1. Jails:
Corrections at
the Local Level
Chapter 3

2. Corrections at the Local Level
 Jails are the entryway to corrections
 1 year or less or those awaiting trial

3. The Contemporary Jail: Entrance
to the System
 Origins and Evolution
 Feudal practices in 12th Century England
 Shire reeve, Gaol
 American colonies
 Sheriffs, Constables, Jails
 Penitentiary movement
 Added purpose

4. The Contemporary Jail: Entrance
to the System
 Population Characteristics
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5. The Contemporary Jail: Entrance
to the System
 Administration
 Elected sheriff—80% of jails run by sheriff
 State government—6 states run by the state
 Federal Bureau of Prisons—11 jails total
 Lockups/drunk tanks
 Private jails
 Law enforcement agencies
 Fee system

6. Discussion Question
Ask students to discuss which administration
philosophy works best with jails. Explain why.

7. The Contemporary Jail: Entrance
to the System
 Regional Jails
 Slow to catch on
 Political leaders
 Correctional leaders
 Citizens
 Private jails

8. Discussion Question
What if… a regional jail was opening in your
community? Neighborhood? Two blocks from
your house? Would you oppose it as many
have, or do you embrace the philosophy of
the regional jail system?

9. Pretrial Detention
 Special Problems of Detainees
 Mental health problems
 Substance dependency—1/2 of all inmates
 Medical needs—major to minor injuries
 Legal needs
 Pretrial detainees’ rights

10. Discussion Question
What if jails were replaced for drug offenders
with local or state drug rehabilitation centers
where offenders could get the help they
needed? Could this cost effective? What are
some pros and cons of this idea?

11. The Bail Problem and Alternatives
 Bail
 Cash
 Bondsman
 Problems
 Indigent defendants
 Money is a weak incentive
 Freedom for a price

12. The Bail Problem and Alternatives
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13. The Bail Problem and Alternatives
 Release on Recognizance
 Higher appearance rates
 Lower rearrest rates
 Higher probation sentences
 Day reporting centers
 Electronic monitoring

14. The Bail Problem and Alternatives
 Pretrial Diversion
 Offenders’ crimes caused by special problems
 Stigma attached to formal criminal labeling
 Cheaper than formal criminal justice
processing

15. The Bail Problem and Alternatives
 Conduct during Pretrial Release
 78% of defendants show up for every court
hearing
 Absconders
 1 in 5 (18%)
 Rearrest
 Almost 1 in 5

16. Discussion Question
What if pretrial release was eliminated due to
the problems discussed in the chapter? Would
this have a positive or negative effect of jail
conditions, populations, and programs?

17. The Bail Problem and Alternatives
 Preventive Detention
 Defendants regarded as dangerous are likely to
commit crimes while awaiting trial and held for
the protection of society
 1984
 Comprehensive Crime Control Act—assures safety
of the community

18. The Sentenced Jail Inmate
 Special Difficulties for Correctional
Administrators
 Short duration of sentences
 Physical limitations of jails

19. Issues in Jail Management
 Legal liability
 42 U.S.C. 1984—civil and criminal charges
 Section 1983 U.S.C.—civil judgments against
personnel

20. Issues in Jail Management
 Jail Standards
 Proactive criteria for jail management
 Basis for evaluation of staff performance
 Planning and evaluation of programs
 Binding or voluntary

21. Issues in Jail Management
 Personnel Matters
 Poorly trained
 Least educated
 Worst paid
 Poor working conditions
 Understaffing

22. Issues in Jail Management
 Jail Crowding
 Sentenced offenders waiting for prison space
 Violence
 Rape
 Health problems
 Possible solutions
 Increased release options
 Speeding up trials

23. Issues in Jail Management

24. Issues in Jail Management
 Jail Crowding
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25. Issues in Jail Management
 The Jail Facility
 New generation jail
 Podular design—has a common area, 12-25 cells
 Interaction space
 Personal space
 Direct supervision

26. Issues in Jail Management
 The Jail Facility
 New generation jail
 Advantages
 Flexible economics
 Easy to meet minimum standards
 Supervising staff is less demanding
 Cheaper to construct
 Less violence
 Programmatic advantages

27. Issues in Jail Management
 The Jail Facility
 New generation jail
 Challenges
 Hard to sell to the public
 Outmoded between planning and completion

28. Discussion Question
Discuss how new structures are programmatic
but how they may also become problematic as
well.

29. The Future of the Jail
 Three General Trends
 New construction of jail facilities
 Inter-Jurisdictional jails
 Growing emphasis on strengthening alternatives to jail