NCJ Number
154846
Date Published
1992
Length
74 pages
Annotation
Data reported in this volume were compiled by the Criminal Justice Institute, based on responses to survey questionnaires mailed to U.S. jail systems housing over 200 prisoners.
Abstract
Information was submitted by 90 jail systems, each of which had one or more facility. A total of 220 jail facilities contributed data. Followup telephone calls were made to verify and gather additional information. Survey findings revealed that jail systems were administered by individuals with various titles; about 35 percent were administered by sheriffs. The jail systems employed 40,689 individuals; 37 percent were female and about the same percentage were minorities. In 79 of the jail systems, an average of 330 preservice training hours were required, and 80 jail systems required an annual average of 36 hours inservice training. The average starting salary for jailers, officers, and deputies was $21,643, and the average maximum salary was $31,439. The average salary of jail administrators was $58,596. Of the 90 jail systems, 64 reported 2,259 prisoner assaults on staff, and 55 tested employee applicants for drug use. The average budget for 86 jail systems was $24.7 million: $1.7 million for food (8.3 percent), and $2.4 million for medical care (8.2 percent). The average cost per day in the reporting jail systems was $50. The 220 facilities operated by the 90 jail systems had a rated capacity of 120,588, or an average of 1,340 beds per system. The jail systems operated at 104.3 percent over rated capacity. As of January 1, 1992, 124,940 prisoners were housed in the 90 jail systems, and the average daily population totaled 1,292. Tables and figures