargas, but made possible misidentifications of the other two participants. On October 30, 1972, more recent photos were presented to Almengor, and he identified all the appellants. On October 27, 1972, Allen was shown photographs, but stated he could not make an identification because the photographs were old. On October 30, 1972, more photos were presented to Allen, and he identified all three appellants. On that date, Childress also selected all three appellants from photographs shown to him."
"Appellants argue that the witnesses Almengor and Allen were housed in the same segregation unit with appellants, that they were aware that appellants were removed from the segregation unit to have their pictures taken, and that this makes their identification inadmissible. But they make no showing, and the record supports none, that the witnesses were in fact influenced in their identification by this action of the investigating officers."
App. to Pet. for Cert. C-4 to C-6.
The decision of the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit differed not only with that of the California Court of Appeal on direct appeal, but also with the decision of three levels of state courts in state habeas proceedings and with the decision of the Federal District Court in federal habeas proceedings.
In dissent, JUSTICE BRENNAN argued that there was no conflict between the facts as found by the state court and as found by the Court of Appeals. He argued that the California court's finding that the witnesses had an opportunity to view the killing was not in conflict with a finding by the Court of Appeals that the witnesses were "quite likely" distracted at the time of the killing. He argued further that the California court's finding that the descriptions given by the witnesses were "accurate" was not in conflict with a finding that these descriptions were not detailed. Finally, the dissent appears to have considered that the existence of influence by prison officials was a not a question of fact, but of law. 449 U.S. at 449 U. S. 556. It is obvious that a majority of the Court did not find this reasoning persuasive. On our remand, the Court of Appeals apparently adopted JUSTICE BRENNAN's dissenting views. See 649 F.2d 713, 716 (CA9 1981).
"Lest the reviewing court 'be left to guess' as to our reasons for granting habeas relief notwithstanding the provisions of § 2254(d), we reiterate: as our original analysis indicates . . . , we substantially agree with the 'historical' or 'basic' facts adduced by the California Court of Appeal Fifth Appellate District. . . . We disagree, however, with the application of the Simmons standard . . . to the totality of the circumstances of this case."
Id. at 717.
Judge Sneed dissented from the Court of Appeals' original decision, and he dissented again "respectfully, and, to some degree, sorrowfully." Ibid..
Cf. Cuyler v. Sullivan, 446 U. S. 335 (1980); Brewer v. Williams, 430 U. S. 387 (1977); Neil v. Biggers, 409 U. S. 188, 409 U. S. 193, n. 3 (1972).
In Neil v. Biggers, supra, at 409 U. S. 199-200, we noted that
"the factors to be considered in evaluating the likelihood of misidentification include the opportunity of the witness to view the criminal at the time of the crime, the witness' degree of attention, the accuracy of the witness' prior description of the criminal, the level of certainty demonstrated by the witness at the confrontation, and the length of time between the crime and the confrontation."
Each of these "factors" requires a finding of historical fact as to which § 2254(d) applies. The ultimate conclusion as to whether the facts as found state a constitutional violation is a mixed question of law and fact as to which the statutory presumption does not apply.
Because we remand for failure to comply with § 2254(d), we do not reach the second question presented in the petition for certiorari as to whether the Court of Appeals applied the proper legal standard in determining that the pretrial identification procedures used in this case were constitutionally defective.
JUSTICE BRENNAN, with whom JUSTICE MARSHALL joins, dissenting.
In my view, the opinion of the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit not only accords with the views I expressed last Term, which, as the Court points out, ante at 455 U. S. 595, n. 6, chanrobles.com-red
did not prevail, but also with the principles expressed in the Court's opinion last Term and restated by the Court today. It is on this basis that I dissent from the Court's second, and, in this instance, summary, * vacation.
When this case was before us last Term, I expressed the view that it was unnecessary for the Court of Appeals to explain its failure to consider the restrictions of § 2254(d), because
"the difference between the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the California Court of Appeal was over the applicable legal standard, and not over the particular facts of the case,"
rendering § 2254(d) obviously inapplicable. Sumner v. Mata, 449 U. S. 539, 449 U. S. 558-559 (1981). The Court disagreed, holding that, in all cases, federal courts must apply § 2254(d) or explain why it was inapplicable:
"No court reviewing the grant of an application for habeas corpus should be left to guess as to the habeas court's reasons for granting relief notwithstanding the provisions of § 2254(d)."
449 U.S. at 449 U. S. 552. But I thought then, and the Court today agrees, that § 2254(d) is inapplicable to the ultimate question whether pretrial identification procedures are "impermissibly suggestive," Simmons v. United States, 390 U. S. 377, 390 U. S. 384 (1968). Ante at 455 U. S. 597.
The Court's explicit recognition that § 2254(d) does not govern the ultimate question as to the constitutionality of the pretrial identification procedures used in this case renders all the more confounding the Court's present disposition. Following this Court's directive on remand, the Court of Appeals clarified the basis for its original opinion: Section 2254 (d) was inapplicable because the federal court "substantially agree[d] with the historical' or `basic' facts adduced by the chanrobles.com-red
California Court of Appeal," but disagreed with "the legal and constitutional significance of certain facts," and thus the "legal conclusion" of the state court. 649 F.2d 713, 716-717 (1981).
I can only interpret this second vacation as evincing either the suspicion that the Court of Appeals, despite its protestations to the contrary, actually relied on factual findings inconsistent with those of the state court, or that the Court of Appeals failed to distinguish its ultimate conclusion from subsidiary questions of fact. The unfairness of such suspicion is manifest. There is no reason to think, borrowing from this Court's declaration to the Court of Appeals last Term, that, despite this Court's difference of opinion, the judges of the Ninth Circuit are "not doing their mortal best to discharge their oath of office." 449 U.S. at 449 U. S. 549.
There is no basis for disbelieving the Court of Appeals' assurance that it has accepted the factual findings of the California Court of Appeal, and that it granted relief only because it concluded that the pretrial identification procedures employed in this case were, as a matter of law, unconstitutional. Accordingly, I dissent, and would affirm the judgment of the Court of Appeals.
* Although a case in which a lower court misunderstands the terms of our remand might, in some instances, be an appropriate candidate for summary reversal, in this case, where there is no unanimous agreement that the remand was not complied with, I would not reverse without plenary consideration.
JUSTICE STEVENS, dissenting.
Once again, the Court's preoccupation with procedural niceties has needlessly complicated the disposition of a federal habeas corpus petition. Cf. Rose v. Lundy, ante p. 455 U. S. 509. Lurking in the background of this case is the question whether the failure to conduct a lineup has any bearing on the validity of a photographic identification. The Court may one day confront that question. For the present, however, it is more concerned with the Court of Appeals' misunderstanding of the ill-defined mandate of Sumner v. Mata, 449 U. S. 539, and 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d).
We now seem to agree that § 2254(d) applies to a "basic, primary, or historical fact," and that it does not apply to a "mixed question of law and fact." The articulation of this chanrobles.com-red
proposition certainly is an improvement on the Court's opinion of last Term, which understandably confounded the Court of Appeals on remand. Judge Sneed, in dissent, read -- incorrectly, it turns out -- the Court's opinion to apply § 2254(d) to mixed questions of law and fact. The panel majority read -- correctly, it turns out -- the Court's opinion to apply § 2254(d) only to historical facts. The panel majority held that § 2254(d) simply was not implicated in this case, because there was no conflict between its findings of historical facts and those of the California Court of Appeal. The disagreement today is whether that holding is correct. In my opinion, this question is more difficult than either the per curiam or JUSTICE BRENNAN's dissent indicates. 455 U. S. the difficulty of the analysis behooves this Court either to "poin[t] the chanrobles.com-red
way" in a more extensive and reasoned fashion or to rely upon the good faith and good sense of the federal courts in applying the rather straightforward principle of § 2254(d) even though, in particular cases, its application might be unclear. The Court does neither today. Instead, it merely delays, for the sake of a procedural nicety, either the habeas corpus relief to which the Court of Appeals has held the respondent is entitled or a consideration of the merits of the only significant question that the petitioner has raised. I respectfully dissent from the Court's summary disposition.
* The California Court of Appeal and the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit worked from the same state trial court record. The state court made the rather brief findings
"that there is no showing of influence by the investigating officers; that the witnesses had an adequate opportunity to view the crime; and that their descriptions are accurate."
App. to Pet. for Cert. C-8. The federal court analyzed the evidence in greater detail. It found that, although the fight among witnesses and the perpetrators of the crime
"would have at least provided an opportunity for the witnesses to observe the perpetrators of the crime[,] . . . the violence accompanying the incident and the threat presented by the knife would have, quite likely, diverted the witnesses' attention;"
that "the descriptions of the assailants were clearly not detailed descriptions;" and that "considerable pressure from both the prison officers and opposing prison factions had admittedly been brought to bear on both witnesses." Mata v. Sumner, 611 F.2d 754, 758-759 (1979).
Putting aside the problem of separating findings of historical fact from answers to mixed questions of law and fact, it is mostly an ineffectual exercise to attempt to decide whether the two sets of findings are conflicting. The first and second of the three findings of the federal court seem to supplement, but not contradict, the roughly corresponding findings of the state court. The third does conflict with the state court's determination that there was "no showing of influence," but the reason for the conflict is fully explained by the federal court's reference to evidence in the record that the state court apparently overlooked or ignored. The Court of Appeals might have better complied with § 2254(d) by referring to this explanation. See § 2254(d)(8). In any event, since neither appellate court had the benefit of findings of fact by the judge who heard the evidence, it is a strange use of our scarce resources to review such trivial differences between two appellate courts' analyses of this trial record.


