NCJ Number
172073
Journal
American Jails Volume: 11 Issue: 4 Dated: (September-October 1997) Pages: 77-78,80,82-83
Date Published
1997
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The experience of the direct supervision jail in Black Hawk County (Iowa) demonstrates a way in which jails are approaching the increasing problem of jail operational costs.
Abstract
The success of direct supervision facilities depends on a working strategy of both architectural design and the style of behavior management. These jails place emphasis on security; modern technology through video surveillance and computer-aided inmate tracking are crucial. Personnel training emphasizes proactive approaches and effective communication and negotiation. The Black Hawk County Jail has a total capacity of 272 beds and has operated for 18 months. It emphasizes surveillance. The jail holds inmates from nine other counties and prisoners from State prisons, the United States Marshals, Federal Bureau of Prisons. United States Immigration, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations. It has received more than $2.8 million from these sources. It has also taken advantage of Iowa legislation enacted in 1996 to allow county jails to charge inmates a daily rate for time served pursuant to a court-ordered sanction. Entering inmates are informed that they will be billed $65 per day for days served. They have the opportunity to work off jail rent. Much of the money is used to improve overall inmate conditions. Overall, the advantages of constructing a true direct supervision jail instead of increasing surveillance in a linear jail are far greater than the initial construction costs. Each community must decide whether or not to charge inmate rent; trying to make a profit is wrong, but monetary contributions are justifiable if inmate dollars are being used to improve conditions and defray the huge expense of daily jail operation. Illustrations