NCJ Number
168940
Date Published
1997
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Changes in California's population, increasing numbers of persons arrested for crimes, and changes in law have had significant impacts on local correctional facilities for adult and juvenile offenders.
Abstract
While the number of jail beds in California has more than doubled since 1980, many of those arrested for crimes are never booked into jail and thousands of offenders are released after serving only a fraction of their jail sentence due to lack of space. In 1996, 1.3 million people were booked into jails; the average daily jail population was 72,473 individuals; jails had a capacity of 66,358, resulting in overcrowding of 109 percent; 70 percent of inmates were held on felony charges; and 59 percent of inmates were awaiting trial or sentencing. Juvenile detention facilities have not significantly changed over the past 30 years, even though juvenile offenders have become more violent and the number of juvenile offenders has increased. Juvenile offenders are subject to a continuum of care in which services are provided by county probation departments and other county and private agencies. After being arrested, juvenile offenders are detained in local juvenile halls, usually for short stays. California has 47 juvenile halls operated by 43 counties, juvenile halls house more than 6,400 juvenile offenders, juvenile offenders held for violent offenses account for 50 percent of the juvenile hall population, ranches and camps in 25 counties house more than 4,000 offenders, and juvenile offenders held for violent offenses account for 35 percent of the ranch and camp population. The impact of Three Strikes legislation on jail overcrowding and on the early release of inmates is discussed. The future of local detention facilities is assessed, particularly with respect to overcrowding. 6 figures