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- Home
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- Antioch Missionary Baptist Church
Antioch Missionary Baptist Church
Marker Name
Antioch Missionary Baptist Church
Marker Dedicated
March 23, 2003, during Annual Founders' Day ceremonies
Marker Sponsor
Antioch Church Family
Marker Location
Front lawn of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church
2778 Billups Lane
Brusly, LA 70719
Marker Text
Antioch Missionary Baptist Church established 1865; Oldest African American Baptist Church in West Baton Rouge Parish; Luke Billups, Sr, a native of Virginia, built the church and served as first pastor. The community of "Lukeville" grew from property he purchased in 1867. A strong tradition of community support is evident to this day among residents. A vibrant church congregation worships at Antioch Church continuing the traditions of its founder.
View images of the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church Historical Marker uncovering.
The original church was destroyed by storm in 1911; the storm also destroyed church records. The church was rebuilt in 1911 and remodeled in 1930, 1959, 1972, 1982 and 2003.
Reverend Luke Billups
The Reverend Luke Billups, Sr, Founder of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church (provided by Antioch Church members) Luke Billups was born about 1813 in the state of Virginia. He came to Louisiana where he eventually settled in West Baton Rouge Parish. He was a carpenter and blacksmith by trade, and a preacher by calling. He settled in what is now within the incorporated limits of Brusly, Louisiana. There he built a church in which a black community grew rapidly into the community that would subsequently become known as "Lukeville".
This black community of Lukeville has been in existence for over 100 years and is still in existence today. The date of his arrival in Louisiana and the circumstances surrounding his arrival have not been fully documented at this time. There is a strong belief that Luke Billups was a slave in Richmond, Virginia. He was freed during slavery and came from Virginia to East Baton Rouge Parish where he operated a store for fifteen years before he moved to West Baton Rouge Parish.
Luke Billups Early Life
Luke Billups married Eliza Langley, who was born about 1820, in Louisiana bored six children: Emma, Mary, Martha, Luke Jr, Fannie and Henry. Their fourth child Luke Jr, was born between 1849 and 1852. According to Louisiana law Luke Billups did not enter Louisiana a freed man after 1842, at least not legally. An act was approved on the sixteenth of March 1842, which prohibited free "Negroes" from entering the state of Louisiana. During this time it was becoming increasingly difficult to free slaves or for free persons of color to enter Louisiana. Finally in 1857, emancipation of slaves was strictly prohibited. From 1860 to 1870 in West Baton Rouge Parish, as in the rest of Louisiana and much of the South, was a very dynamic period. In 1860, West Baton Rouge Parish was dominated by white households. In the entire parish, only twenty-four households were headed by non-whites, of which twenty-one were classified as mulattos and only three heads of household were black. It was this time of great change that the community of Lukeville began to develop in West Baton Rouge Parish.
Church Built
Luke Billups begins to be found in the civil records of West Baton Rouge Parish in 1867. February 9, 1867 marks the beginning of the community that would become known as Lukeville. It was on this day that Luke Billups first purchased land in West Baton Rouge Parish. On this land Mr. Billups settled his family, he built a store to serve the needs of the community. He also built a church, Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, of which he became first pastor.
West Baton Rouge Parish School
The school not only serve the community of Lukeville, but students came from other nearby areas to take advantage of the opportunity for education. The school while still housed in the church was taken over by West Baton Rouge Parish School Board and continued under the name of "Lukeville School". Billups built a store, and a church Antioch Missionary Baptist Church with such a strong tradition of community support, that it continues to be evident today in the care take of the community. The church cemetery behind the church functions today as the final resting place for some residents of Lukeville. Luke Billups departed his life in 1894 and was laid to rest behind the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in his community of "Lukeville".
View the following literature to learn more:
- The Advocate, Monday, March 24, 2003
- Along the River Road by Mary Ann Sternberg, pages 228 through 229
- Brusly 1901 – 2001 A Place to Call Home; by Pamela Folse, Editor. Available at the West Baton Rouge Parish Library or for purchase at the Town of Brusly City Hall, 225-749-2909
- Chronicles of West Baton Rouge by Elizabeth Kellough and Leona Mayeux, 1979, pages 152 through 153
- Reference files at the West Baton Rouge Museum and Library
- Riverside Reader Currents, August 25, 1997
- State Historic marker files at the West Baton Rouge Museum
- West Side Journal Volume 66, Number 35, Thursday, March 20, 2003
- West Side Journal Volume 66, Number 36, Thursday, March 27, 2003
- "Reverend Luke Billups and the Establishments of Lukeville" by Danelle Spillman, August 25, 1997

subset: commoncrawl


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The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is launching a new online tool to help students compare the cost of college.
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While the consumer bureau says their online comparison tool is still in a "test" phase, officials wanted to launch the tool this month. April marks the high point for college acceptance letters, when students must choose which school they can afford to attend.
Carlos Rodriguez is trying to rid himself of $15,000 in credit card debt, while paying his mortgage and saving for his son's college education.
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World No. 2 Victoria Azarenka added another chapter to her rivalry with Serena Williams when they faced off at the 2013 Western & Southern Open this past Sunday. Azarenka edged Serena 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (8-6) to increase her head-to-head against the 16-time Grand Slam champion to… 3-12. Azarenka can take comfort in that stat, though, with 2 of those 3 wins against Serena coming in matches played this year.
In their trophy ceremony, Azarenka was awarded a Jeroboam of Moët & Chandon Imperial, which she asked Serena if she should open. "I was encouraging her," said Serena in the post-match conference, being careful to point out that it was Azarenka's idea to spray the champagne on the court.
"She did [encourage]," Vika said. "She said, 'yeah, you should pop it.' I was like, I know, I want to, but I need to get more practice because I felt like I'm not directing it too well." Seems like you did just fine, Vika!
Further Reading: More on the friendly rivalry between the top two ladies.
(Photo courtesy of Moet)


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The 17-year old out of Coral Springs (Fla.) Christian Academy was the 16th overall selection in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. He went 8-2 with a 1.22 ERA in 63.1 innings pitched while striking out 104 batters for the Crusaders. The Vanderbilt commit led Coral Springs to the Florida State Final Four en route to being named the Miami Herald 2014 5A-2A Pitcher of the Year. In Toussaint's junior campaign, he garnered invitations to the Perfect Game (PETCO Park) and Under Amour (Wrigley Field) All-American games, and as a sophomore, struck out 18 batters over 6.0 innings pitched in the PG World Wood Bat Championships. Toussaint earned a gold medal with the USA Baseball 16U National Team in 2011.
Toussaint, 6-for-2, 198 pounds, was rated by Baseball America as the nation's third-best high school pitcher and MLB.com as the No. 8 Prospect overall in the draft. Toussaint was the 20th first-round selection for the D-backs and 11th taken from the high school ranks. The D-backs had two first-round selections in 2003, 2009 and 2011. The D-backs have signed 27 of 42 picks from the 2014 First-Year Player Draft, including all 12 picks from the first ten rounds.


