Political and Organizational Context of American Jails (From American Jails: Public Policy Issues, P 3-21, 1991, Joel A Thompson and G Larry Mays, eds. -- See NCJ-165482)

• NCJ Number: 165483
• Author(s): G L Mays; J A Thompson
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 19 pages
• Sale Source: Nelson-Hall Publishers
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

In examining the jail's unique role within the American criminal justice system's sociopolitical context, this chapter considers the factors and institutions that influence jail decisionmaking and the ways in which jails influence other criminal justice agencies.

Abstract

Jails and their environments can be conceived as three concentric circles. The innermost circle represents the jail and the actors directly involved in its daily operations. The middle circle consists of those actors and institutions that have close and continuing, although not daily, interaction with jail inmates and personnel. The outermost circle includes those individuals and groups that may affect both the jail and its immediate environment, but usually in indirect or unintentional ways. This chapter explores each of these arenas and provides examples of boundary-spanning activities. A discussion of the factors in the inner circle focuses on jail inmates, law enforcement officials, and custodial personnel. The section on the middle circle addresses the following agencies in the jail's immediate environment: law enforcement agencies and prosecutors, courts, correctional agencies, and inmate advocacy and jail reform groups. Constituencies and institutions in the outer circle include governmental executive agencies, legislatures, court sentencing, appellate reviews of jail conditions, public attitudes toward jails, and news media attention to jails. To illustrate the concept of boundary-spanning issues, the chapter focuses on five policy areas: local politics and limits on funding, changes in law enforcement policies, jail standards and inspections, State corrections department policies, and jail reform litigation. Overall, the chapter concludes that American jails are in a state of crisis and always have been because of their nature as crisis-oriented institutions; consequently, those individuals and groups committed to jail reform must be prepared for a long-term operation and the achievement of small victories. 3 notes