NCJ Number
89135
Date Published
1983
Length
15 pages
Annotation
New York State's Office of Program and Policy Analysis examined local correctional facilities' compliance with minimum standards in the areas of admissions, classification, fire safety, implementation and operation of treatment programs, legal services, sanitation, and security and supervision.
Abstract
Compliance with the standards for legal services and security and supervision was monitored for both 1979 and 1980. Compliance with the other standards was examined only for 1980. Aggregate statewide compliance was computed as the mean of the mean compliance scores received by the local facilities on each standard. The 1980 statewide average compliance scores achieved on each of the seven standards were admissions, 93 percent; classification, 91 percent; fire safety, 59 percent; legal services, 77 percent; sanitation, 90 percent; security and supervision, 84 percent; and treatment, 65 percent. Individual standards compliance is depicted as the number of facilities falling within specified ranges of percent of compliance. The requirements of each standard are explained. The analysis indicates that facilities had difficulties in meeting some written procedural requirements within the standards and in providing mandated facility structures. Whether compliance with a standard or any of its elements requires procedural modifications, monetary expenditures, or some combination of both appears to influence compliance rates. The statistical analysis methodology used is described and critiqued.