NCJ Number
215423
Journal
Prison Journal Volume: 86 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2006 Pages: 386-402
Date Published
September 2006
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This paper reports on an evaluation of a strategy designed to reduce crowding in a county jail.
Abstract
The study found that the number of cases booked into the lockup declined 29.6 percent between the comparison and study periods. This decrease of 1,482 cases amounted to 6.1 fewer cases booked at lockup each day. During the study period, the total number of lockup bookings for all cases with at least 1 of the target offenses decreased by 2,277 after the policy was implemented; however, because the total number of bookings for ineligible cases also declined, only about half (53.5 percent) of the decrease was due to cases covered by the new policy. The total number of bed days used by these cases also decreased. Overall, the effects of the new policy were in the intended direction, but its impact was less than expected, primarily because of design and planning failures. More detailed data analysis and planning could have identified these issues during the policy formation period. The strategy to reduce jail crowding involved issuing a summons to appear at court rather than arrest individuals accused of seven misdemeanor offenses. The designated offenses were possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving with a suspended license, operating a vehicle without having received a license, prostitution, patronizing a prostitute, and conversion (generally shoplifting). Felony versions of these offenses were not included under the new policy. Planners estimated that this change could reduce admissions to the county jail system by approximately 20 percent to 25 percent. The evaluation focused on cases from the first 8 months of the new policy period and a comparison group selected from the same period of the preceding year. 9 tables and 8 references