NCJ Number
244871
Date Published
October 2013
Length
48 pages
Annotation
This is a report on the presentations and discussions of the September 2013 Large Jail Network meeting held at the National Institute of Corrections Academy in Aurora, CO, which addressed various issues currently facing large jails.
Abstract
Regarding inmate health care, jails envision significant financial benefits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), as many jail inmates will be newly eligible for Medicaid, based on their income. In addressing staff response to job stress, meeting participants encouraged alleviating some of this stress by addressing agency culture and providing training programs and other assistance in reducing stress. Another issue addressed by participants was how to prepare for jail audits under the Prison Rape Elimination Act standards. Regarding jail accommodation for inmate religious beliefs, it was noted that jails can reasonably review the sincerity of inmates' religious beliefs when an accommodation for religious beliefs is requested. Meeting attendees were also informed that the American Correctional Association (ACA) is recommending that agencies adopt the term "restricted housing" to replace "administrative segregation" in order to correct the perception that a housing restriction in jail is synonymous with isolation and abusive mental punishment. Appendixes contain the meeting agenda and the participant list.