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At Peak Scents, we never outsource production because it allows us to guarantee that our products have the integrity our customers expect. We are committed to sourcing our ingredients through partners who share an aligned dedication to responsible practices. We are passionate about creating sustainable change in the world through intelligent, ethical business customs. Our commitment to never outsource production ensures that when you choose us as, you can trust the products you receive will adhere to those same ideals.


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By: Case-Mate
These premium, extremely durable cases protects one's phone in every situation, in the meantime being very light. The surface is perfect for high quality prints, making it a must-have style accessory.
.: Extremely strong plastic
.: With rubber liner
.: Impact resistant, durable
.: Rubber inside plate
Key features
Lexan plastic
Lay-flat bezel
UV protected
Care instructions
Clean with damp cotton or microfiber cloth. Add a drop of dish soap to the rag if needed and wipe the soap down with a clean and damp cloth.


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The movie Mystery; Alaska told the story of a hockey publicity stunt which brought the New York Rangers to a small rural town for an exhibition game. On May 14, hockey fans will get a taste of the NHL and Hollywood — when three stars from the movie "SLAP SHOT" return to Harrisburg to raise money for the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition.
"Paint the Rink Pink" — featuring the Hanson Brothers is scheduled for Saturday, May 14 at 5:00 p.m. at Twin Ponds East on Corey Road in Harrisburg. The event will feature the original Hanson Brothers from the 1977 movie Slap Shot — playing with the Red Robin Robin's and Team Full Circle Copiers. The Hanson Brothers have already helped raise over $41,000 for the PBCC. The trio will wear their famous Charlestown Chiefs uniforms — complete with their signature black glasses. The game will also feature the use of pink pucks and a pink themed arena. At the First Intermission, the Hanson's will play in the En-Kay Sporting Goods Little Dudes Game — which will introduce area youth to old time hockey.
According to Rob Ziemba, Founder of "Play It Again" for Charity; "We have created our own Hanson Brothers Booster Club right here in Central Pa. It's been a lot of fun giving hockey fans the opportunity to meet three stars from the greatest sports movie ever! The Hanson's are great with the fans and many fans return each year to see them. It's going to be another fun exhibition hockey game for all."
Tickets for the event are $5.00 each and it's suggested be purchased in advance. Fans can order tickets by mail — by sending a check or money order — payable to: Play It Again for Charity, P.O. Box 272, Campbelltown, Pa. 17010. Tickets will also be available at the door.
Fans with paid admission will have the opportunity to meet and greet the Hanson Brothers in the lobby during the Third Period. 8 x 10 Hanson Brothers Photos will be available for $10.00 each and can be autographed for free.
Come join the fun on May 14 and enjoy the Hanson Brothers' "on-and-off-ice" antics. There will be many hockey prize raffles, music, food and Puck Hog Hockey Pro Shop will offer specials on equipment. Interested fans can visit slapshot2.org for more information.


text: URMC / Encyclopedia / Content Search Encyclopedia Alcohol Use Assessment Most adults who drink alcohol are moderate drinkers. They are at low risk of having a dependence on alcohol. But if you are worried about your drinking, this tool will help you find out if you have a problem with alcohol. The following 4 questions are used by healthcare providers to screen for alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence. The questions are collectively called CAGE. The name comes from the first letter of each question's theme. 1. Have you ever felt that you should Cut down on your drinking? Yes No 2. Have people Annoyed you by criticizing your drinking? Yes No 3. Have you ever felt bad or Guilty about your drinking? Yes No 4. Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover (Eye opener)? Yes No Your results Your answers to these questions suggest that you have a problem with alcohol. You should see your healthcare provider right away to talk about your answers to these questions. He or she can help you find out whether you have a drinking problem. If you do, your provider can recommend the best course of action. Your answers to these questions show that you have a problem with alcohol. See your healthcare provider right away to talk about your answers to these questions. He or she can help confirm that you have a drinking problem. He or she can also recommend the best course of action. Your answers to these questions suggest that you do not have a problem with alcohol. See your healthcare provider if your drinking gets you in trouble with your job, family life, health, or the law. About Alcohol use and abuse Drinking is often a casual part of social life. Light drinking also may help cut the risk for heart disease in middle-aged or older adults. Moderate drinking is no more than two drinks a day for most healthy men. It is no more than one drink a day for most healthy nonpregnant women and men older than 65. A standard drink is one 12-ounce bottle or can of beer or wine cooler, one 5-ounce glass of wine or 1-1/2 ounces of distilled spirits. Alcoholism, or alcohol dependence, is a disease that causes a powerful craving for alcohol. But not all problems with alcohol are caused by alcoholism. And people who misuse alcohol aren't always alcoholics. Misusing alcohol can lead to serious or life-threatening results. Drinking too much over a long period of time can raise the risk for certain cancers. These include cancers of the liver, esophagus, throat, and larynx. Chronic harmful drinking can cause liver disease, problems with the immune system, and brain damage. Harmful drinking means having more than 1 drink a day for most women who aren't pregnant and for men over 65. It also means more than 3 drinks in a row, or more than 7 drinks in a week. For most men, harmful drinking is more than 2 drinks a day, more than 4 drinks in a row, or more than 14 drinks in a week. A person who is a harmful drinker has health or personal problems caused by drinking. This person, though, may not have alcohol dependence. Binge drinking is another kind of harmful drinking. It means having 5 or more drinks on an occasion for men, and 4 or more drinks on an occasion for women. A person who binge drinks may not have alcohol dependence. Drinking raises the risk for death from car crashes. People who drink may be injured during leisure time or on the job. A pregnant woman who drinks can harm her fetus. Homicides and suicides are more likely among people who have been drinking. What Is Alcohol use disorder? Alcohol abuse means drinking too much on purpose. It's a pattern of drinking too much alcohol too often, and it causes problems in your daily life. Alcohol use disorder can start as alcohol abuse. Alcohol abuse includes 1 or more of these: You can't finish a major project at work, school, or home because of drinking. You drink while driving or running a machine. You have legal problems because of your drinking. An example is getting arrested for driving while drunk. Another example is hurting someone while you are drunk. You choose to drink even though you have personal problems made worse by your drinking. If alcohol abuse does not stop, it can progress to a more severe form of alcohol use disorder. What is alcoholism? Alcoholism is also known as severe alcohol use disorder. It is a medical disease. If you have at least 3 of these symptoms, you may have alcoholism: You have a strong craving, hunger, or need for alcohol. You cannot limit or control your drinking, or are unable to stop drinking any time you choose. You often make excuses or blame problems with your behavior or relationships on other things when they are really because of your alcohol use. When you stop drinking after a period of heavy use, you have nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety. These are called withdrawal symptoms. You need to drink more and more alcohol to feel the same "high." Deciding to get help Many people with problems caused by alcohol find it difficult to admit they need help. The sooner you get help, the better your chances of recovery. Any recovery program includes giving up alcohol entirely. Cutting back on your drinking doesn't work. You must quit. Recovery from alcoholism means a life-long commitment to avoid alcohol. This has many rewards, including regaining your health, your relationships, and your self-esteem. Your healthcare provider can help you. Your provider will ask you questions about your drinking. Try to answer these questions as fully and honestly as you can. Your provider will also give you a physical exam. If your provider concludes that you may be dependent on alcohol, he or she may recommend that you see a specialist in treating alcoholism. Ask questions about any treatment choices and make sure you understand them. Getting Well Help for alcohol use disorder Your healthcare provider may decide that even though you are not dependent on alcohol, you may still have a problem with alcohol abuse. Your provider can help you: Think about why you should stop abusing alcohol. Set a drinking goal. You may decide to quit drinking. You may decide to limit how much you drink. Think about why you abuse alcohol. You can find new ways to handle situations that make you want to drink. Alcoholism treatment Your treatment depends on how severe your alcohol problem is. It also depends on what treatments are available where you live. You may need detoxification. This is a safe way of getting the alcohol out of your body. Your healthcare provider may give you a prescription for medicine that will help reduce symptoms from withdrawing from alcohol and keep you from taking up drinking again. You may need to see a counselor. A counselor can help you figure out things to do that don't remind you of drinking. Your spouse or family also may need to see a counselor to help you recover. Your treatment program may help you find a lawyer, a job training program, child care, or a parenting class if you need it. About CAGE: The CAGE questionnaire was developed by Dr. John Ewing, founding director of the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. CAGE is an internationally used assessment instrument for identifying problems with alcohol. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional health care. Always consult with a healthcare provider for advice concerning your health. Only your healthcare provider can determine if you have a problem with alcohol use. Medical Reviewers: Fraser, Marianne, MSN, RN Perez, Eric, MD Watson, L Renee RN, BSN


