NCJ Number
83685
Date Published
1982
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Ways in which small jails operating on limited budgets can improve their services to inmates are suggested, based on the experience of the Marengo County Jail (Linden, Ala.).
Abstract
The Marengo County Jail was built 16 years ago to serve as a detention facility. There is no space for recreation, classroom instruction, group assembly, or proper exercise. There are no single cells, and the jail does not meet any contemporary standards of physical jail construction; yet the inmate services program in the jail has been successful. Many social services are available to the jail through cooperative agreements with appropriate agencies. Small jails can establish cooperative agreements with (1) local mental health centers for inmate mental health services, (2) the nearest Veterans Administration Hospital to provide services to eligible inmates, (3) the nearest vocational rehabilitation service to provide service to eligible inmates, (4) the State's general education development (GED) testing agency to provide GED testing in the jail, (5) the nearest college or university to provide opportunities for field placement of students, and (6) the local health department to provide medical personnel to screen inmates and determine which should be taken to a doctor. Further, small jails can develop work release programs, solicit the involvement of community volunteer groups, and use grant monies to develop programs and employ staff full time or on a contractual basis.