I realize that but think it should be in some cases. Such as with "vulnerable" accused like the mentally ill (ugh... I hate using that term since it has been exploited the last couple of years). Processing people with paranoia or delusions of persecution through a place like that does not help anyone in any way. Socially or economically.

For people having to work or deliberate in such a horrible environment is in no way productive to the proper administration of justice. One probably tends to focus more on just getting the fuck out of there rather than larger goals. I once visited a school friend who was a public defender and could not believe the state of her workplace and it was, I am sure, magnitudes better than what was in that place. I could not do a decent job defending someone's constitutional rights in that messy, chaotic environment and would probably drink a lot. In fact, they all did drink a lot.

Morale is certainly not and, for most, probably should not be the goal of short term incarceration/processing. I have bailed out three friends when they have done stupid drunken shit and held overnight in a common area with gang bangers, the mentally ill, etc. and that was far more of a deterrent than any punishment they may have eventually received. For those people, it is a great lesson. It is not supposed to be nice or easy. For habitual recidivists who are not mentally ill, it is just something else to brag about. For the mentally ill, its simply a revolving door that leads nowhere; especially since they often run up additional charges when they are being held.

That is why this situation is even more troubling to me. Some accused need special facilities staffed by people with special understanding/training eg. juveniles, domestic violence, mentally ill. Whatever little understanding the people had of the special circumstances of the accused in this specialized facility will be greatly diminished when they are processed through a general court house.