American Jails
Edited by Kenneth E. Kerle, American Jail Association
“People familiar with the American jail scene realize that jails rank at the bottom of the criminal justice hierarchy in influence. Courts, prosecuting attorneys, police, and even probation and parole officials exert more political clout than jail administrators. Jail population figures have nearly doubled in a decade, and now more than 300,000 ADP (average daily population) are found in the 3,338 jails in the 3,000 plus counties and cities that operate these institutions of incarceration. During 1987, there were more than 17 million admissions and releases from county and city jails. These local government agencies serve as the dumping grounds for the arrested criminal, the chronic drunk, the DWI (driving while intoxicated), the mentally ill, the homeless, and juveniles ranging from the runaway to the amoral killer.”
Nelson-Hall. 1991. 299p.