The Cloacal Region of American Corrections

Abstract

Local jails have been denounced by social critics and citizens alike, but moral indignation has effected little change. The obstacles to change are rooted in local control, public indifference, and low priority in the scale of social values. The result is underbudgeting, understaffing, over crowding or underutilization, and haphazard administration. Suggestions are made for redefining the functions of local jails by allocating some of their traditional functions to other social agencies. Measures designed to avoid pretrial or posttrial jail commitments are explored. Alternatives, such as half way houses and work release also are examined. Other sug gestions run the gamut, from central control by the state, to state-set minimum standards. Some political recommenda tions are made about prisoners' voting, and changing the limited tenure of office for sheriffs who cannot succeed them selves, in order to use political influence for purposes of reform rather than neglect. The prospects for local jail reform do not look hopeful.