NCJ Number
105027
Date Published
1985
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This paper discusses detainer inmates who serve longer sentences due to untried criminal or civil charges and the effect these detainers have on prison overcrowding in the State of Texas.
Abstract
Research indicates that significant differences exist in the type of inmates with each detainer and suggests the need for criteria to distinguish different detainer inmate types according to criminal charge verses civil charge. Findings reveal that 66 percent of inmates under detainers are awaiting other State or Federal processing, and 28 percent of those with the Immigration and Naturalization Service detainers are awaiting civil, not criminal, processing. It is believed that prison overcrowding could be alleviated by eliminating detainers given to inmates who are awaiting other State and Federal agency placement or civil processing and by expediting the movement of these inmates to the jurisdictions that placed the detainers. Policy reforms to alleviate the effects of detainers on inmates and prison overcrowding are further explored. 3 tables and 6 references.