First, they had done nothing wrong other than being related to someone in trouble. Most of them were from the lower economic strata. My companions told me that my wait was not unusual. Normally a minimum of four hours occurs between an order of release or the posting of bail, but 10 or 12 hours is not unusual. Six to eight hours is apparently normal for release processing, but those more familiar with the process than I am said that the only thing predictable about the time involved is that it is totally unpredictable.
Many people have to miss work to make the long wait.
These questions have several answers. The first is the total lack of communication. Once a detainee is in the release process, no communication is possible. The jail information desk has no information other than the fact that processing has started. Releases occur at random intervals so that one who is waiting cannot even know that she could safely be home until 15 minutes after the hour, or on the half-hour, or any other set time.