NCJ Number
110310
Date Published
1987
Length
45 pages
Annotation
This review of the current status of Florida's jails considers the State's role in jail operations, current problems and issues, and the management of various types of inmates.
Abstract
After an overview of the jail crisis nationwide and characteristics of jail populations, the report discusses the role of the State Department of Corrections in monitoring and enforcing jail standards. The analysis of specific problems and issues facing jail administrators focuses on overcrowding, structural deficiencies, insufficient staff, litigation, and the cost of confinement. A review of problems attending the management of various types of inmates considers pretrial and posttrial inmates, local and State prisoners, juveniles and adult inmates, mentally ill and mentally retarded inmates, the substance abuser, and female inmates. The report concludes that the jail situation in Florida continues to improve from an administrative and professional perspective, but overcrowding is still the most significant detriment to compliance with minimum standards. Adequate funding for officers' salaries and midmanagement training continue to be problems for many jail administrations. An effort to collect standardized jail information has begun, but many jails are still not computerized in this area. Appended data, including jail costs and officer salaries by county.