NCJ Number
208271
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 66 Issue: 7 Dated: December 2004 Pages: 80,82-84,85
Date Published
December 2004
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article describes the major reform efforts that transformed the Koror Jail in the Republic of Palau.
Abstract
During the past 3 years, the Koror Jail has undergone startling changes that have decreased the escape rate by 75 percent, decreased inmate problems, and improved relations between inmates and correctional officers. These reforms occurred despite a 40 percent increase in the number of inmates and an operating budget that has remained the same. After describing the conditions of the jail before the reform efforts, the article discusses the operations of the jail, including its structure, location, and number of inmates. Approximately 110 inmates are housed at the Koror Jail and are policed by 2 police officers at any one time. Reform efforts included clear jail policies to avoid problems of favoritism and introduced incentives to obey the rules by offering benefits to unproblematic inmates. A sense of community was engendered by allowing inmates to design and build jail structures, such as the jail chapel, and by introducing educational programs and community projects. Thus, while the inmate population of Koror Jail has increased in recent years with no corresponding increase in budget, inmates are happier and the jail is operating more efficiently and has even lowered its food procurement costs. 9 Endnotes