NCJ Number
197729
Date Published
September 2002
Length
39 pages
Annotation
This guide, the second in a series of three, focuses on jail budget management and was created to enhance the skills, knowledge, and capabilities of jail administrators in jail budgeting and resource management.
Abstract
This guide provides an overview of jail budget management for administrators, sheriffs, police chiefs, and others who administer and operate local jails. It focuses on the most important aspects of jail budget management, highlights the jail administrator's responsibilities in each area, and presents useful budget management strategies. The discussion on budget implementation includes developing an expenditure plan, using the plan to monitor expenditures, and a summary on forecasting and monitoring as keys to effective control. The discussion on budget management covers monitoring expenditures, managing and controlling expenditures, garnering support in managing the jail budget, and a summary on clear processes and communication as keys to effective management. The topic of jail revenue monitoring and management includes developing revenue plans, and summarizes how revenue planning is a key to a balanced budget. The area of performance monitoring includes establishing targets and provides an overview of how the data for key performance indicators enables timely action. Management through budget crises includes a discussion on factors influencing increased expenditures, factors influencing decreased or insufficient revenue, and provides a summary on how strategies and understanding are keys to avoiding crises. Finally, the jail budget as a powerful administrative tool is addressed. Source notes and a bibliography are included.