NCJ Number
230832
Date Published
June 2010
Length
76 pages
Annotation
This report from the Justice Policy Institute examines jails and the criminal justice system in Baltimore, MD.
Abstract
On any given day, Baltimore City's pretrial detention facilities, one of the oldest and largest systems in the country, hold around 4,000 people. In addition, the system has the highest percentage of the City's population in jail compared to 19 other large metropolitan areas. In examining Baltimore City's jails, this report from the Justice Policy Institute found that Baltimore's criminal justice system and jails are structured differently than typical local jails around the country in that the pretrial detention facilities in the city are funded and operated by the State of Maryland and not the city of Baltimore. This situation means that Baltimore City does not have a financial incentive to limit and reduce the number of people incarcerated in the city's jails. To address the problems of overcrowding and inadequate facilities, the State of Maryland is in the process of planning the construction of two new facilities for the City. This report is divided into eight major sections that examine how Baltimore's facilities operate and how they have changed since they were taken over by the State of Maryland: What has changed since Maryland took over the Baltimore jail?; Who is in the jail?; How much does Maryland spend on the Baltimore jail system?; What happens when someone is arrested in Baltimore?; How do pretrial processes and policies affect the number of people in jail?; How do court systems affect the number of people in jail?; Re-Entering Baltimore City; and Recommendations and Conclusions. Tables, figures, appendix, glossary of terms, endnotes