JAIL REPORT, 1977, V 1

• NCJ Number: 51902
• Author(s): M S LEWIS; S SHANKS
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 16 pages
• Corporate Author: Contact, Inc
• Sale Source: Contact, Inc
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

PART OF A 4-VOLUME PRESENTATION OF DATA ON A 1977 SURVEY OF JAIL FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS, THIS VOLUME CONSIDERS NUMBER OF ONE-MAN CELLS, RECREATION, STAFF-INMATE RATIO, ESCAPE PROBLEMS, AND SERVICES FOR MENTALLY ILL RESIDENTS.

Abstract

THIS REPORT IS BASED ON SURVEY DATA RECEIVED AS OF FEBRUARY 3, 1978. DUE TO INSUFFICIENT DATA REGARDING THE AVERAGE JAIL POPULATION, 107 OUT OF 525 SURVEYS RECEIVED WERE EXCLUDED, LEAVING 418 FROM WHICH THE DATA WERE TAKEN. THE SAMPLE POPULATION CONSISTS OF THE 3,800 COUNTY JAIL FACILITIES LISTED IN 'CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES (REGIONS I-X),' NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION AND STATISTICS SERVICE, MARCH 1975. THE JAILS REPORTING WERE DIVIDED INTO 5 GROUPS ACCORDING TO THE SIZE OF THE AVERAGE PRISONER POPULATION. THE DATA ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS ARE COMPARED TO THE STANDARDS SET IN THE 'MANUAL OF STANDARDS FOR ADULT DETENTION FACILITIES.' IN RELATION TO THE STANDARD REQUIRING SINGLE OCCUPANCY CELLS, ONLY 13 PERCENT OF THE RESPONDENTS HAVE ALL ONE-MAN CELLS, WHEREAS 33 PERCENT HAVE NO ONE-MAN CELLS. STANDARDS STATE THAT EACH FACILITY MUST HAVE AT LEAST ONE SPECIAL PURPOSE CELL OR ROOM FOR TEMPORARY DETENTION OF PERSONS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS. FIFTY PERCENT OF THE RESPONDENTS INDICATED HAVING SUCH A SPECIAL CELL. SIXTY PERCENT OF THE RESPONDING FACILITIES HAVE NO RECREATION AREA, EVEN THOUGH THE STANDARDS RECOMMEND SPACE FOR INMATE EXERCISE. DATA FURTHER INDICATE THAT THE JAILS RESPONDING DO NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT PERSONNEL FOR OPTIMAL SECURITY MEASURES. IT IS ALSO INDICATED THAT ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE JAILS HAVE PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING AVAILABLE TO THE MENTALLY ILL OR EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED BEING DETAINED, THE OVERALL AVERAGES SHOW A LEVEL OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES BELOW THAT REQUIRED BY THE POPULATION OF MENTALLY ILL BEING HELD. THE SURVEY QUESTIONS ELICITING THE DATA REPORTED IN THIS VOLUME ARE PROVIDED IN THE APPENDIX. THE DIVISION OF STATES BY LEAA DESIGNATED REGIONS AND GEOGRAPHIC AREAS IS ALSO INCLUDED IN THE APPENDIX. OTHER VOLUMES IN THE SERIES ARE NCJ 51903-51905. (RCB)