NCJ Number
48113
Date Published
1978
Length
184 pages
Annotation
AN OVERVIEW OF THE CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN JAIL IS PRESENTED, AND THE MAJOR ASPECTS OF JAIL OPERATIONS ARE DISCUSSED WITH A VIEW TO THEIR IMPROVEMENT.
Abstract
THIS BOOK IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE FOR THE COLLEGE STUDENT INTERESTED IN A CAREER IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AN INTRODUCTION TO AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE JAIL PROBLEM IN THE UNITED STATES, AND TO GIVE THE WORKER IN THE FIELD AND INTERESTED CITIZENS SOME PRAGMATIC SUGGESTIONS FOR EFFECTING IMMEDIATE IMPROVEMENTS. AS TREATED IN THIS STUDY, A JAIL IS DEFINED AS AN INSTITUTION ADMINISTERED BY A LOCAL UNIT OF GOVERNMENT THAT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DETAIN ADULTS FOR A PERIOD OF 48 HOURS OR LONGER. AN OVERVIEW OF THE TYPES OF JAILS AND THE NATURE AND QUALITY OF THEIR OPERATIONS IS PROVIDED, ALONG WITH AN EXAMINATION OF THE COSTS INVOLVED. JAIL OPERATIONS ARE GENERALLY CHARACTERIZED AS COSTLY, FREQUENTLY INHUMANE SYSTEMS OF TEMPORARY SEGREGATION OF OFFENDERS FROM THE COMMUNITY. COMPONENTS OF THE JAIL PROBLEM DISCUSSED INCLUDE PUBLIC APATHY, LACK OF CONSISTENCY, NEGLECT BY THE CORRECTIONS PROFESSION, THE ROLE OF THE SHERIFF, THE MISUSE AND OVERUSE OF JAILS, LACK OF PERSONNEL STANDARDS AND TRAINING, AND LACK OF AN ORDERLY RELEASE SYSTEM. THE MAJOR TECHNIQUES AND CONSIDERATIONS OF JAIL SECURITY ARE DISCUSSED, WITH TRAINED AND ORGANIZED PERSONNEL CONSIDERED THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF EFFECTIVE SECURITY. CLASSIFICATION OF JAIL RESIDENTS IS DISCUSSED AS HAVING SUBSTANTIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR THE SAFETY OF INMATES AND STAFF, THE SECURITY OF THE INSTITUTION, AND THE EFFICACY OF REHABILITATION PROGRAMS. THE PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE OF REHABILITATION WITHIN A JAIL CONTEXT IS CONSIDERED, AND WORK, TRAINING, AND STUDY RELEASE ARE GIVEN A CHAPTER OF DISCUSSION. THE LEGAL RIGHTS OF PRISONERS ARE HIGHLIGHTED UNDER JUDICIAL ACTIONS OF THE PAST DECADE, AND THEIR IMPLEMENTATION BY JAIL MANAGERS IS DISCUSSED. THE ROLE OF THE JAIL IN COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS AND SPECIFIC ACTIONS FOR REFORM ARE EXAMINED IN THE FINAL CHAPTERS. IT IS GENERALLY CONCLUDED THAT THE JAIL MUST BE CONVERTED INTO A COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL CENTER IF IT IS TO HAVE A VALID AND VALUED ROLE IN A MODERN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. NOTES ARE PROVIDED. FOR SELECTED READINGS, SEE NCJ 48114-48115. (RCB)