Recommended Reading

Date	Title	Type
2009	A Guide to Preparing for and Responding to Jail Emergencies: Self-Audit Checklists, Resource Materials, Case Studies By Schwartz, Jeffrey A.; Barry, Cynthia. National Institute of Corrections (Washington, DC). LETRA, Inc. (Campbell, CA). 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 contained in this publication: introduction; conducting an audit; Emergency Preparedness Self-Audit Checklist for Smaller Jails; Emergency Preparedness Self-Audit Checklist for Larger Jails; resource materials—leadership issues during crises, prevention ... Read More	180 p.
2001	Alleviating Jail Crowding: A Systemic Approach [Videoconference Held April 18, 2001] National Institute of Corrections (Washington, DC). 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 discussed include: The systemic problem of crowding and the need for effective system-wide policy Decision points in the system that help control crowding Data collection and analysis Long and short term strategies to reduce j... Read More	1 DVD (180 min.)
2003	Beyond the Myths: The Jail in Your Community National Institute of Corrections (Washington, DC). National Institute of Corrections. Jails Division (Longmont, CO). 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 to educate prospective jail employees about local detention. Closed captions are only available in the DVD version.... Read More	1 DVD (23 min.)
2002	Budget Guide for Jail Administrators - Part 1: Developing the Budget By Martin, Mark D.. National Institute of Corrections (Washington, DC). National Institute of Corrections. Jails Division (Longmont, CO). 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; Cooperative effort within the budget process; Budget preparation -- information and materials; Jail budget development -- needs assessment, estimating budget expenditures, preparing the budget document, submitting the budget package, presenting the... Read More	41 p.
2002	Budget Guide for Jail Administrators - Part 2: Managing the Budget By Martin, Mark D.. National Institute of Corrections (Washington, DC). National Institute of Corrections. Jails Division (Longmont, CO). 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 using a plan to monitor expenditures; Budget management -- monitoring, managing, and controlling expenditures while garnering support; Jail revenue monitoring and management -- developing revenue plans; Performance monitoring -- es... Read More	29 p.
2002	Budget Guide for Jail Administrators - Part 3: Beyond Budget Allocation - Sources of Funding and Services By Martin, Mark D.. National Institute of Corrections (Washington, DC). National Institute of Corrections. Jails Division (Longmont, CO). 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 potential sources -- generating revenue, using the services of other agencies, soliciting donations from the community, and how the jail and community are linked by a common goal; (2) Strategies for securing, coordinating, and managing jail resou... Read More	22 p.
1996	Developing/Revising Detention Facility Policies and Procedures By Martin, Mark D.. National Institute of Corrections (Washington, DC). National Institute of Corrections (Washington, DC). 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	23 p.
2010	Direct Supervision Jails: The Role of the Administrator By Bogard, David; Hutchinson, Virginia A.; Persons, Vicci. National Institute of Corrections. Jails Division (Washington, DC). 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; training staff; supervising staff; determining the number of inmates one officer can supervise effectively; rotating housing unit staff assignments; ensuring that officers interact with inmates; addressing the isolation of the housing unit officer; d... Read More	84 p.
2002	Guidelines for Developing a Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee By Cushman, Robert C.. National Institute of Corrections (Washington, DC). National Institute of Corrections (Washington, DC). 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 following sections comprise this guide: executive summary; introduction; a framework for justice planning and coordination; coordinating mechanisms -- a developmental view; and guiding principles for CJCCs. Appendixes provide: a checklist for forming... Read More	50 p.
2007	How to Collect and Analyze Data: A Manual for Sheriffs and Jail Administrators By Elias, Gail. National Institute of Corrections (Washington, DC). Voorhis Associates (Lafayette, CO); National Institute of Corrections. Jails Division (Longmont, CO). 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; good management requires good information; information that should be collected; preparing for the data collection; how to locate and capture information; how to put it all together; how to analyze information; how to interpret information; sharing info... Read More	220 p.
2002	Jail Crowding: Understanding Jail Population Dynamics By Cunniff, Mark A.. National Institute of Corrections (Washington, DC). National Institute of Corrections (Washington, DC). 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 in order to understand jail population dynamics; trends that are driving jail population growth; how to forecast future needs; benefits and elements of an effective analytic process; and elements of the analytic process. Appendixes include: "Preventin... Read More	49 p.
