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Date: November 22, 2024 Fri
Time: 11:40 am
Time: 11:40 am
Results for county jails (pennsylvania)
1 results foundAuthor: Zajac, Gary Title: An Examination of Pennsylvania Rural County Jails Summary: This study examined the operation of Pennsylvania's 44 rural county jails. County jails, in general, face a unique set of challenges, including large numbers of inmates who spend a short time in custody, difficulty in classifying and assessing a short-term inmate population, providing treatment services to inmates who may be in custody for only a short period, and financial issues related to inmate medical costs and strained county budgets. Pennsylvania county jails, in recent years, have begun to serve as a relief valve for the increasingly strained state prison system. Since 2009, the state system has transferred hundreds of inmates to county jails, as many of these jails have excess capacity. This research examined trends in rural county jail populations and demographics, jail capacity, capital projects and development (undertaken and planned), budgets, and staffing from 2004 through 2011. This study also documented the types of treatment programs and services being offered at the jails and compared them to what is known about effective offender rehabilitation practices. It also explored fiscal and other challenges facing the 44 rural county jails. The researchers used data collected by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (PADOC) as part of its annual obligatory inspections of county jails. The researchers also conducted a survey of county jail wardens/sheriffs to collect information on planned major capital projects and financial challenges facing the jails. The research found that the system-wide average annual total rural jail population (2004-2011) was 7,520 inmates per year, which is 22 percent of the total Pennsylvania county jail population in 2009 (that is all 63 county jails combined). The rural county jail population grew by 17 percent from 2004 to 2010. There was significant variation in the size of rural county jail populations, with the smallest rural jail housing 26 inmates per year, on average, and the largest rural jail housing 421 inmates per year, on average. Thus, the largest rural jail housed more than 10 times the number of inmates as the smallest. The rural jail population was overwhelmingly young, white, and male. While some jails had an excess of inmates, on average, the rural county jail system was operating at 84 percent of capacity during the study period. By way of comparison, PADOC operated at 113 percent of capacity. During the period of June 2009 through December 2010, PADOC transferred 1,507 state inmates to nine rural county jails through contractual agreements to relieve the burden on the state system. The average cost-per-day, per-inmate in the rural county jail system was $60.41, and ranged from a low of $37.54 to a high of $127.71. By way of comparison, the average cost-per-day, per-inmate in the state system was $88.23. Nineteen of the 44 rural county jails (43 percent) reported having undertaken a major capital expansion or restoration project during the study period. However, 92 percent of responding jails reported having no new capital projects planned, in spite of 44 percent of responding jails reporting a major capital project need. All of the jails reported offering some sort of rehabilitative and related programming during the study period, although two of the most common types of programming were educational/vocational and general psychological counseling, both of which are generally mandated under law or as part of accreditation standards. Drug and alcohol programming was also universally offered, although the most common mode for the service was self-help groups, which are not found to be effective, according to the research literature. There was less evidence of intensive programs that address key recidivism risk factors, such as programs addressing anti-social attitudes and decision-making skills. Only a minority of jails clearly offered such programs. Rural county jails also offered a wide variety of programs for which the evidence of effectiveness is unclear (such as general life skills programs), or where the research clearly indicates no impact on recidivism (such as meditation and art therapy). In sum, Pennsylvania's rural county jails represent a potential source of bed space for the state prison system. While rehabilitative programs are offered, county jails could place more focus on programs that have been shown to be effective. Details: Harrisburg, PA: Center for Rural Pennsylvania, 2012. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 23, 2013 at: http://www.rural.palegislature.us/documents/reports/rural_county_jails_2012.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.rural.palegislature.us/documents/reports/rural_county_jails_2012.pdf Shelf Number: 131691 Keywords: County Jails (Pennsylvania)Rural Areas |