I did a little bit of this years ago and yes, it is quite safe.
I found that the inmates generally fell into two categories.....
1) Incredibly respectful and polite....everything yes sir, no sir and they are just happy that someone is helping them out. That was about 90% of them.
2) Guys who would sit there and say things like "awww man, you gotta help me! My lawyers a ***** and the judge hates me!" And I'd be like......"ummmmmm, you got anything wrong with your eye? Because that I can fix. I can't get you a new lawyer." That was about 10% of them. lol.