NCJ Number
124300
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 17 Issue: 6 Dated: (June 1990) Pages: 30-33
Date Published
1990
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Suggestions for involving the community in jail goals and operations feature a jail advisory board.
Abstract
Who will appoint the members of the advisory board is the first issue to be decided. When new facility construction is the concern of the advisory board, the board of county commissions or supervisors usually make the appointments. When the goal is to assess current programming, management, or operational concerns, the selection should be made by the sheriff or the police chief. The advisory board should be balanced politically and should offer a diverse range of expertise and interests. Key elements in a board's success are member participation and the willingness of the sponsoring agency to respond positively to the board's suggestions. In providing guidance for jail goals, the board should define the intent of the goals, organize specific objectives, stay on track, and establish a workable timetable. In Licking County, Ohio, 153 citizens of Licking County were empaneled to assist local officials in the planning process for a new facility. Tasks included site selection, facility type and size, inmate programming, and alternatives to incarceration. This community involvement in construction planning continued into jail operations. Today, over 180 volunteers provide jail services.