NCJ Number
107386
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 31 Issue: 2 Dated: (1987) Pages: 111-123
Date Published
1987
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Local legislative and administrative bodies responsible for jails should scrutinize the adequacy of jail operations in accordance with criteria set by courts in correctional litigation.
Abstract
On the policy level, correctional litigation has and is causing governments to undertake preventive and proactive strategies for coping with the problems of overcrowding, health standards, and the security and safety of jail operations. Prisoner litigation has sparked improved personnel screening and selection and upgraded entry-level training for corrections staff. Issues that may be affected by future litigation include the adequacy of inmate classification systems, a reliable system for crediting inmate 'good time,' parole practices that contribute to overcrowding, and procedures that jail those who should not be jailed. Another issue is the revolution in jail architecture that is directly linked to the past era of inmate litigation. The creation of the 'new generation jail' concept by the National Jail Center of the U.S. Department of Justice offers a replication model for a constitutional jail in both structure and operational design. 17 references and 6 appended case summaries.