NCJ Number
214369
Date Published
April 2006
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This bulletin presents the criteria that jurisdictions have used successfully in identifying, evaluating, and selecting jail sites, as well as relieving the public's fears about having a jail nearby.
Abstract
Criteria for preliminary considerations in jail site selection are to start early and to appoint a site selection committee. Starting the site selection process early provides ample time for consideration of a variety of alternative sites, the testing of public opinion, analysis of the cost of building and operations, and engaging the community in the decisionmaking process. The site selection committee might consist of several county commissioners, a jail administrator, the county director of planning, private citizens, the architect, the county public works administrator, and the construction manager. The site selection process involves five steps. Step 1 is the development of site evaluation criteria. Step 2 involves the identification of potential sites. This step includes determining whether a site is large enough for the proposed building, recreation yards, perimeter and access roads, parking, services, buffer zones, fire access lanes, natural features that are environmentally protected from modification, and a storm-water retention pond. Identifying potential sites also requires convincing the community that modern jails make good neighbors, as well as determining how the site will affect operations. Further, the identification of potential sites involves the identification of "gatekeepers" (people or agencies with the power to control approval of a jail construction project) and the development of strategies for dealing with them. The remaining steps are to conduct a preliminary evaluation, select the recommended site, and conduct a detailed site analysis. 6 case studies and appended sample site evaluation form and a sample key data display