Since 1982, the jail has been operating under the terms of a consent decree arising from a class-action suit filed on behalf of pretrial detainees in the facility. As a result, officials have focused remedial efforts in two directions: an expansion of jail facilities and some controversial measures directed toward pretrial detainees. The status of nonconvicted inmates is determined primarily through the Administrative Mandatory Furlough (AMF) program, under which officials release inmates with the least serious charges and lowest cash bond amounts on their own recognizance. General causes of overcrowding in Cook County Jail include length of stay versus jail admissions, the crackdown on crime, the role of drug crime, and court delays. A model program was developed in which a phase-1 planning effort was followed by a phase-2 implementation project involving interagency task forces, policy changes, and legislation.