FEDERAL ROLE IN ASSISTANCE TO STATE AND LOCAL CORRECTIONS (FROM INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY CORRECTIONS AND THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, 12TH ANNUAL INTERAGENCY WORKSHOP PROCEEDINGS, 1977 - SEE NCJ-50660)

• NCJ Number: 50665
• Author(s): S DAY
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 4 pages
• Corporate Author: Sam Houston State University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

RESULTS OF THE 1970 JAIL CENSUS AND A MORE RECENT SURVEY OF 22 JAILS IN 4 STATES ARE REPORTED, AND SUGGESTIONS FOR COMMUNITY ACTION ON BEHALF OF JAILS ARE OFFERRED, ALONG WITH A DESCRIPTION OF FEDERAL PLANS FOR JAIL HELP.

Abstract

GENERAL RESULTS OF THE 1970 JAIL CENSUS AND A GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE REVIEW OF 22 JAILS IN 4 STATES RECEIVING LEAA ASSISTANCE INDICATE POOR FACILITIES AND SERVICES. OF THE 4,000 JAILS SURVEYED, ONLY 480 HAD MEDICAL FACILITIES, ONLY 643 HAD AN EXERCISE YARD, AND ONLY 2,628 SERVED THREE MEALS A DAY. IT IS NOTED THAT A MAJORITY OF JAIL INMATES ARE PRETRIAL DETAINEES, AND STATISTICS INDICATE THAT ONLY ABOUT HALF OF THESE WILL BE CONVICTED. YET MANY OF THESE 'PRESUMED INNOCENT' INMATES EXIST UNDER POORER CONDITIONS THAN CONVICTED OFFENDERS RESIDING IN PRISONS. MEAGER BUDGETS TRANSLATED INTO POOR TRAINING AND LOW PAY FOR JAIL PERSONNEL IS CITED AS ONE PROBLEM. SINCE INCREASED FUNDING IS NOT CONSIDERED A LIKELY POSSIBILITY, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS BE INAUGURATED TO IMPROVE THE NUMBER AND QUALITY OF SERVICES PROVIDED. IT IS CONSIDERED THE RESPONSIBILITY OF JAIL ADMINISTRATORS TO INITIATE SUCH PROGRAMS, OR AT THE VERY LEAST, TO COOPERATE WITH COMMUNITY AGENCIES THAT EXPRESS A DESIRE TO HELP. WHILE THE PROBLEMS OF FUNDING, STAFFING, AND PROGRAMS MUST BE MET BY LOCAL CITIZENS, IT IS INDICATED THAT FEDERAL AGENCIES SUCH AS THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CORRECTIONS CAN PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. A CITIZEN ADVISORY BOARD UNDER THIS AGENCY HAS ESTABLISHED THE IMPROVEMENT OF JAIL OPERATIONS AND PROGRAMS AS THE CENTRAL THRUST OF ITS WORK. THE ADVISORY BOARD, AT THE TIME OF THIS PUBLICATION, IS SUPERVISING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PERMANENT JAIL CENTER ADJACENT TO A PROGRESSIVE COUNTY JAIL IN BOULDER, COLO. THIS FEDERAL CENTER WILL FOCUS ON TRAINING SHERIFFS, JAIL ADMINISTRATORS, AND JAIL INSPECTORS, AS WELL AS DEVELOP TRAINING MATERIALS FOR LINE STAFF AND VOLUNTEER WORKERS. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND INFORMATION WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED TO PEOPLE IN THE FIELD. (RCB)