Recommended Reading

Date	Title	Type
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
2006	Building Community Support for New Jail Construction The process of building community support for a new jail is explained. Sections comprising this bulletin include: the challenge; raising the issue; increasing public awareness; going public with the problem; building a case or support; a picture is ... Read More
2007	Facility Planning to Meet the Needs of Female Inmates This bulletin "discusses how jurisdictions of all sizes can consider and address the gender-specific needs of female inmates during the facility planning process." Sections contained in this bulletin are: introduction; the female inmate population; ... 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
2009	Jail Capacity Planning Guide: A Systems Approach “This guide helps readers better understand the variables applied in jail capacity forecasting, provides more detail about the development of the jail snapshot (a jail assessment) and case-processing study (an analysis of adjudication decisions and t... 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
1998	Jail Design Guide: A Resource for Small and Medium-Sized Jails Addresses architectural design as it relates to functional components of the jail, discusses overall design considerations, and reviews pre-design planning, renovation, construction costs, and facility transition.... Read More
2003	Jail Design Review Handbook A tool for reviewing conceptual options and schematic designs for new or renovated jails is presented. Five chapters make up this handbook: introduction and overview; the jurisdiction's involvement throughout the planning and design process; how to r... Read More
2010	Jail Planning and Expansion: Local Officials and Their Roles, Second Edition This publication should be the first that elected officials and other policymakers turn to when developing jail facilities--either a new jail or expansion of an existing jail. All the participants’ roles, decisions they make, and the documents result... Read More
2006	Jail Site Evaluation and Selection Guidance is provided for successfully identifying, evaluating, and selecting jail sites. This bulletin contains the following sections: case study -- why systematic jail site selection is important; the SEQRA (state environmental quality review act)... 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
2010	New Jail Planning: Getting It Right Lessons learned from four communities that built new jails are related. This is done by utilizing the four major steps of the Facility Developmental Process model: determine the need and feasibility; deciding to build, plan operations; design the jai... 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
2005	Resource Manual for Transition to a New Jail "[T]his resource document will assist agencies starting the process of planning for a successful transition to a new detention facility" (p. iii). Nine chapters comprise this manual: introduction; transitional management; construction; staff/human r... 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

Available Training Opportunities

• Available Online - Planning of New Institutions
  This 32-hour training program teaches the importance of in-depth planning before starting facility design.
• Available Online - Planning of New Institutions
  This 32-hour training program teaches the importance of in-depth planning before starting facility design.
• Starts Aug. 20, 2012 - Planning of New Institutions
  This 32-hour training program teaches the importance of in-depth planning before starting facility design.
• 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.
• Available Online - Jail Data Collection
  This e-course will show how you can improve data collection and analysis at your correctional institution.