NCJ Number
178807
Journal
Corrections Compendium Volume: 24 Issue: 9 Dated: September 1999 Pages: 1-21
Date Published
September 1999
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This study examined jail utilization in two mid-western county jails; both counties were experiencing growth problems that might be expected to affect jail populations, and the study postulated jails might be used to incarcerate offenders who could be better served by other community resources.
Abstract
Jail inmate profiles were constructed, and the resulting data showed many inmates were unnecessarily incarcerated. Non-violent offenses that resulted in the incarceration of inmates in one county jail in 1995 included probation violations, contempt violations of Title 4D (failure to pay child support), theft, public indecency, driving while intoxicated, driving with a suspended license, and possession of marijuana. Some of these offenders actually needed the control and structure of the local jail, but it was clear a significant percentage did not. The jail in the other county was crowded and incarcerated individuals who did not pose a serious threat to public safety. This county was under greater pressure than the other county to make changes because a class action lawsuit had been filed in state court that maintained jail crowding deprived inmates of their civil rights. Non-violent offenders held in this county's jail included probationers who committed misdemeanor offenses, persons held for court hearings, probationers who violated technical conditions of their probation agreements, persons who failed to appear for the least serious category of felony, and persons who failed to appear for misdemeanor offenses. Both counties had a significant number of programs and agencies designed to provide services for persons who did not need the total control of the jail. The authors conclude alternatives to incarceration in jail are appropriate for many non-violent offenders. 15 references and 4 figures