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NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOR SMALL JAILS IN THE UNITED STATES

NCJ Number
67987
Date Published
1980
Length
23 pages
Annotation
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF AND PROBLEMS FACED BY SMALL JAILS ARE IDENTIFIED IN THIS NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CORRECTIONS NEEDS ASSESSMENT REPORT.
Abstract
THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT WAS BASED ON DATA FROM A STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT SAMPLE OF SMALL JAILS, SITE VISITS TO 91 JAILS IN 37 STATES, AND SURVEYS OF JAIL INSPECTORS IN 44 STATES. FINDINGS INDICATE THAT SMALL JAILS, COMPRISING 25 OR FEWER INMATES, REQUIRE IMPROVEMENT IN TRAINING AND IN POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. JAIL MANAGERS IDENTIFIED THE FOLLOWING MAJOR PROBLEM AREAS IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE: FACILITIES, OPERATIONS, STAFF, INMATE SERVICES, ADMINISTRATION, LEGAL ISSUES, AND OTHERS. JAIL INSPECTORS IDENTIFIED ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS AS THE MOST PRESSING CONCERN, FOLLOWED BY STAFF, FACILITIES, SERVICES, OPERATIONS, LEGAL ISSUES, AND OTEHRS. MANAGERS EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF RESOURCE MATERIALS, AND INDICATED PARTICULAR INTEREST AREAS. FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE MATERIALS WILL REFLECT THE FINDINGS OF THIS ASSESSMENT. TABLES, A FLOWCHART, AND A MAP ARE PROVIDED.