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Classes, Screenings & Support Groups
Pre-Op Knee Replacement Class- Walnut Creek
Taught by a Registered Nurse and a Physical Therapist, this class will teach you about how to prepare for surgery, what to expect from your hospitalization, exercises for strengthening, and how to prepare for discharge. This class will help you answer these common questions:
- How long can I expect to be in the hospital?
- How much help will I need after my surgery
- What type of equipment will I need after my surgery?
Family members and caregivers are encouraged to attend.
Cost: FREE
Register for any three fee-based* classes during one transaction and receive a 20% discount.
(* some exclusions may apply)
(* some exclusions may apply)


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Skip to Main Content
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Contact Us
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Child & family social services FAQs
Can a foster child share a bedroom with my child?
Yes. Children of the same sex may share a bedroom when appropriate. Each child should have his/her own bed.
Child & family social services FAQs
Show All Answers
Can I work outside of my home?
Who pays for the child's medical expenses?
All medical and dental expenses are provided for the child through the county or private insurance.
Can a foster child share a bedroom with my child?
Yes. Children of the same sex may share a bedroom when appropriate. Each child should have his/her own bed.
How long do foster children stay in foster homes?
Foster care varies in length depending on the child and his/her family's circumstances.
Can I adopt a foster child?
There are circumstances in which a foster child could be free for adoption. However, many other factors are considered first.
Can we afford to take a child?
Providing care for children is expensive. The county provides financial support for foster families. The amount varies depending on the age and needs of the child. All medical and dental expenses are provided for the child through the county or private insurance. Foster care payments should at least cover expenses. Helping a person in need is a challenge - one that could change your life as well as the life of a child in your care.
Is my home okay?
Apartments, town homes, single-family homes - all are appropriate locations for foster care or adopted children. Most foster children share a bedroom with a same gender child close in age. They need to have their own beds; some need their own rooms. Most children come with few possessions, but will need a dresser drawer and a bit of closet space. If they come to you without adequate clothing for the season, the children's social worker will assist in obtaining a clothing allowance.
Where do the kids come from?
Most of the children needing foster or adoptive families are in the social services system due to abuse or neglect. They may have been traumatized however most are doing pretty well emotionally. Some children are really hurting and may show that in their behaviors.
What are the child's needs?
Children, like adults, can be depressed, anxious, fearful, and angry. Some have medical or developmental problems. Many have delayed social skills or special school needs. You'll work closely with social services, the school, therapists and other professionals, and, in many cases, with the child's extended family.
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All Levels | Pathuku
complete the level by finding a path that uses every line once. start by selecting a dot, then make a path of lines. its harder than you think.
we needed to keep it interesting so we decided to hurrying you up with a chaser. don't let it catch you!
sometimes two dots are connected by more than one line. remember, each line must still be used once. so you might have to go between the same dots a few times
What do you think of the game? help us make it better by sharing it!
10 new levels. There are loads more levels to be released soon.
Help me improve the game by giving me some feedback and sharing it with your friends.


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Harp Bookings - Hire a harpist!
I am delighted to share my music with you! As a harpist I can offer you a large, varied repertoire of easy-listening music to suit every occasion. The harp is an appealing instrument that adds elegance and delight to any special event.
I play indoors or outdoors, for small or large groups, corporate receptions, garden parties or wedding ceremonies. My set-up is versatile and professional and I'm able to provide simple amplification for the harp as part of any package. Contact me with your ideas and I'm happy to provide advice and a quote for my services. My rates are according to time required, distance travelled and set-up needed. Together we'll work out the details that create that special event you desire. You'll be surprised at how affordable hiring a musician is! I normally request a 50% deposit to confirm a booking. The balance of my fee is due on the day of performance. Upon receipt of your deposit I email you a receipt/ confirmation which includes all the details we discussed for your special event. Email: email@example.com Phone: 250.722.2912 (landline - voice only) |


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This article is more than 1 year old
Scotland Mountain Rescue turns on Ofcom
Volunteers asked to put anger into words
Volunteer mountain-rescue staff in Scotland are being asked to write to the UK regulator Ofcom to complain about increased spectrum prices that could drive them out of the life-saving business.
The BBC reports that the Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland has asked its members to write to the regulator in response to the current consultation on Maritime and Aeronautical radio use, which is open until the end of October, complaining that the "Administered Incentive Pricing" proposed will cost the charity thousands of pounds it doesn't have.
The situation is similar for the Royal National Lifeboat Institute: which currently pays a discount rate of £38K for a licence around 156Mhz, but could end up with a bill knocking quarter of a million quid, annually. Even if they retain their 50 per cent discount, that's another £100K the charity is going to have to find if lifeboats are going to be able to talk to each other and the shore.
The problem is one of ideology: Ofcom believes that to ensure licensees value, their spectrum properly they must pay a market price for it. If they don't value it, then they have no motivation to use it efficiently. The best way to establish a market price is by auction, but for some spectrum, that's not suitable. It would be harsh to expect the Ministry of Defence to get into a bidding war with a foreign telco, so in such cases Ofcom adopts a formula known as Administered Incentive Pricing to work out what the spectrum would be worth on the open market.
In the case of the MOD that has worked well - the forces have agreed to give up great swaths of spectrum they weren't really using and will pay market rates for the rest of it, being as the money comes from - and goes to - the treasury it's just a matter of book-keeping.
But - incredible as it seems for a small island - our lifeboats are a charity paid for by public donations. The same thing applies to Mountain Rescue in parts of Scotland and many local rescue services, so these groups are going to have to stump up a lot more money if they want to keep spectrum for the dull business of saving lives rather than delivery of multimedia Web 3.0 experiences that the highest bidder is likely to want to provide.
Any attempt to give the spectrum away for free, such as exempting life-saving services, would undermine the premise that cost makes for efficient use of resources - in case anyone's forgotten, optimal use of the electro-magnetic spectrum is the primary remit of the regulator. So the stand-off has no obvious resolution, until Scotland's mountain rescue decides to issue bagpipes instead of radios - or Ofcom changes its basic philosophy. ®


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Hooray! I am two units into the Google Certification for Educators.
Whew! Time to pause and reflect.
At the end of Unit Two I've:
- clocked 37 hours of PD time
- written, tabbed and highlighted 82 pages of notes
- answered more than 150 multiple choice questions
- learned a hell of a lot.


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Update your browser to view this website correctly.
Update my browser nowJetcost lets you compare hundreds of models from home and for free. You can rent your car easily for Solomon Islands.
Jetcost proposes thousands of vehicles via the multi-criteria search comparing service. You'll find exactly what you're looking for from our listings that are added to every day.
Compare thousands of cars in Solomon Islands. Select every small detail of the car of your dreams.


