NCJ Number
58314
Date Published
1978
Length
60 pages
Annotation
TABULAR STATISTICAL DATA REGARDING COMMITMENTS TO COUNTY AND CITY JAILS AND CITY JAIL FARMS FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1978, COMPILED BY THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
DURING FISCAL YEAR 1978, THERE WERE 151,721 COMMITMENTS TO COUNTY AND CITY JAILS AND CITY JAIL FARMS. THIS REPRESENTED A 5.0 PERCENT INCREASE OVER COMMITMENTS THE PREVIOUS YEAR. AMONG THE POPULATION, 67.2 PERCENT WERE WHITE AND 32.8 PERCENT NONWHITE; WOMEN COMPRISED 8.9 PERCENT OF COMMITMENTS, APPROXIMATELY THE SAME AS 1977. WITH REGARD TO YOUTHS COMMITTED, THERE WAS A 17.7 PERCENT DECLINE SINCE LAST YEAR, WITH A TOTAL OF 4,557 COMMITTED. ANALYSIS OF OFFENSES FOR 1978 SHOWED THAT OFFENSES AGAINST DECENCY, PEACE AND GOOD ORDER WERE THE MOST FREQUENT AT 32.3 PERCENT; TRAFFIC OFFENSES RANKED SECOND AT 21.3 PERCENT. SPECIFICALLY, THE MOST COMMON OFFENSES WERE DRUNKENNESS AND DRUNK AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT WHICH REPRESENTED 25.3 PERCENT OF ALL COMMITMENTS. THE SECOND MOST FREQUENT OFFENSE WAS DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF INTOXICANTS AT 12.8 PERCENT. INCARCERATION FOR VIOLATION OF NARCOTIC LAWS ACCOUNTED FOR 4.0 PERCENT, REPRESENTING A SLIGHT DECLINE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. VIRGINIA COUNTIES ACCOUNTED FOR 53.1 PERCENT OF COMMITMENTS AND THE CITIES FOR 46.9 PERCENT; FAIRFAX COUNTY AND THE CITY OF NORFOLK ACCOUNTED FOR THE MOST IN THEIR RESPECTIVE CATEGORIES. ALTHOUGH THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMITMENTS ROSE, THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF CONFINEMENT PER PRISONER DROPPED DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. STATISTICAL DATA, GRAPHS, AND APPENDIXES INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)