WOMEN'S JAIL - PRETRIAL AND POST-CONVICTION ALTERNATIVES - A REPORT ON WOMEN ARRESTED IN SAN FRANCISCO (CA)

• NCJ Number: 58627
• Author(s): L BRESLER; D LEONARD
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 115 pages
• Corporate Author: Unitarian Universalist Service Cmtte
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; Unitarian Universalist Service Cmtte
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A YEAR-LONG STUDY WAS CONDUCTED BY THE WOMEN'S JAIL PROJECT OF THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST SERVICE COMMITTEE TO DETERMINE THE KINDS OF PRETRIAL AND POSTCONVICTION ALTERNATIVES FOR FEMALE ARRESTEES IN SAN FRANCISCO.

Abstract

IN ADDITION, THE STUDY WAS PLANNED TO DESCRIBE WOMEN ARRESTED, WOMEN DIVERTED, AND WOMEN SENTENCED TO JAIL, AND TO MAKE COMPARISONS AMONG THESE GROUPS WHERE POSSIBLE. DATA WERE COLLECTED ON THE NUMBER OF WOMEN BOOKED AT THE CENTRAL BOOKING FACILITY (COUNTY JAIL NO. 6). THESE WOMEN WERE THEN FOLLOWED THROUGH THE COURTS TO IDENTIFY THE POINTS AT WHICH THEY LEFT THE SYSTEM AND TO DETERMINE THEIR FINAL ADJUDICATION STATUS. PERSONAL INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED WITH SOME. DATA ANALYSIS SUGGESTS THAT (1) THE WOMEN ARRESTED IN SAN FRANCISCO DIFFER FROM THE GENERAL CITY POPULATION IN ETHNICITY, (2) THE MAJOR FORM OF PRETRIAL RELEASE CONTINUES TO BE THE CASH OR SURETY BAIL SYSTEM, (3) WOMEN DIVERTED ARE YOUNGER THAN ARE THE POPULATION SENTENCED TO JAIL, (4) WOMEN DIVERTED ARE CHARGED WITH LESS SERIOUS MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES THAN THEIR SENTENCED COUNTERPARTS, AND (5) THE ETHNICITY RATIO OF WOMEN SENTENCED WAS SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT FROM THE GENERAL POPULATION OF WOMEN IN THE CITY AND THE POPULATION BOOKED. THE MAJORITY OF FEMALE ARRESTEES WERE CHARGED WITH PROSTITUTION OR PUBLIC INEBRIATION AND OTHER 'VICTIMLESS' OFFENSES. SITE VISITS WERE MADE TO ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION PROGRAMS; IT WAS FOUND THAT WHILE THERE ARE SEVERAL ALTERNATIVES AVAILABLE, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM HAS FAILED TO ADDRESS THE BASIC PROBLEMS OF OVERCRIMINALIZATION AND OVERARREST. THE REPORT RECOMMENDS THAT AGENCIES AND PERSONS CONCERNED WITH THE PROBLEMS OF WOMEN DETAINEES WORK TOGETHER TO IMPROVE EMPLOYMENT AND JOB-TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE WOMEN, THAT A VARIETY OF OFFENSES BE DECRIMINALIZED OR RECLASSIFIED, AND THAT THE CURRENT SYSTEM OF CASH BAIL BE ABOLISHED. OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ADDED. APPENDIXES CONTAIN STUDY METHODOLOGY, A GLOSSARY, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY. (DAG)