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Thank you for trying AMP!
You got lucky! We have no ad to show to you!
Times and days are subject to change without notice
This facility may also have a video visitation option, please call 440-350-5601, and ask for the "visiting room CO on duty" for more information, alerts, or rule changes.
MONDAY, TUESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
SUNDAY: 8:00 - 10:30 a.m. 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
WEDNESDAY: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
SATURDAY: 8:00 - 10:30 a.m. 1:00 - 2:20 p.m. 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
VISITING: Proper identification is required. No visitor under the age of eighteen (18) years of age is permitted. Inmates are permitted two (2) visits per week. Each visit is limited to fifteen (15) minutes.
The inmate may choose to combine their two (2) fifteen (15) minute periods into one half (1/2) hour visit. No visitors will be permitted into the facility later then fifteen (15) minutes prior to the end of visiting.
Visitors who travel one hundred (100) miles or more (one way) will normally be permitted an additional fifteen (15) minutes each. Note: These visits are not in addition to regularly scheduled visiting times. If the inmate already had two fifteen (15) minutes visits for the week, they are not entitled to any further visits.
If the inmate has used all of their visiting times and receives visitors from over 100 miles away they will not be permitted to visit unless approved by the shift supervisor. Such exceptions will be for extraordinary circumstances.
Visiting Attire
It is recommended that visitors dress conservatively and with the following guidelines in mind. Inappropriate attire will be reason to deny a visit. Any alteration to clothing once a visitor is inside the visiting area will be grounds for terminating the visit.
Prohibited Attire:
Prohibited Items:
The facility reserves the right to refuse the entrance of any person, or terminate any visit when deemed necessary to enforce the rules and regulations of the facility.
Visitation by minors (persons under age 18) will normally be permitted in this facility under the following conditions:
Once an inmate has been incarcerated in the Lake County Adult Detention Facility for a period of 60 consecutive days, the inmate will normally be permitted one 15 minute visit with each of his or her minor sons and/or daughters (this includes step-children, adoptive and biological) in a non-contact visiting area. The visit(s) will normally take place under the following conditions: Only one minor child is permitted in the visiting room at one time.
The child must be accompanied by an immediate family member who is over age 18.
All minor children who are left in the front lobby during the visit must be supervised by an adult (person over age 18)
Once the inmate has been granted a visit with his or her minor son(s) and/or daughter(s) after the initial 60 consecutive days, the inmate will normally be granted another visit with his or her minor son(s) and/or daughter(s) after 60 more consecutive days of incarceration has elapsed. The inmate will then normally be granted visits with his or her minor son(s) and/or daughter(s) every 60 consecutive days of incarceration in the Lake County Adult Detention Facility.
Visits with minor children will be conducted on Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. until Noon.
All Visitors are subject to search once inside the facility.
The public may visit no more than one time per week, Monday through Saturday at this Painesville OH location. Visitors must sign inat least 15 minutesprior to their scheduled visits. If you schedule a visit and dont show up or show up late, you will not be allowed to visit the rest of that week, including Saturday. If a visit on Saturday is scheduled, and the visitor does not show up or shows up late, they will not be allowed to visit until the following Saturday. Repeated late arrival or no-show violations may result in longer suspension of visiting privileges. Inmates are allowed no more than one (1) visit per day. Visitors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian, unless they are visiting a parent. Unaccompanied minors (under age 18) visiting a parent must present a copy of their birth certificate. Children must remain with the parent at all times during the visit. All visitors must have acceptable identification. This includes a drivers license with picture identification, military ID, or other verifiable picture ID. Three (3) pieces of non-picture ID may substitute for picture ID.
No mail or messages for inmates will be accepted. Mail must go through the U.S. Mail. Visitors may only visit the inmate they have signed up to visit. Any visitor who appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be permitted to visit. Inappropriate behavior, including the use of profanity will not be permitted. No weapons will be permitted. All other items listed in the jail lobby are prohibited. There is a maximum of four (4) visitors per booth, including children, and the door must remain closed.
All visitors must wear appropriate clothing, including shoes and shirts. Restrictions on attire or appearance include: No miniskirts or similar attire; no low-cut or revealing necklines; no attire with obscene or offensive language; and no persons with a bare midriff will be permitted to visit. Visitors cannot bring items into the visiting area including weapons of any kind, purses, handbags, backpacks, diaper bags, food, drink, gum, baby bottles, pictures, books, toys, writing utensils, strollers or carriers, cell phones, cameras, or any other electronic devices.
Violation of the above restrictions may cause the visit to be cancelled or terminated, and visiting privileges may be suspended by the Lake Sheriffs Department. The on-duty supervisor may cancel visits without notice due to circumstances within the jail.
County - Rules by type
Inmates are informed of changes that may occur in visiting regulations.
It is the responsibility of each inmate to inform his/her visitor(s) of these changes.
Any violation of visiting regulations may result in the suspension of visiting privileges.
Visiting rules may vary slightly from Jail to Jail, but the rules are posted at each Jail. Visitors should make sure to educate themselves about a specific Jail's local visiting rules/policies.
Inmates in administrative custody or disciplinary custody have different visiting rules. Again, they are aware of the rules and should relay them to their visitors.
Vehicles must be locked while on Jail property. Windows must be rolled up/closed, and all equipment must be secured in or on your vehicle (such as ladders, tool boxes).
Never bring any gifts or money for the inmate.
Cell phones and/or pagers are not permitted inside facilities. They must be properly secured in your locked vehicle prior to entering the facility.
Any kind of device, whether worn or hand held, that has the capability of audio and/or video/photography recording and/or cell phone capabilities is NOT permitted. This could include, but is not limited to, eye glasses, tie tacks, lapel pins, wrist watches, pens, etc.
No purses, bags, diaper bags, etc., are permitted.
Due to space restrictions, visits may be terminated on a first in, first out basis, to make room for visitors that may be waiting.
Visiting room officers may assign specific seating locations for visitors and inmates, especially for those who are suspected of or have displayed problems with obeying procedures.
Unused visits per week may not be carried over into the following week. It's a "use them or lose them" rule.
At most facilities, lockers are available for use (some may require a deposit ranging from .25 to $10). Items not permitted in the visiting room should either be left in your vehicle or placed in the locker. All vehicles and lockers are subject to search.
It is possible that an inmate may not wish to visit even though the visitor is at the Jail. The COUNTY cannot force an inmate to conduct a visit if he/she does not wish to do so.
To ensure visitors get at least one hour with their inmate, visitors should arrive as early in the day as possible. In order to ensure a visit, visitors MUST arrive at least one hour prior to visiting room closure time.
Visitors should realize that some inmates have to walk across the Jail compound to the visiting room area and then be processed for the visit – all which takes a significant amount of time. So arriving early ensures the best visiting experience.
It is suggested that visitors try to visit on weekdays rather than weekends, because weekends tend to be very busy.
Money never may be given to an inmate. Inmates shall never use/operate a vending machine.
Visitors may purchase vending machine items for the inmate to consume during the visit. Profits from the visiting room vending machines benefit each facility's Inmate General Welfare Fund.
Although vending machines may be available, visitors should not depend upon them being filled or in working order.
Visitors requiring medication during the visit (such as inhalers or insulin injections) must advise the visiting room officer and the lobby officer upon arrival at the Jail and follow appropriate procedures. Visitors are responsible for providing their own medication(s).
Visitors with any kind of orthopedic hardware need to present a card, from the attending physician, documenting the hardware, in order to be granted a contact visit.
Visitors are responsible for supervision of and for keeping control of their minor visitors.
For Jails that allow money in visiting rooms, nothing larger than coins, $1 bills and $5 bills are permitted, with a total limit of $20 to $50. All cash must be contained in a clear plastic bag or small clear change purse. Staff will not make change.
Visiting rooms are smoke and tobacco free areas. Electronic cigarettes are not permitted.
There is no waiting area, so do not bring someone who cannot visit if they are intending to wait for you at the facility. Anyone who is not visiting shall be required to exit the facility grounds.
Who CANNOT visit:
-former inmate of any correctional system
-anyone who is currently under probation or parole supervision
-any current inmate in pre-release or SIP status
-any current or former COUNTY employee
-any current or former contract employee
-any victim of the inmate
-any visitor who has had his/her visiting privileges suspended
-any visitor that has an active PFA against them
For an inmate to be visited by anyone who is not permitted, the inmate must initiate the request to have a prohibited visitor added to his/her visiting list, and a recommendation must come from the inmate's unit team. The facility manager or designee may permit such a visitor depending upon the approved COUNTY process.
Individuals whose visiting privileges have been suspended may write to the appropriate facility manager seeking reinstatement of their visiting privileges. Reinstatement is not guaranteed.
Upon Arrival at the Jail:
Illegal drugs and/or paraphernalia, alcohol, weapons, cameras and tape/video/digital recorders are not permitted on Jail grounds at any time.
Cell phones and/or pagers are not permitted inside facilities. They must be properly secured in your vehicle prior to entering the facility.
All visitor vehicles are subject to search.
Any driver/owner and passengers in the vehicle will not be permitted to visit if the driver/owner refuses a vehicle search and is subjected to visiting suspension.
You must lock your vehicle. Windows must be rolled up/closed, and all equipment must be secured in or on your vehicle (such as ladders, tool boxes).
Children and/or animals may not be left unattended in the vehicle.
Any alcohol, drugs and/or weapons found in the vehicle or on your person can result in the visit being denied and/or the State Police being called to the Jail.
At most Jails, if you drive a personal vehicle to the Jail, you must register the vehicle information with the visiting room officer: year, make, model and license plate number.
Because Jails do have inmates perform janitorial services or duties outside of the Jail perimeter, you are not permitted to have contact or conversations with them as you are reporting to the visiting room area. Doing so could jeopardize your visiting privileges.
While in the visiting room, you may not converse with other inmates or their guests.
Being Processed for the Visit:
All visitors, regardless of age, must have proper forms of identification in order to visit.
Adults must have one of the following proper forms of identification:
One of these forms of ID:
-Driver's license or ID card issued by a state or outlying possession of the United States provided it contains a photograph or information such as name, date of birth, sex, height, eye color, and address.
-ID card issued by a federal, state, or local government agencies or entities provided it contains a photograph or information such as name, date of birth, sex, height, eye color, and address.
-School ID, with photograph.
-U.S. Passport.
-Certificate of U.S. Citizenship (INS Form N-560 or N-561).
-Certificate of Naturalization (INS Form N-550 or N-570).
-Alien Registration Receipt Card with photograph (INS Form I-151 or I-551).
-Temporary Resident Card (INS Form I-688).
-Any other form of identification that contains a photograph.
-Voter's registration card.
-U.S. Military card or draft record.
-Vehicle Registration.
-U.S. social security card issued by the Social Security Administration.
-Certification of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State (Form FS-545 or Form DS-1350).
-Original or certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a state, , municipal authority, or outlying possession of the United State bearing an official seal.
-U.S. Citizen ID Card (INS Form I-197).
-ID Card for use of Resident Citizen in the United States (INS Form I-179).
-School record or report card.
-Clinic, doctor, immunization, or hospital record.
-Day-care or nursery school report.
-Learner's Permit or Temporary Driver's License.
-Native American Tribal document.
NOTE: Any forms of identification presented that have passed the expiration date indicated on that document will not be accepted. Photo copies of any ID will NOT be accepted.
NOTE: One photo I.D. or two non-photo I.D.'s required for all visitors, including children and infants.
A visitor who cannot produce acceptable identification will NOT be permitted to visit unless approved by the facility manager/designee.
A visitor who falsifies identifying information will be suspended/barred from the facility for a period of time determined by the facility manager/designee.
Anyone appearing to be under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance will not be permitted into the Jail.
You must be on the inmate's visitor's list. We cannot tell you if you are on the list. It is up to the inmate to inform his/her visitor(s). If you are not on the visitor's list, you will not be permitted to visit.
You must be 18 or older to visit, unless you are accompanied by a parent or guardian who also is on the inmate's visitor's list or unless you are the legal spouse of the inmate.
You only may be on one inmate's visitor's list at a time.
Every visitor, regardless of their age, is subject to search.
If a visitor refuses to be searched before entering the Jail, visiting privileges may be denied. If a visitor refuses to be searched while in the Jail or upon leaving the Jail, they may be detained until the appropriate law enforcement arrives.
Every visitor must successfully pass through a metal detector in order to be permitted into the visiting room.
Women should wear bras; however, they should NOT have underwire which will not successfully pass through a metal detector.
Facilities may use dogs to conduct passive drug screenings or special devices to detect illegal drugs. Failure to pass these screenings could result in your visit being denied.
At most facilities, but not all, lockers are available to store your personal items that are not permitted in the visiting room. At some facilities a refundable deposit may be required to use the lockers. Facilities that do not offer lockers will require items to be locked in your vehicle.
Visits cannot be split over several days – for instance, a visitor cannot come on Monday for one half-hour and then return on Tuesday for another one half-hour. Similarly, if an inmate or visitor terminates a visit for lunch, the visit may not be continued after lunch.
You will be required to sign in upon arrival and to sign out prior to leaving.
Minor Visitors:
All minors under 18 years of age must have the appropriate visitors form signed by both the parent or legal guardian of the child and the inmate's counselor or unit manager before the minor will be placed on the inmate's list. Incarcerated parents are NOT permitted to sign these forms.
Children ages five and younger may be held by the inmate on his/her lap.
Please feed your baby/babies before visiting.
Only if you have a baby in your visiting party may you take into the visiting room the following items:
-up to three unopened commercially prepared and vacuum-sealed containers of baby food per infant. All containers will be opened by the inspecting officers.
-up to three clear plastic bottles of pre-mixed formula/white milk per infant.
-up to three diapers per infant. Diapers must be loose so they can be inspected.
-up to three pull-ups or training pants per infant.
-a reasonable number of wipes
NOTE: Some Jails allow one blanket, one change of clothing, one pacifier or one teething ring, one bib, one empty Sippy cup and one baby spoon. Check with the appropriate Jail for their local policy.
All of these items must be placed in a clear plastic bag, which is provided in the visitor reception area. No other carrying container of any kind will be allowed.
NOTE: Some Jails do not allow baby wipes to be brought in because they already are available inside the visiting room. Check with the appropriate Jail for their local policy.
Length of Visits:
Visits can be terminated due to violation of the visiting room rules, COUNTY policies, etc.
Any visitor's privileges may be limited, suspended or restricted (such as non-contact visits only or a restriction on visiting at more than one facility) if information become available suggesting that allowing the individual to visit poses a threat to the safety and security of any Jail.
Visits shall be no less than one hour in duration and shall occur during regularly scheduled visiting hours. Longer periods may be allowed depending upon the inmate's custody level and available visiting room space.
In the event the visiting room is at full capacity, and more visits are to be conducted, visits will be terminated on a first-come, first-out basis provided the minimum visiting time of one hour has elapsed.
Number of Visitors:
The number of visitors any inmate may have at any one time may be limited depending upon available visiting room space. Each facility has designated the maximum number of visitors permitted per inmate, per visit and the maximum capacity of people, inmates and visitors permitted in the visiting area.
Items NOT permitted in the visiting room:
At no time shall visitors try to give inmates gifts or items (other than vending machine items).
At no time shall visitors try to give inmates money. Money only may be added to an inmate's account commissary/trust account.
Coats, jackets or other outer garments (excluding suit coats, sports jackets/blazers and or cardigan type sweaters).
NOTE: There are some Jails that also have outside visiting areas, where outerwear may be permitted. Please check with the appropriate Jail regarding their local policies.
-Portable wireless devices
-Audio recorders
-Cell phones
-Any kind of food and/or drink brought in from the outside
-Chewing gum
-Tobacco products
-Pocket Knives
-No clothing or papers for the inmate
-Any kind of device, whether worn or hand held, that has the capability of audio and/or video/photography recording and/or cell phone capabilities is NOT permitted. This could include, but not be limited to, eye glasses, tie tacks, lapel pins, wrist watches, pens, etc.
NOTE: Visitors requiring medication during the visit (such as inhalers or insulin injections) must advise the visiting room officer upon arrival at the Jail and follow appropriate procedures. Visitors are responsible for providing their own medication(s).
Persons caught introducing contraband into the visiting room will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and will be permanently banned from visiting ALL Jails.
NOTE: The COUNTY reserves the right to add to this listing. Always check with the visiting room officer if there are questions.
Dress Code – What NOT to Wear:
Visitors are expected to dress appropriately and avoid clothing styles that are revealing or provocative.
Women should wear bras; however, they should NOT have underwire which will not successfully pass through a metal detector.
-No coats, jackets or other outer garments (excluding suit coats, sports jackets/blazers and or cardigan type sweaters)
-No see-through clothing
-No clothing that exposes private body parts
-No shorts or miniskirts shorter than 4 inches above the middle of the kneecap
-No sleeveless shirts or tank tops
-No spaghetti strings or shirts that expose the shoulder or midriff
-No halter tops
-No spandex or leggings
-No pajamas worn as outer garments
-No hoods of any kind
-No bobby pins, safety pins, decorative pins, hair accessories and/or jewelry items that do not successfully clear the metal detector
-No bathing suits
-No clothing that references obscene language, drugs, sex of violence
-No bare feet
-No boxer shorts
-No clothing with rips, tears or revealing holes that are in areas of the body that may reveal breasts, nipples, buttocks, genital area.
-No pajamas or lingerie
-No knapsacks
-No book bags or back packs
-No wallets
NOTE: The COUNTY reserves the right to add to this listing. Always check with the visiting room officer if there are questions.
Face veils or obstructive clothing:
Face veils or other articles of clothing that obstruct the view of an individual's face required by a female visitor's religious beliefs are permitted to be worn inside the facility. To ensure for positive identification of the visitor, the following procedures will be followed for processing a visitor wearing a face veil or other article of clothing that obstructs the view of an individual's face when entering/exiting a facility:
2. The removing or removal of the face veil or other article of clothing will be done in a location that affords the visitor privacy so as to not be seen by male individuals.
3. All face veils or other articles of clothing that obstruct the view of an individual's face must be moved or removed to allow the staff member an unobstructed view of the visitor's face. After the staff member has viewed the visitor's face the visitor will be instructed to place the face veil or other article of clothing back to its original position.
4. Before leaving the facility, the face veil must again be opened to confirm the identity of the visitor.
Conduct in the visiting room:
Inmates and/or visitors who become disruptive, use loud, abusive or obscene language or who engage in sexual behavior will have their visit terminated and may be placed on visiting privilege restriction.
Only upon meeting and departing, the visitor and the inmate may exchange a brief kiss and embrace.
Individuals with children are responsible for keeping control of their children.
Sitting or lying on the grass in an outdoor visiting area is prohibited.
Visitors and inmates are not permitted to sit on tables or to straddle seating or benches.
There will be no sitting on laps, except for small children (see the section on minor visitors for details about inmates holding children on their laps).
There shall be NO excessive kissing, petting, snuggling and/or grooming.
Cash/Vending Machines:
All Jails have vending machines in the visiting rooms.
Some Jails allow coins and cash, while others make you purchase tokens that can be used in the machines. See the attached chart to see what is permitted.
Where coins and cash are permitted, nothing larger than coins, $1 bills and $5 bills are permitted, with a limit of $50 total. All cash must be contained in a clear plastic bag or small clear change purse. Staff will not make change.
Only visitors may use/operate vending machines.
All food/drink items purchased from the vending machines must be consumed and disposed of in the visiting room.
As is mostly the case at Jails that have photo tickets and food vending cards -- Photo tickets and food vending cards MUST be purchased in the lobby area BEFORE the visit. Unused photo tickets and any balance remaining on the food vending card may be used during future visits.
Please note that Jail vending cards are only good for use at that specific Jail. If your inmate moves to another Jail, you should work with the sending Jail to obtain information about how you can get a refund of any remaining funds on that card. Then, at the new Jail, you will have to begin using the vending card that is specific to that Jail, if used.
Pictures Taken During Visits:
Many facilities allow visitors to purchase tokens or tickets to get pictures taken during visits.
Some facilities have a photo machine/booth that accepts dollars and coins (no gold dollars).
Please check with the appropriate facility to see what their local policy is with respect to purchasing photos while in the visiting room.
Special pre-arranged visits for long-distance travelers:
Special visits can be pre-arranged for persons who are not on an approved visitor's list or who have traveled a substantial distance and for a family visit for a seriously ill or injured inmate. Special visits must be arranged by the inmate and approved by the facility manager/designee.
Disabled individuals are permitted to bring their service dogs into the visiting room.


