NCJ Number
104827
Date Published
1987
Length
18 pages
Annotation
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has mounted a number of initiatives and programs to help States increase prison capacities to reduce prison overcrowding.
Abstract
Prison overcrowding not only impacts inmate safety and welfare but also reduces community protection and the realization of justice by producing policies of early release and community supervision for habitual offenders. NIJ has launched a program to increase prison capacity through the sharing of information on progressive and economical prison construction methods. A series of 'Construction Bulletins' presents case studies of successful prison construction projects. NIJ is publishing the Ohio story as a case study of advanced construction, financing, and management concepts. NIJ will also supply a national directory of corrections construction to any jurisdiction planning to build a jail or prison. The first edition contains profiles of facilities built or remodeled in the United States since 1978. Another NIJ initiative is the Construction Information Exchange, operated through the National Criminal Justice Reference Service, which puts officials about to embark on construction projects in contact with their counterparts in jurisdictions where similar projects have been completed. One NIJ emphasis is on the creative use of new sources of revenue and new financing methods. Among the innovative arrangements being tried are lease-purchasing arrangements with private enterprise and complete private ownership or management of a prison or jail. The use of prison industries to generate revenue for prison construction is another option.