NCJ Number
96584
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 48 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1984) Pages: 29-33
Date Published
1984
Length
5 pages
Annotation
United States probation officers are particularly suited to serve the court in the role of a jail monitor when the court appoints a special master to monitor compliance with a decree resulting from a prisoner lawsuit under the Civil Rights Act.
Abstract
A 1982 survey by the National Sheriff's Association found that 15.9 percent of the jails responding had been under a court order to remedy specific conditions and that 19.9 percent were a party in a pending lawsuit. The main violations cited relate to the lack of medical care, overcrowding, recreation, visitation, food, personal hygiene, and jail staffing. Corrective measures required in court orders usually demand changes in the structure, operational procedure, and treatment of inmates. The masters used by courts need knowledge of the system, the ability to make judgments, skill in interviewing techniques, and the ability of recognize problems. The kind of monitoring required is similar to that inherent in the probation officer's job. Probation officers are familiar to the court, do not require travel and lodging expenses, and can visit the jail daily if necessary. Monitors should use interviews with inmates and jailers to determine compliance and should also make scheduled and unscheduled visits. Monitors should have unlimited access to the jail and to pertinent records and should be able to attend institutional meetings related to the remedial order. The numerous advantages associated with using Federal probation officers as jail monitors are listed.