NCJ Number
203891
Date Published
2004
Length
41 pages
Annotation
This document contains five papers from the Michigan Association of Counties 2003 Annual Conference, which focused on jail overcrowding.
Abstract
The collection of five papers offer best practices for reducing jail overcrowding, as well as corrections data regarding inmates. The first paper, from Missaukee-Wexford County, presents a jail crowding prevention and response checklist for courts that lists suggestions for reducing jail overcrowding at the pretrial and post trail time periods. General suggestions and funding issues are also presented in this checklist. The second paper presents best practices in Michigan trial courts toward the reduction of jail overcrowding. The key lessons learned by chief justices around Michigan regarding the control of jail overcrowding include issues related to the convening of stakeholders, knowledge about jail inmates, the importance of constant collaboration and communication, improved caseflow management, effective media relations, the allocation of resources, appropriate alternative sanctions, and the use of technical assistance to overcome the problem. The third paper, from Kalamazoo County, offers data regarding the availability of alternative sanctions programs, five steps designed to reduce the sentence of sentenced jail inmates, an overview of 2002 early release data, and a summary, in table format, of 2002 early releases due to jail overcrowding. The fourth paper, from Missaukee-Wexford County, presents Community Corrections data spanning the years 1990 through 2003. Finally, the fifth paper, from Wayne County, offers the Third Circuit Court's approach to the jail overcrowding problem, which includes the establishment of a jail overcrowding review committee and regular meetings to assess progress. Data involving the Third Circuit Court's pre-exam program, pre-trial services, sentencing, and probation violators are presented, followed by statistics on the jail population and releases for 2003. Tables