WAITING IN JAIL - A REPORT BASED ON INTERVIEWS WITH 144 MEN AND WOMEN OFFICIALLY DETAINED IN WASHINGTON, DC, ON JULY 15, 1973

• NCJ Number: 17494
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 62 pages
• Corporate Author: American Friends Service Cmtte
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

RESPONSES OF INCARCERATED DEFENDANTS INTERVIEWED AT THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA JAIL AND THE WOMEN'S DETENTION CENTER BY STAFF OF THE WASHINGTON PRETRIAL JUSTICE PROGRAM OF THE AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE.

Abstract

THE 144 INTERVIEWS USED IN THIS REPORT CONSTITUTED 28.3 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL UNSENTENCED POPULATION AND 6.0 PER CENT OF THOSE SENTENCED WITH OTHER CHARGES PENDING. THE PURPOSE OF THE INTERVIEWS WAS TO GAIN THE INMATES' PERSPECTIVE OF THEIR ACCESS TO BAIL, TO SPEEDY TRIAL, AND TO EFFECTIVE LEGAL AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE WHILE WAITING IN JAIL FOR ADJUDICATION OF THEIR CASES. SURVEY DATA IS PRESENTED IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: TIME AWAITING TRIAL, TIME AWAITING SENTENCING, BAIL DECISIONS, BOND REVIEW, AVAILIBILITY OF BOND, CATEGORIES OF CRIMINAL CHARGES, CONTACT WITH LAWYERS, AND HEALTH NEEDS AND TREATMENT. PERSONAL DATA ON THE DETAINEES INTERVIEWED APPEARS IN THE APPENDIX, THE MAXIMUM LENGTH OF PRETRIAL INCARCERATION NOTED WAS SEVEN AND ONE HALF MONTHS WHILE 21.5 PERCENT OF THE INMATES WERE DETAINED THREE MONTHS OR LONGER. IN 65.4 PERCENT OF THE CASES, THERE WAS A WAITING PERIOD OF BETWEEN ONE AND TWO MONTHS FROM CONVICTION TO SENTENCING. THIRTY-THREE PERCENT OF THE INMATES WERE UNABLE TO MAKE BOND FOR ECONOMIC REASONS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)