Recommended Reading

Date	Title	Type
2009	A Guide to Preparing for and Responding to Jail Emergencies: Self-Audit Checklists, Resource Materials, Case Studies This guide “will be broadly useful to U.S. jails in planning for crises, emergencies, and natural disasters and in developing the appropriate response capacities to cope with these events where they cannot be prevented” (p. vi). Six sections are cont... Read More
2001	Alleviating Jail Crowding: A Systemic Approach [Videoconference Held April 18, 2001] Since jail crowding is often called the most pressing problem facing criminal justice systems in the U.S., this 3-hour videoconference aims to help jurisdictions develop effective strategies and techniques for managing jail population levels. Issues ... Read More
2003	Beyond the Myths: The Jail in Your Community This resource provides a foundation for the efforts of sheriffs and jail administrators to provide the public information about jails generally, their jails specifically, and the need for community interest in local jail issues. It can also be used t... Read More
2002	Budget Guide for Jail Administrators - Part 1: Developing the Budget Designed for jail administrators, this guide discusses the elements of an effective process for budgeting both capital and operational jail expenses. This document contains the following sections: An effective budget process; Cooperati... Read More
2002	Budget Guide for Jail Administrators - Part 2: Managing the Budget Designed for jail administrators, this guide provides an overview of jail budget management, along with relevant responsibilities and strategies. Key aspects of jail budget management examined include: Budget implementation -- developing and... Read More
2002	Budget Guide for Jail Administrators - Part 3: Beyond Budget Allocation - Sources of Funding and Services Designed for jail administrators, this guide describes strategies for identifying, securing, and coordinating jai resources from multiple sources, both internally and externally. Three sections comprise this document: (1) Jail resource types and ... Read More
1996	Developing/Revising Detention Facility Policies and Procedures Assists local detention administrators in the development and/or revision of their policy and procedures manuals. Includes discussion of concepts such as direct supervision, objective jail classification, and other advances in correctional practice.... Read More
2010	Direct Supervision Jails: The Role of the Administrator This guide provides jail administrators the necessary information they need to effectively perform their jobs. Chapters comprising this publication are: introduction; the jail administrator’s leadership role; recruiting, hiring, and promoting staff; ... Read More
2002	Guidelines for Developing a Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee The development, implementation, and operation of a local criminal justice coordinating committee (CJCC) are described. In particular, this guide provides a look at how a CJCC can alleviate jail crowding and accomplish other system improvements. The ... Read More
2007	How to Collect and Analyze Data: A Manual for Sheriffs and Jail Administrators Anyone who needs to gather and analyze data concerning various jail-related issues will find this manual useful. This document provides guidance on how information can fuel policy decision making. Chapters comprising this guide are: introduction; goo... Read More
2002	Jail Crowding: Understanding Jail Population Dynamics Steps involved in developing an understanding of jail population dynamics and factors behind jail crowding are delineated. Sections of this report include: executive summary; how can factors behind jail crowding be identified?; key questions to ask i... Read More
2002	Jail Resource Issues: What Every Funding Authority Needs to Know Basic information about jail operations is provided to contribute to a better understanding of the funding authority's roles and responsibilities regarding the jail. This report contains the following chapters: the jail as a primary function of local... Read More
2007	Jails and the Constitution: An Overview This publication "reviews the history of correctional law and summarizes the results and effects of major court decisions" (p. 4). Sections comprising this document include: introduction; history of court involvement; corrections and the Constitutio... Read More
2008	Managing Risk in Jails "This manual will help jails both to understand risk and its implication for jails and to develop a formal, effective risk management program that uses all of the jail's basic resources (i.e., human, financial, property, partners, and reputation" (p.... Read More
2011	National Jail Exchange The National Jail Exchange is the journal for the NIC Jails Division. The mission of the National Jail Exchange is to promote and provide a vehicle for the free and open exchange of ideas, information, and innovation among jails professionals. Our be... Read More
2002	Preventing Jail Crowding: A Practical Guide An explanation on how to use the jail population analysis formula is offered. This paper looks at: the sources of jail crowding; the dynamics that create changes in jail occupancy levels; swings in jail occupancy levels; a jail population analysis sy... Read More
2000	Recruitment, Hiring, and Retention: Current Practices in U.S. Jails One of the more serious problems jail administrators face is the need to attract and retain high-quality correctional officers. This document provides information on successful staffing practices in a variety of jail types and sizes. Sections include... Read More
2004	Resource Guide for Jail Administrators A guide "developed to enhance the leadership skills, knowledge, and capabilities of jail administrators on issues of basic jail administration" is presented (p. v). Fourteen chapters comprise this guide: introduction; role, purpose, and characterist... Read More
2007	Sheriff's Guide to Effective Jail Operations "This guide provides an overview of the sheriff's roles and responsibilities with regard to the jail along with basic information on critical aspects of jail operations and management" (p. v). This publication is comprised of the following seven chap... Read More
1988	Staff/Inmate Ratios: Why It's So Hard to Get to the Bottom Line "The purpose of this paper is to explain why it is so difficult to get to the desired 'bottom line' on the issue of staffing ratios....It is meant to raise awareness about the range of decisions involved in defining the unique characteristics of each... Read More
2001	Staffing Analysis Workbook for Jails An integrated series of steps that result in a comprehensive and innovative staffing plan is presented. The staffing analysis process involves: jail profiling; net annual work hours calculation; development of a facility activity schedule; staff cove... Read More
1996	Women in Jail: Legal Issues Developed to assist jail administrators, this document reviews the major legal issues concerning female inmates, including those arising under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, medical needs of women, and sexual harassment. It ... Read More

Available Training Opportunities

• Available Online - Jail Administration
  Jail administrators have significant responsibility and liability in ensuring that jail operations are conducted safely, securely, legally, and humanely. This 36-hour program focuses on the basic skills and competencies jail administrators need to effectively meet this responsibility.
• Available Online - Jail Administration
  Jail administrators have significant responsibility and liability in ensuring that jail operations are conducted safely, securely, legally, and humanely. This 36-hour program focuses on the basic skills and competencies jail administrators need to effectively meet this responsibility.
• Starts Jul. 30, 2012 - Jail Administration
  Jail administrators have significant responsibility and liability in ensuring that jail operations are conducted safely, securely, legally, and humanely. This 36-hour program focuses on the basic skills and competencies jail administrators need to effectively meet this responsibility.
• Starts Aug. 27, 2012 - Jail Administration
  Jail administrators have significant responsibility and liability in ensuring that jail operations are conducted safely, securely, legally, and humanely. This 36-hour program focuses on the basic skills and competencies jail administrators need to effectively meet this responsibility.
• Starts Sep. 24, 2012 - Jail Administration
  Jail administrators have significant responsibility and liability in ensuring that jail operations are conducted safely, securely, legally, and humanely. This 36-hour program focuses on the basic skills and competencies jail administrators need to effectively meet this responsibility.
• Available Online - Jail Data Analysis
  During this e-course, the learner will gain general familiarization with statistics and how to use them.
• Available Online - Jail Data Collection
  This e-course will show how you can improve data collection and analysis at your correctional institution.
• Available Online - Objective Jail Classification: Assessing Inmate Risk and Needs
  In this e-course, you will learn about objective classification, one of the most important management tools available to jail administrators.
• Available Online - Staffing Analysis for Jails
  Staff are the most costly and important resource in operating a jail. In many jails, staffing costs make up 70 to 80 percent of the annual budget. Without adequate staffing, jail security and the safety of staff, inmates, and the community are directly threatened and the possibility of costly litigation against the jail increases significantly.