NCJ Number
80027
Journal
Prison Journal Volume: 61 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring/Summer 1981) Pages: 3-12
Date Published
1981
Length
10 pages
Annotation
The inadequacies of corrections policy in rural and small towns, particularly those bearing upon jail operations, are identified, and a proposal for change is presented.
Abstract
The analysis is based upon data from a 15-State survey of southern county sheriffs, a county-level survey conducted by the National Sheriffs' Association, several national surveys of local jails, and selected interviews with rural sheriffs in Florida. The large number of local jails housing few inmates expected to remain less than one year, plus the use of poorly trained (often part-time) jail personnel, is a primary factor in the provision of few high quality rehabilitation programs for inmates. Further, there is little incentive from the local private or public sector to devote sufficient funds to local correctional needs. An analysis of 1978 jail inmates shows them to be in particular need of services (most have little education and poor employment patterns), and there are indications that many felons in State prisons have at a prior time passed through local jails as misdemeanants. Three steps that could improve jail operations are certification of staff, consolidation of local facilities, and revitalization of minimum standards. Certification of staff refers to the development of a training sequence which provides for participants being certified at different levels of corrections expertise. The consolidation of local jails would involve the establishment of a central facility for a number of jurisdictions, which would provide for enough inmates and full time staff to develop cost-effective programs. The implementation of training and consolidation would then do much to create a context for revitalizing minimum standards for local corrections facilities. Twenty-six footnotes are listed.