NCJ Number
172071
Journal
American Jails Volume: 11 Issue: 4 Dated: (September-October 1997) Pages: 59-62
Date Published
1997
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Walworth County (Wisc.) has combined the concept of direct supervision of correctional facilities with a new superpod architectural design to create a national model for effective management of county jails.
Abstract
The facility has 177,735 square feet. It houses a variety of inmates requiring different levels of security, accommodates different operational functions, allows for staff synergy and more effective operations, and saves on costs through the direct supervision model. The design reduced personnel needs from 138 to 92 staff members. In addition, the simplified construction systems reduced construction costs by an estimated 20 percent in comparison to similar facilities. The facility has four detention pods: the superpod, the Huber inmate dormitory for work-release inmates, and two male inmate pods. It also has seven enclosed support facilities such as a visitation area and a health area. The superpod consists of three concentric rings divided into eight detention areas. A raised control area at the center is surrounded by the dayroom, which is surrounded by the inmate cells. Each detention area includes a portion of the dayroom and surrounding cells for different types of inmates. Inmates quickly learn that their behavior determines their privileges and their classification unit. Safety features include body alarms, gun control, the elimination of unauthorized visitors, a media room directly off the lobby and the sheriff's office, and staff rooms. Additional cost-effective features are video arraignments and a program in which offenders can do community service in the jail. Photographs