NCJ Number
57346
Date Published
1979
Length
206 pages
Annotation
THIS JAIL AUDIT SYSTEM DEVELOPED BY THE NATIONAL SHERIFFS' ASSOCIATION CONTAINS EVALUATION FORMS POSING POLICY AND PROCEDURE QUESTIONS BASED ON NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED STANDARDS.
Abstract
THE HANDBOOK IS INTENDED FOR JAIL ADMINISTRATORS AND LOCAL SHERIFFS FACING THE NEED TO STRUCTURE AND PROFESSIONALIZE JAIL OPERATIONS. IT CAN BE USED AS AN EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT TOOL FOR EVALUATING EXISTING OPERATIONS, SETTING PRIORITIES AND FORMULATING POLICY AND PROCEDURES, IDENTIFYING AND RESOLVING DEFICIENCIES FOUND AT THE TIME OF AN INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL AUDIT, AND MONITORING FACILITY OPERATIONS ON A CONTINUING BASIS. THE SYSTEM CONSISTS OF THESE AUDITS: ADMINISTRATION, PHYSICAL PLANT, SECURITY, MEDICAL AND HEALTH CARE, EMERGENCY PLANS AND CONTROL PROCEDURE, INMATE RIGHTS, INTAKE PROCEDURES, AND INMATE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS. THE INDIVIDUAL AUDIT SYSTEMS PRESENT QUESTIONS RELATED TO STANDARDS FOR EACH AREA OF INTEREST. FOR EXAMPLE, THE ADMINSTRATION AUDIT CONSIDERS THE EXISTENCE OF WRITTEN POLICY AND PROCEDURES REGARDING COMMUNICATION CHANNELS, PERIODIC EVALUATION OF FACILITY PROCEDURES AND OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE TASKS, AND THE TIMELINESS, RELEVANCE, AND USE OF THESE POLICIES. THE AUDIT ON INMATE RIGHTS CONTAINS INQUIRIES ON WRITTEN POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ALLOWING INMATES TO CALL WITNESSES AND PRESENT DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE IN THEIR DEFENSE AT DISCIPLINARY HEARINGS AND TO RECEIVE A COPY OF THE DISCIPLINARY DECISION. THE AUDITOR RECORDS THE AGENCY'S COMPLIANCE OR NONCOMPLIANCE ALONGSIDE THE ITEM. FORMS FOR USE IN SUMMARIZING DEFICIENCIES AND NOTING DESIRED SOLUTIONS ARE PROVIDED AS WELL AS FORMS TO USE IN RECORDING THE STATUS OF CURRENT POLICY AND PROCEDURES AS THEY RELATE TO THE STANDARDS IN THE AUDIT. INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING THE AUDIT SYSTEM ARE INCLUDED.