NCJ Number
87298
Date Published
1982
Length
203 pages
Annotation
This survey of jail administrators and sheriffs reports on facility and operating problems affecting jails nationwide.
Abstract
The most important problem facing jails is personnel, especially lack of training, inadequate salaries, and heavy turnover due to lack of career incentives. Modernization of physical conditions ranks next most important, since many jails are antiquated, poorly ventilated, and unable to meet minimal standards for fire protection, health, and sanitation. Overcrowding, lack of recreation, and inadequate funding are also major problems. Among the 37 different problems mentioned, deficiencies in security, medical services, visitation, housing, and treatment for the mentally ill are also cited. Findings were calculated from 2,664 survey responses and organized in eight separate sections: general, legal, administrative, physical description, staffing, inmate population, programs and services, and the five most serious problems. Replies are categorized according to the amount of jail bed space: 1-16 beds, 17-30 beds, 31-62 beds, and 63 or more. The survey instrument and responses are included.