NCJ Number
58499
Date Published
1978
Length
113 pages
Annotation
MOST FEDERAL PRETRIAL DETAINEES ARE HELD IN LOCAL JAILS, GREATLY STRAINING THESE FACILITIES. TO SOLVE THIS OVERCROWDING, AS MANY DETAINEES AS POSSIBLE SHOULD BE RELEASED AND CONDITIONS IMPROVED FOR THE REST.
Abstract
HEARINGS BEFORE THE HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON COURTS, CIVIL LIBERTIES, AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE REVEAL THAT FEDERAL DETENTION FACILITIES HOUSE ABOUT 2,000 INDIVIDUALS WHILE ABOUT 4,700 FEDERAL PRISONERS ARE HELD IN 900 LOCAL JAILS WHICH ARE UNDER CONTRACT TO THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS. THE SHORT-RANGE SOLUTION IS ADDITIONAL FEDERAL DETENTION SPACE. HOWEVER, EXPERTS TESTIFYING AT THESE HEARINGS STATE THAT THE LONG-RANGE SOLUTION MUST INVOLVE RELEASING AS MANY NONVIOLENT DETAINEES AS POSSIBLE AND OFFERING AID TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO HELP THEM IMPROVE FACILITIES FOR THE FEW VIOLENT PERSONS WHO MUST BE DETAINED. ALTHOUGH PERSONS TESTIFYING FAVORED ADDITIONAL FEDERAL FACILITIES, STATING THAT THEY COULD BE MODELS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, OTHER EXPERTS STATED THAT THERE IS NO NEED TO DUPLICATE LOCAL FACILITIES. INSTEAD, AID SHOULD BE GIVEN TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO HELP THEM IMPROVE EXISTING JAILS. MORE ATTENTION ALSO NEEDS TO BE GIVEN TO THE JUVENILE FEDERAL OFFENDER. FACILITIES FOR YOUNG PERSONS ARE MOST INADEQUATE. CONDITIONS IN FEDERAL FACILITIES ARE SUCH THAT THOSE AWAITING TRIAL ARE HELD IN DETERIORATING FACILITIES WHICH ARE OVERCROWDED, BARELY MEETING MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR HYGIENE AND PROGRAM. THESE PERSONS ARE NOT GUILTY--' A LARGE PROPORTION ARE FOUND INNOCENT. FOR THIS REASON, GREATER USE OF BAIL BONDS OR RELEASE ON OWN RECOGNIZANCE IS URGED. THOSE WHO MUST BE DETAINED SHOULD BE HOUSED IN WELL-RUN LOCAL FACILITIES. APPENDED MATERIALS CONTAIN STATISTICS, ARGUMENTS AGAINST FURTHER PRISON CONSTRUCTION, AND TECHNICAL DATA. (GLR)