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Organization and Management of Jails - An Executive Summary

NCJ Number
97511
Author(s)
R Guynes; R C Grieser; H E Robinson
Date Published
1985
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This paper summarizes a study that examined the impact of organization on the management and the level of violent incidents in small jails in the United States.
Abstract
Data came from a telephone and mail survey of a random sample (269) of 10 percent of the Nation's jails with average daily populations under 250. A total of 207 interviews were completed. The central hypothesis considered was that the greater the independence of the jail from law enforcement and other court services, the more likely it would be to have control over its own boundaries and to have more effective management. A scale of basic organizational structures was created, ranging from the traditional sheriff-run jail to the independent jail reporting directly to a county board. Factors examined included the quality and availability of staff resources, external management, and internal management. Little boundary control existed, so it was not possible to examine this factor's relationship to organizational structure and jail incidents. However, the correctional training of the jail manager showed significant relationships to most of the internal management scales as well as to the reduction of such jail incidents as assaults, property damage, escapes, deaths, and fires. The size of the jail did not affect these relationships. Data tables and three endnotes are included. For full study, see NCJ 97510.