NCJ Number
179947
Date Published
1999
Length
218 pages
Annotation
Intended for those involved in the collection and analysis of jail data, this manual addresses both ongoing and special-issue data collections in local jails.
Abstract
The first chapter discusses how accurate and relevant information can be used to help sheriffs and jail administrators manage jails more effectively. This is followed by a chapter that identifies what information should be collected; topics discussed include a catalog of correctional data elements and the identification of data elements from problem statements. A chapter on preparation for the data collection addresses data-collection skills, where to find the skills needed, and working with people from outside the system. How to locate and capture information is discussed in Chapter 4. This discussion encompasses jail information sources, setting up an information system for the jail, and special-issue data collections. The next chapter provides guidelines for doing the data collection. This involves determining an overall strategy and how much data to collect, coding, rules for coding data, coding in an automated system, gathering data collection supplies, beginning the collection, and automation issues. Remaining chapters address how to analyze and interpret information, sharing information with others, and getting the most from an information system. Appended glossary of statistical terms, a 21-item annotated bibliography, manual data collection procedures and sample forms, inmate profile data collection, incident data code book, transport data collection, tables for determining sample size, simple random sampling, calculating the standard deviation, calculating chi square, manual data display, and automated case study guide