PREPARED STATEMENT OF GEORGE E HOLLAND ON JANUARY 31, 1978 CONCERNING HR 7747 (FROM PRETRIAL RELEASE AND DETENTION, P 85-91, 1978 - SEE NCJ-66651)

• NCJ Number: 66655
• Author(s): G E HOLLAND
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 7 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Legislative/Regulatory Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA'S HIGHEST RANKING CORRECTIONAL OFFICIAL EXPRESSES HIS CONCERN WITH THE POSSIBLE IMPACT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE BAIL REFORM ACT WOULD HAVE ON THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT.

Abstract

TESTIFYING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL EFFICIENCY AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE DETENTION SERVICES OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS ASKED THE SUBCOMMITTEE TO MAKE FURTHER IN-DEPTH INQUIRIES INTO THE EFFECT THAT ENACTMENT OF H.R. 7747 (INTENDED TO INCREASE THE CATEGORIES OF ARRESTED PERSONS WHO CAN BE DETAINED BEFORE TRIAL AND THE LENGTH OF DETENTION) WOULD HAVE ON THE PRISON POPULATIONS OF CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES UNDER HIS JURISDICTION. CITING FIGURES AND STATISTICS REFLECTING STEADY INCREASES IN THE JAIL AND PRISON POPULATIONS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, DESPITE A SLIGHT DECLINE IN THE OVERALL POPULATION AND REGARDLESS OF REASONS FOR SUCH INCREASES, THE SUPERINTENDENT PREDICTED THAT THE MORE STRINGENT PRETRIAL DETENTION LEGISLATION WOULD ADD AT LEAST 231 PERSONS TO THE D.C. JAIL, AT AN ANTICIPATED COST TO THE TAXPAYER OF $3,000, BASED ON AN AVERAGE STAY OF 90 DAYS AT THE CURRENT (1978) AVERAGE DAILY COST OF $35 PER INMATE. THE SUPERINTENDENT CONFINED HIS STATEMENT TO THE POSSIBLE IMPACT OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION ON HIS DEPARTMENT, WITHOUT ADDRESSING ANY OF THE OTHER ISSUES INVOLVED.