2. Chapter 3 Jails

3. Jails and Other Short-Term Facilities Locally controlled and funded Designed for security, function Categories of inmates Methods of release Cost issues and controlling them Suicide prevention

4. Jails Designed to hold persons accused of crime Usually controlled by county, city agencies Holding facilities: short-term, 48 hours, little capacity for food, medical care Transient populations Release to community Transfer to prison

5. Jail Capacity and Crowding

6. Jail Costs to Local Governments 1983 - 1999

7. Jail Design Architecture: the key to cheap control Sallyport: entry area for police cars Booking area: equipped to collect personal data, fingerprints, mugshots, blood alcohol, perform searches Bullpen or Tank: holding cell for newly arrived prisoners being processed, often holds intoxicated persons

8. Punitive Segregation Solitary confinement for disciplinary reasons Inmates are assaultive, have tried to escape, or have otherwise threatened the security of the facility Hearing required for this type of punishment

9. Administrative or Protective Segregation Suicidal, mentally ill and disruptive inmates Those who may be harmed if placed in the general population of the jail (e.g., informants) Persons awaiting disciplinary hearings can be placed in administrative segregation if they are a threat to themselves, others, or the order of the facility

10. General Population Cell blocks or podular units Organized by dangerousness, escape risk Some only separate felons from misdemeanants A few jails have separate areas for juveniles Must not be able to see, hear, or otherwise contact adult inmates

11. Trustees Have demonstrated they will not escape, steal or harm others Greater freedom to move about facility Responsible for most routine chores May also work at other government facilities in jurisdiction

12. Stockades House convicted misdemeanants Work programs, such as highway cleanup crews operate from these facilities Work release programs likely to be placed here also Administered as part of jail but located in less urban area

13. Jail Administration Usually operated by sheriffs, other police officials who know little of corrections Funded by county or city governments Must compete with roads, schools and similar projects for funding Few employees have civil service protection DO’s poorly paid and trained, leads to high turnover Political appointments common (spoils system)

14. Jail Populations 1)Pretrial detention (felons and misdemeanants) 2)Dumping ground for social misfits (mentally ill, alcoholics, homeless) 3)Local penal institution (convicted misdemeanants) 4)Hold convicted felons awaiting sentencing or transportation to prison

15. Jail Experience Disintegration – life, job, and so on Disorientation – sense of time Degradation – rituals/procedures, delousing Good preparation for underclass life

16. Race and the Jail Rate 1985–2001 Insert Race and Jail Rate, Excel chart

17. Growth of Jail Populations War on drugs Especially minorities Nuisance crimes predominate Lack of alternatives for homeless, mentally ill

18. Methods of Release from Jail Bail Release on recognizance Conditional release programs

19. Bail Cash surety, other material (home title) to assure return for trial Usually arranged through a bondsman who takes a percentage as his/her fee Example: $5000 bond, pay 12% or $600 Bondsmen have standing “credit” arrangement with courts

20. Release on Recognizance Also known as “personal recognizance” Court releases defendant on her/his promise to appear for hearings Decision based on: 1.Estimate of dangerousness, recidivism 2.Solidity of ties to community An attempt to avoid economic discrimination innate to bail

21. Conditional Release Programs Operated by jail or probation personnel Imposes supervision, conditions on release Common conditions: – Urinalysis – Electronic monitoring – Weekly reporting

22. Alternatives to Jail Diversion: Transfer of case to other, non– C.J., agency Day Fines: Based on severity of offense and offender’s average daily earnings Intermittent Sentencing: Evenings or weekends in jail, release for job Drug Courts: Treatment and urinalysis results monitored weekly by judge

23. Mentally Ill Inmates Deinstitutionalization of 1970s forced by rulings that required clear and convincing evidence of immediate dangerousness to hold mentally ill without consent Motivated by past abuses of involuntary commitment and potential for community care at reduced costs Community treatment facilities never funded

24. Criminalization of Mental Illness Jails have replaced mental hospitals as places for confining the mentally ill Disorderly conduct, trespassing, panhandling, and other minor crimes No other convenient place to hold them Identification of mental disorders among felons also increasing

25. Jail Suicides Second to natural causes in jail deaths Major source of liability Highest risk is at time of arrest when least is known of offender Intoxicated first offenders at greatest risk Rare among recidivists

26. Risk Factors 1)Open threats of suicide 2)History of suicide attempts 3)Intoxication, especially drunkenness 4)Serious mental/emotional disturbances 5)Expressions of deep depression and hopelessness or hostility

27. “New Generation” Jails Podular construction increasingly popular Direct supervision places officers in same area as inmates –Quick intervention prevents violence, property damage –Safer for inmates and staff

28. Cutting Jail Costs Privatization –Subcontracting specific services, –Use of inmate labor –Privatization of alternatives to jails –Contracting for private jail operation Leasing space from other jurisdictions Fee ‑ for ‑ services –Medical –Educational –Room and board