NCJ Number
164802
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 58 Issue: 7 Dated: (December 1996) Pages: 70-71,99
Date Published
1996
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The author, who is detention division commander for the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office (Colorado), summarizes the changes in jail operations he has seen over his 14 years in his profession.
Abstract
Jail accreditation based on compliance with designated standards has improved jail conditions, procedures, and practices. One area upgraded significantly by these standards is inmate medical services. Jails are required to have medical staffing and procedures whereby medical decisions are made by trained health care providers. With the help of the National Institute of Corrections, a major move has been made toward training staff in Objective Jail Classification. A variety of information is plotted on a numerical or decision-tree scale. Body search guidelines today are more restrictive than a few years ago. Without certain charges or probable cause, pretrial inmates are protected from most "strip searches." An immense growth in inmates programs has also occurred during the author's 14-year tenure. As the analysis of inmate needs increased, program offerings expanded to incorporate subjects such as anger management, family relations, job interview skills, vocational training, gender issues, and a variety of innovative programs. Jail overcrowding has led to new alternative sentences, such as work release, home detention with electronic monitoring, and day reporting. The development of computer technology has enhanced the capture of vital information and improved the management of jails.