JAILS (FROM CRIME AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS, 1978, BY JAMES A INCIARDI AND KENNETH C HAAS - SEE NCJ-53277)

• NCJ Number: 53286
• Author(s): R GOLDFARB
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 17 pages
• Corporate Author: Kendall/ Hunt Publishing Co
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. FROM JAILS BY RONALD GOLDFARB, 1975

Annotation

AN EXCERPT FROM A BOOK DESCRIBING AND DEPLORING CONDITIONS AND PRACTICES IN THE JAILS OF THE UNITED STATES IS PRESENTED.

Abstract

JAILS ARE DESCRIBED AS DUMPING GROUNDS FOR SOCIAL OUTCASTS AND UNDERPRIVILEGED PEOPLE WHO NEED SOCIAL SERVICES--INSTITUTIONS RUN FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF THEIR ADMINISTRATORS, NOT THEIR USERS. MANY PEOPLE ARE JAILED BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO MAKE BAIL OR PAY A FINE. PEOPLE OF MEANS, IT IS OBSERVED, SELDOM SEE THE INSIDE OF JAIL. THE AUTHOR'S TRAVELS TO JAILS AND PRISONS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES REVEALED A PARADOX. PRISONS ARE USED TO INCARCERATE PEOPLE CONVICTED OF SERIOUS CRIMES, WHEREAS JAILS PRIMARILY HOLD PEOPLE WHO ARE AWAITING TRIAL AND WHO HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF NOTHING. YET JAILS ARE FAR WORSE THAN PRISONS. DESCRIPTIONS OF JAIL CONDITIONS IN SEVERAL CITIES ARE PRESENTED IN SUPPORT OF THIS OBSERVATION. THE HISTORY OF JAILS IN THE UNITED STATES IS TRACED, AND THE ORGANIZATION, STAFFING, RULES, AND REGULATIONS OF JAILS ARE DISCUSSED. NATIONAL SURVEY FINDINGS REGARDING THE NUMBER AND TYPES OF JAILS AND THE SIZE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE JAIL POPULATION ARE CITED. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT PROBLEMS WITH RIOTS, PROPERTY DAMAGE, AND THE TAKING OF HOSTAGES BY JAIL INMATES REFLCT THE FACT THAT PEOPLE DISRESPECT INSTITUTIONS THEY KNOW ARE NOT WORKING FOR THEM. THE RESISTANCE OF JAILS TO SIGNIFICANT REFORM IS ILLUSTRATED IN TWO EXAMPLES. DESPITE A FLURRY OF BAD PUBLICITY, INVESTIGATIONS, AND INMATE ACTIONS, THE CONDITIONS AT THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA JAIL REMAIN 'CRITICAL'. IN NEW ORLEANS, LA., DESPITE THE PRESENCE OF REFORM-MINDED OFFICIALS AND LEGAL SERVICE LAWYERS, THE JAIL REMAINS 'SQUALID.' THE POTENTIAL INFLUENCE OF THE LEAA'S NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE AS A JAIL REFORM VEHICLE IS NOTED, AS IS THE MOVEMENT AWAY FROM COMPLETE RELIANCE ON INSTITUTIONS AND TOWARD COMMUNITY TREATMENT. IT IS CONCLUDED, HOWEVER, THAT LITTLE SIGNIFICANT CHANGE HAS TAKEN PLACE AND THAT JAILS REMAIN A NATIONAL DISGRACE. (LKM)