NCJ Number
159874
Date Published
1991
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article argues that the overcrowding problem in American jails cannot be solved by constructing new jails, because the flood of offenders arrested under current antidrug policies cannot possibly be accommodated.
Abstract
This article discusses the evolution of the jail overcrowding crisis, and the example set by the Jefferson Parish (Louisiana) Criminal Justice Coordinating Council in dealing with jail overcrowding. Four types of strategies to relieve jail overcrowding include screening suspected and convicted criminals, initiating delay-reduction measures, developing alternative programs, and expanding jail capacity. The author contends that jail overcrowding can be resolved only when communities tackle the underlying causes of crime, develop alternative sanctions, and use existing jail space more efficiently.