NCJ Number
112635
Journal
American Jails Volume: 2 Issue: 3 Dated: (Fall 1988) Pages: 77-78,80,82
Date Published
1988
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Ontario, Canada, maintains 27 local jails and 9 regional detention centers through which adult offenders enter the correctional system.
Abstract
Local jails house 20 to 124 inmates, while regional centers have a capacity of 92 to 604 inmates. These facilities provide medium and maximum security accommodation for offenders on remand, awaiting trial or sentencing; serving short sentences, or awaiting transfers to a Federal prison. During 1988, the average daily count in these facilities was 3,675, of whom 50 percent were sentenced offenders. The facilities employ 2,160 correctional officers, supervisors, and administrators. Salaries range from $27,675 for line officers to $67,000 for superintendents of large detention centers. An employment equity program has led to increasing female staffing at all levels. Staff training is high priority and includes both basic training and ongoing, inservice training. Because average sentence lengths are short, emphasis is placed on preparing inmates for release. Jails and detention centers provide health care and other treatment and rehabilitations services using a multidisciplinary approach. Some services are provided by full-time staff, while others are offered through community resources or obtained on a fee-for-service basis. Other programs and services include discharge planning, education, chaplaincy service, libraries, recreation, institutional crisis intervention teams, psychiatric/psychological and social work services, and community work programs. Additional programs and services are provided by more than 4,600 citizen volunteers. In addition, emphasis is placed on finding community-based programs and alternatives. Photographs.