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Back in June (which seems like a lifetime ago now), I went on a Golden West Tour of the US West Coast with Cosmos. And I had a ball!
As I have previously mentioned, one of the cities that we visited was San Francisco. San Francisco was one of my favourite cities on the trip - some might say that was because the June Gloom stayed away and we had gorgeous sunny warm weather the whole three days we were there, and admittedly, that helped, but San Francisco really is a fascinating place. Its personality reminded me of Melbourne, my adopted Australian home, and I loved its quirkiness and distinct areas. It was just prior to the gay and lesbian pride march when we visited, so there were vibrant rainbow flags throughout the City, adding to the Carnival atmosphere.
For now, I am going to share with you some images and thoughts from the tour banquet at Hunan Homes, a well known Chinese restaurant in San Francisco's Chinatown. We travelled to Hunan Homes in style via a famed San Francisco cable car (pictured at the top of this post) - similar to a Melbourne tram, but powered differently, and with the grunt to scale some exceptionally steep streets. Here is my room mate, demonstrating how the locals ride the crowded cable cars:
On arrival at Hunan Homes, we were presented with the following banquet menu:
Now I love Asian food, and our tour director, Craig, had built up the Chinese banquet to be pretty special, so perhaps my expectations were too high - or perhaps Asian food is just different in the US to cater for US tastes. However, overall, the food was just OK, and the Peking duck was - hmm, different.
First up were appetizers:
a pot sticker (which we call a dumpling), egg roll (which we call a spring roll) and a fried prawn. I was curious as to what egg roll was, having seen the movie "With Six You Get Egg Roll", so I was a little surprised when I found out it is exactly what Aussies call a spring roll. The appetizers were actually pretty good, and typical of what we would be served in Australia.
Next was the sizzling rice soup:
It was very chicken-stock like, with vegetables and rice lurking in the depths. It was ok, but nothing to write home about.
The next dish, Peking duck, fell way below my expectations:
In Oz, Peking duck comprises sticks of shallot and crispy duck skin and tender duck meat with hoisin sauce inside a light crepe, which you normally roll yourself. At Hunan Homes, the Peking duck was ready rolled, had no shallots, fairly dry meat, soggy skin and was already rolled in what seemed to be a tortilla (not a crepe):
As Peking duck is one of my favourite dishes, this was a bit of a let down.
Next came the mains, which were, for the most part, quite good, starting with assorted vegetables served in stock-like sauce:
combination chow mein:
steamed rice:
sizzling beef:
chicken in sizzling garlic sauce:
and the star dish, prawns with honey walnut:
The honeyed walnuts were devine - in fact, they were so good that a number of the non-seafood eaters at the table picked the walnuts out of the prawns!
As you can see, this was a lot of food, but there is always room for a fortune cookie:
and some fresh fruit to cleanse the palate and finish off the evening:
Verdict - overall, the food was tasty, and there was lots of it for the money, but it didn't knock my socks off. Hunan Homes gets very good reviews in Urban Spoon et al, so it may be that the banquet served en masse to coach tour groups is not as good as the fare that is served a la carte in the remainder of the restaurant. However, for now, Melbourne's Chinese food trumps my experience at Hunan Homes


