Discusses the range of options available to criminal justice professionals for alleviating jail crowding while safeguarding public safety, based on interviews with officials in more than 50 jurisdictions.
Among the programs and practices discussed are the use of field citations in Oakland, California; early screening of charges by prosecutors in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; prompt bail setting in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina; and reduction of presentence investigation time by probation officials in Lucas County, Ohio. The report offers suggestions to guide jurisdictions in collecting and analyzing the information they need before they can develop and implement solutions. Tables. Flow charts. Chapter references.