Q&A and Video question

DETENTION: is the part of corrections that takes place before trial and the jail is the entry

point into the correctional system. The Jail is the oldest correctional facility. The local or

county sheriff typically operates it. American jails today are quite diversified. They may be

small, large, rural or urban; some are one-tiered, multi-tiered, with all sorts of custody levels.

REGIONAL JAIL is a facility operated under a joint agreement by two or more government

units with a jail board made up of representatives from participating jurisdictions. The jail board

has the authority over policy, budget, operations, and personnel.

LOCKUP is a holding cell that is usually in or adjacent to a police station. A lockup is only

used for temporary housing only; 24 hours or less and pending a transfer to another facility or

release.

PATHS THROUGH THE JAIL

1. Arrest and booking procedures 2. Placement in an individual cell or group holding area ("bullpen") 3. Arraignment and other court action 4. Classification: formal process used to manage the inmate population. It is a method

which objective, consistent decisions are made for inmate housing, treatment needs, work

assignments, and programs.

5. Housing Assignment: after the classification process, an inmate is assigned to a particular housing area. This housing area, or living space, will be minimum, medium, or

maximum custody. An inmate may also be housed on administrative segregation. A

review of the inmate's current charge/conviction(s), past criminal record, history of

assaultiveness/violence, mental health, medical screening, substance abuse histories, and

other personal data, will determine his custody level. The more dangerous and risk an

inmate is, the higher the custody level. For example, minimum custody is for those

inmates who pose the least security and safety risk to the institution and other persons.

Maximum custody inmates are those that pose a high security and safety risk to the

institution and others.

6. Administrative segregation: special housing for those inmates who: a. Cannot get along with other inmates in the general population b. Continually violate the rules of the jail c. Are extremely violent or dangerous and pose an extreme safety and serious threat

to the operation of the facility

d. Require protective custody 7. Protective Custody: Involves the separation from the general population of those

inmates requiring or requesting protection from other inmates for safety reasons.

8. Programs: various programs and recreation are available for inmates in a jail. Examples include: educational, religious, G.E.D., Life Skills, Visitation of Friends/Relatives,

Health Classes, Work Force/Trusty, and Drug Education.

9. Release from custody or transfer to another facility

JAIL DESIGNS/TYPES

1. First-generation: these are the oldest types; often featured multi-person cells arranged in long tiers like prison cellblocks. Guards walk up and down the corridors outside the

cells observing inmates through the bars. This type is often referred to as "Indirect

Supervision".

2. Second-generation: jails that are designed to provide indirect surveillance of inmates by guards who watched from glassed-in control booths. Cells were arranged in groupings

commonly called "pods” that share a common floor space used for eating and other group

activities. Second-generation jails are often called podular design or "Podular

Supervision".

3. Third-generation: newest type of jail design; also called “Direct Supervision". In this design, the guards are locked inside the cellblocks with the inmates. The guard has a

control desk where he can observe and talk to inmates directly at all times. This design is

thought to increase security and promote interaction between inmates and guards. Guards

will know much more about what is going on inside the cellblock since they are directly

inside of it.

EASING OVERCROWDING

Overcrowding is a primary concern for jails. Some jurisdictions, in an effort to reduce

overcrowding, have resorted to housing inmates in old motels, pre-fab housing units, tent cities,

double-bunking (placing two inmates in a cell meant for only one person). The courts have also

helped ease overcrowding by allowing inmates to be under house arrest and to perform

community service. These options are meant for low-risk offenders.