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The latest Gallup-Wells Fargo Small Business Index, a representative telephone survey of 600 small business owners conducted at the end of March 2014, provides some interesting statistics on where current small company owners got the money they needed to start their businesses.
Some of the data confirms what most of us already know. The most common source of new company financing is the business owners themselves. For the 435 surveyed small business owners who started their own businesses, 82 percent drew on their own savings to get their companies going. (The margin of error is plus or minus five percent). Including the small business owners who took over their businesses from someone else changes the numbers relatively little; 77 percent of the whole sample used their savings to start their companies. (The margin of error is plus or minus four percent).
What may surprise more people is the second most common source of start up financing – a loan or line of credit from a financial institution. Despite the popular perception that financial institutions don't loan money to people starting small companies, the Gallup-Wells Fargo survey indicates that 41 percent of all small business owners, and 38 percent of those business owners who started their businesses, obtained this type of start-up funding.
A more nuanced understanding of small business finance explains why credit from financial institutions is more readily available than most people think. Many small business owners personally borrow (often tapping the equity in their homes) or personally guarantee the financing of their businesses, making it possible for a fairly sizable fraction of people to obtain credit for the founding of small businesses.
The survey shows that crowd funding remains relatively uncommon, with only 3 percent of the small business owners indicating that they had obtained money to start their companies from this source. On the other hand, even this small fraction is high when compared with the frequency with which businesses get start-up financing from business angels and venture capitalists. While the Gallup-Wells Fargo survey did not ask about those sources, other surveys indicate that less than one percent of U.S. small businesses get initial capital from these sources.
Moreover, the small fraction of small business owners reporting that they obtained initial capital from crowd funding might reflect the age of the companies surveyed. By asking a cross-section of small business owners about the sources of their start-up funding, Gallup and Wells Fargo contacted the owners of many businesses initiated before this funding source was an option. (The fact that this source was not included in their 2006 survey is testimony to its newness).
Three important time trends can be seen from the Gallup-Wells Fargo data. First, the fraction of small business owners using their own savings to finance their companies is up significantly since 2006, when only 73 percent of those who started their own businesses used their own savings to finance the formation of their companies. Second, the share of small business owners tapping loans or lines of credit from financial institutions to start companies is statistically unchanged from 37 percent in 2006 to 38 percent in 2014. Third, the fractions of small company owners obtaining start-up funding from friends and family (24 percent in 2006 and 30 percent in 2014), credit cards (21 percent in 2006 and 31 percent in 2014), and business partners (14 percent in 2006 to 21 percent in 2014) are all up significantly since before the Great Recession.
While obtaining start-up financing is not a trivial matter, the survey reveals that it is far from the largest problem that small business owners face when founding their businesses. Only 10 percent of those surveyed by Gallup-Wells Fargo indicated that "credit financing/availability of funds" was their "biggest challenge," a fraction statistically indistinguishable from the share that said "bureaucracy/licensing requirements/government regulations" was their largest issue. By comparison, 23 percent said their number one start-up problem was "securing accounts/generating revenue/customer base."


