NCJ Number
99779
Date Published
1985
Length
48 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes the achievements of a program designed to assist 23 jurisdictions in 12 States plan and implement alternatives to juvenile detention in adult jails and lockups and to alter policies which allow juvenile jailing.
Abstract
The Jail Removal Initiative began in January 1981 and ultimately involved 170 jails. Nearly all sites were rural and characterized by physical, economic, and geographic obstacles not associated with large urban sites. The report outlines the project's two-phase design: 6-8 months were devoted to developing a strategy for accomplishing jail removal and an 18-month second phase focused on implementation and monitoring. Phase 1 assessments revealed that services and placement options for jail removal were sparse, and that status offenders were 41 percent of the juvenile jail population. During the last 12 months of Phase 2, jurisdictions reduced the number of jailings by 55 percent. After adjusting for the reduced number of intakes between Phase 1 and Phase 2, there was still a 45-percent overall reduction and only a slight increase in secure juvenile detention placements. Less restrictive nonsecure placement, mainly shelter care, served as the alternative placement for many juveniles previously jailed but not held in secure detention. The report details the achievements of both phases and discusses the alternatives used by jurisdictions. Other areas covered include the numbers of juveniles in adult facilities after the removal program, types of juvenile offenders entering secure detention, the cost of jail removal, detention criteria, and the impact of written policies and procedures. Data are presented in four tables.