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Conditions of Jails Within the United States

NCJ Number
73474
Author(s)
K B Matheny
Date Published
1976
Length
165 pages
Annotation
This study commissioned by the National Institute of Corrections, focuses on the conditions of jails throughout the United States, inmate characteristics are highlighted.
Abstract
A large number of books, monographs, reports, and other documents were reviewed to gather data. Although many such publications exist, solid data were scarce. The jail is commonly defined as a locally administered institution that has the authority to hold persons for 48 hours or more. Jails hold accused persons to ensure their presence at trials, persons awaiting sentencing, disputants in family squabbles, drunks, and inmates awaiting transfer to other institutions. The majority of jails are small. Three-quarters have 20 or fewer inmates; 22 percent have between 21 and 250 inmates; and 3 percent have over 250 inmates. Jails are most often located within other municipal buildings. A total of six percent of existing jail cells are more than 100 years old. Where overcrowdedness exists it is usually in large city jails; in 1970 only 5 percent of jails held more inmates than the capacity for which they were designed. Most investigations of jails emphasize inadequacies with regard to safety, medical treatment, visitation facilities, and other factors. Living conditions are often poor, particularly their sanitation and recreational aspects. The average annual salary of a jail employee is $6,000. Those with potential often move on. The total number of persons detained in our jails probably exceeds 1 1/2 million annually. The typical jail inmate is a poor, male, youthful adult of local origin accused of minor offenses. Nine-tenths of jail inmates are adult males, 5 percent are adult females, and 5 percent are juveniles. Only 25 percent are married, and only 25 percent have graduated from high school. Over two-thirds are confined for 7 days or less. Blacks represent a disproportionately large segment of the jail population; jail populations differ sharply among the States. The role of the courts in mandating improvement in the nation's jails has become increasingly important. Tables, a bibliography, and an appendix are included in the report. (Author abstract modified).

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