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Most of us assume that our stress levels will decrease once we retire. Now that you've reached that milestone, you might indeed have noticed less stress in your life. At least, you don't suffer from work-related anxiety anymore. But many people discover that they still experience some stress in retirement, just for different reasons. That's because retirement brings new life changes and associated fears.
Since stress can be detrimental to your health, it's always important to monitor and reduce it when you can. Try these five methods of stress management to create a healthier and happier retirement.
Get out of the house. Sometimes stress can be alleviated by a simple change in scenery. Go for a walk, head to the mall for some window-shopping, or engage in some people watching at the park. Physical activity and sunshine are proven stress relievers.
Nourish your mind and heart. Reading can provide an easy, meditative experience that you can do just about anywhere. Choose inspirational biographies, classic literature, poetry, or spiritual materials if you're religious.
Get a pet. Cats, dogs, and other pets are known to relieve anxiety. In fact, holding a purring cat on your lap has even been proven to reduce blood pressure. Visit a local shelter and ask the staff to help guide you toward a pet that is low-maintenance, well behaved, and known to be gentle. If you can't have a pet where you live, you can still visit the shelter often. Some volunteer organizations will even bring service animals to visit at senior centers.
Engage in social activities. Loneliness can be stressful for anyone. Join a book club, play cards with friends, or sign up for an exercise class.
Identify potential solutions. Many people deal with stress by ignoring it, and distracting themselves with something else. But until you confront the source of the stress, it will lurk beneath the surface and continue to bother you. Brainstorm potential solutions for the problem you're facing, either alone, or by talking to a friend or therapist.


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Getting Down & Dirty With Campaign Variables For Social Media
When you're determining social media ROI, sometimes you've got to get your hands dirty. With data, of course. Specifically, let's talk about campaign variables. It's an off-puttingly science-y name for a concept that's really pretty simple: Tagging all the links you send out via social media channels to keep track of how they're doing. The […]
When you're determining social media ROI, sometimes you've got to get your hands dirty. With data, of course.
Specifically, let's talk about campaign variables. It's an off-puttingly science-y name for a concept that's really pretty simple: Tagging all the links you send out via social media channels to keep track of how they're doing. The tags you add send specific data to Google Analytics that'll help you analyze your social media performance. Want to know whether you should spend more time on Facebook or Twitter? Or if Pinterest is as good for traffic as everyone says? Campaign variables can help.
You can add these tags to all kinds of links, but social traffic is what we'll be focusing on here. When should you use them? Pretty much always. To really see the patterns that will help you make smarter decisions, you'll need to use unique campaign variables for every post that references your content on every channel where you're active. It can be time-consuming, but the results are worth it.
As long as your site is set up with Google Analytics, you can get started right away. Here's what you need to know.
How to Plan for Campaign Variables
Before you start building URLs, think through your strategy first. Google Analytics' link tagging capabilities allow you to identify virtually anything you can think of, which is good news for all us social media managers with an ever-increasing number of channels to deal with. But it also means it's important to stay organized.
First, lay out each social media platform you're working with: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google Plus, anywhere you're actively posting content. You need this list because you're going to create a unique and consistent campaign code for each channel.
Then, think about all the types of content you regularly send out on social media channels and determine the best ways to categorize them to study later on down the line. Your content buckets might include things like blog posts, press releases, contests, sales, special offers, linkbait, landing pages and more.
For reporting purposes, try to keep your buckets fairly big (i.e. don't get down to the level of creating a campaign for each new blog post). This way, you can see the bigger picture later but also break them down into smaller segments if you want.
How to Build URLs for Campaign Variables
Now we're ready to build some URLs using the lists we just created.
There are a few different spots you can go to for help with the process of building your URLs. Google offers a URL building tool, and so do third-party tools like GAConfig.com (full disclosure: this tool was built by Raven Tools, where I work), ROI Revolution, HubSpot and others.
You don't have to use all five fields you'll see in the URL Builder in each of your links. In fact, we're only going to need Source, Medium and Name (the three mandatory fields).
Campaign Source: This is how the visitor got to your site. Your source will be the name of the social network you're posting on, from our list of channels above.
Campaign Medium: The medium offers more information about the source. For our purposes, let's make the medium something like "social" or "social media". Choose one and stick with it across all channels.
Campaign Name: The campaign name is how you'll identify the specific content, promotion or campaign the post was about. Your name will be whatever kind of content you're posting, pulled from our list of content buckets above. For example, if your social media post was in reference to a one-day sale, your campaign name might be "one-day-sale."
You should end up with something that looks like this: http://mystore.com/?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=one-day-sale
As you build out your campaign variable, remember to be consistent. Stick with the same terms throughout, including capitalization and singular vs. plural. A difference of "Twitter" vs. "twitter"; "GPlus" vs. "GooglePlus"; or "blog" vs. "blogs" will make your results harder to find. If multiple members of your team are creating these URLs, you might want to create a chart everyone can consult.
All this can take some time, but a growing number of social media and Internet marketings tools allow you to add your campaign variables right through their interface, which can save you a significant amount of time.
How to Analyze Campaign Variables
OK, now the hard part is done and it's time to see how you're doing. All your great new data should start to show up within a day in Google Analytics. Navigate to Traffic Sources and then Campaigns. From the list you'll see, look for the campaign names you assigned above as the "Name" element. Clicking on any campaign will show you the breakdown of visits each of your different social networks brought it for that campaign.
If you're tracking goals for your site like conversions, sales, downloads or other behaviors, your campaign variables can take you all the way to a dollar figure.
Bonus tip: Once you've gotten consistent with tracking your URLs, you'll begin to discover all sorts of new ways to use campaign variables. This is where the optional fields we left blank can come back into play. Why not consider some creative ways you could use them? For example, if you're a fan of second-chance tweets (sending out the same link twice, a few hours apart, to account for different time zones and schedules) you might want to use one of those fields to differentiate the first and second tweet to see which version is more effective for you. As long as you're consistent and clear on what you want to measure, how you use these fields is up to you.
Opinions expressed in this article are those of the guest author and not necessarily MarTech. Staff authors are listed here.
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