2002	Jail Resource Issues: What Every Funding Authority Needs to Know By Bowker, Gary M.. National Institute of Corrections (Washington, DC). National Institute of Corrections (Washington, DC). 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 government; the purpose of the jail and its role in the local criminal justice system; the jail population; jail litigation and standards; key elements of effective jail operations; and funding authority roles and responsibilities. ... Read More	34 p.
2007	Jails and the Constitution: An Overview By Collins, William C.. National Institute of Corrections. Jails Division (Washington, DC). National Institute of Corrections. Jails Division (Washington, DC). 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 Constitution in a new century; the Constitution and the physical plant; understanding Section 1983 lawsuits; how courts evaluate claims -- the balancing test; the First Amendment; the Fourth Amendment; the Eighth Amendment -- overview; the 8th Amendment -- use ... Read More	93 p.
2008	Managing Risk in Jails By Martin, Mark D.; Reiss, Claire Lee. National Institute of Corrections (Washington, DC). "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. v). Chapters following an introduction are: understanding risk and its implications for jails; jail risk management issues and strategies; developing a risk management program; and organizational investments for managing risk. Appendixes provide re... Read More	91 p.
2011	National Jail Exchange National Institute of Corrections. Jails Division (Washington, DC); USIS/Labat, Inc. (McLean, VA). 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 belief is that, collectively, professionals are likely to have developed successful strategies to meet challenges that arise. Jails professionals and the local governments, states, communities, staff, and inmates they serve and represent benefit greatl... Read More	1 page
2002	Preventing Jail Crowding: A Practical Guide By Cushman, Robert C.. National Institute of Corrections (Washington, DC). 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 system; reducing the inmate population in a crowded jail; policy choices; and the key to preventing crowding. ... Read More	12 p.
2000	Recruitment, Hiring, and Retention: Current Practices in U.S. Jails By Clem, Connie; Krauth, Barbara; Wenger, Paula. National Institute of Corrections (Washington, DC). LIS, Inc. (Longmont, CO); National Institute of Corrections Information Center (Longmont, CO); National Institute of Corrections. Jails Division (Longmont, CO). 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: introduction; recruitment -- barriers to effective recruitment and approaches to recruiting effectively; screening and hiring; retention -- attrition factors and retention tools; and conclusion. Appendixes contain contact information and samples of... Read More	111 p.
2004	Resource Guide for Jail Administrators By Martin, Mark D.; Rosazza, Thomas A.. National Institute of Corrections (Washington, DC). National Institute of Corrections. Jails Division (Longmont, CO). 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 characteristics of the jail; administration; facilities; staffing and scheduling; staff recruiting, selection, and retention; staff training; security, safety, and emergency preparedness; inmate behavior management; inmate discipline and grievance; special manag... Read More	305 p.
2007	Sheriff's Guide to Effective Jail Operations By Martin, Mark D.; Katsampes, Paul. National Institute of Corrections (Washington, DC). National Institute of Corrections (Washington, DC). "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 chapters: role, purpose, and characteristics of the jail; sheriff's roles and responsibilities; providing effective leadership and support for the jail; liability and standards; jail physical plant; critical aspects of jail operations; and so much to le... Read More	54 p.
1988	Staff/Inmate Ratios: Why It's So Hard to Get to the Bottom Line By Krauth, Barbara. National Institute of Corrections (Washington, CD). Library Information Specialists, Inc. (Boulder, CO); National Institute of Corrections Information Center, (Boulder, CO). "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 facility."--p. 1.... Read More	23 p.
2001	Staffing Analysis Workbook for Jails By Liebert, Dennis R.; Miller, Rod. National Institute of Corrections (Washington, DC). 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 coverage plan development; completion of a staff summary; schedule development; evaluation, revision, and improvement of the plan; operational costs calculation; report preparation; and implementation of the plan and monitoring of the results. Appendixes... Read More	43 p.
1996	Women in Jail: Legal Issues By Collins, William C.; Collins, Andrew W.. National Institute of Corrections (Washington, DC). National Institute of Corrections (Washington, DC). 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 profiles the female inmate population and facilities, programs, and services generally available, and reviews caselaw of significance to jail administrators. ... Read More	40 p.

Available Training Opportunities

• Starts Mar. 11, 2013 - 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.