NCJ Number
199498
Date Published
December 2002
Length
61 pages
Annotation
This document explores the growth of the detention population in Delaware.
Abstract
Although the rates of serious crimes have stabilized in Delaware, curiously the adult detention population has continued to grow rapidly during the past few years. An inquiry was undertaken to determine the cause of the increasing detention population. This report shows that the growth of this population is due to a variety of factors, including the fact that the primary increase in detention admissions has occurred in the “administrative” category. The administrative category consists of people held for capias/contempt and for violations of probation. Thus, most of the new detention population is not held for new crimes, explaining why the crime rate has stabilized while the detention population has grown. The report further explains that while the number of detention admissions has increased, the average length of stay for each inmate has remained stable. In 1999, the average length of detention was 28.9 days, compared with 28.6 days in 1981. However, detention admissions increased from 3,526 in 1981 to 15,903 in 2000. The report also shows that the types of crimes for which people are detained have changed. While there has been a well-publicized drop in violent crimes in Delaware, most people in detention are held for drug crimes, administrative violations, violent crimes, and weapons offenses. Finally, the report contains recommendations for better controlling the detention population, including an ongoing analysis of this population and improved methods of advocacy for the detained population.