Franklin County

Prison Board

August 14, 2014

Jail Population
Study

Final Report
Recommendations
Managing the jail population
Jail policy decisions
Jail operations and programs
Criminal justice process and procedures
Current programs and settings
New programs and settings
Managing the jail population
Establish Functional Capacity

Calculate a functional capacity using the information
in this report
Monitor operations and review at least annually
Set up a protocol for monitoring the number and types
of beds that are unavailable for use on a day to day
basis because of inmate classification (single cell) and
special needs
Revise functional capacity up or down as needed to
reflect changes in the facility and the inmate
population
Advise criminal justice stakeholders of any changes in
the functional capacity when they occur

Managing the jail population
Identify and Monitor Inmate Population Trends

Separate Franklin County inmates from boarders
in all analyses
Track key inmate characteristics, such as
Admit type
Release type
Length of stay cohorts
Status (unsentenced, sentenced)
Charge characteristics

Jail Policy Decisions
Housing Boarders for Other Jurisdictions

Establish clear policies regarding housing inmates for
other jurisdictions, including consideration of risks
Detailed costs should be calculated and updated,
establishing the nominal cost of each boarder, the
staffing costs, transport and other costs
Cost estimates should include triggers that reflect the
point at which additional staffing is required
Board rates should reflect all costs as well as a fair
share of facility cost amortization, and the County
should just say no if the terms are not met

Jail Policy Decisions
Housing Boarders for Other Jurisdictions (continued)

Explore a long-term contract with Fulton County that
addresses points at which capital costs will be
necessary (such as expansion)
Monitor and report information about boarders
separately from the Franklin County population,
ensuring that both populations are well described
Create new monthly protocols for reporting
information about boarders to the Prison Board
See matrix from May 1 meeting, question 9 Should we
house inmates for others?

Jail Operations and Programs
Jail Operations
Review current classification and housing assignment
practices in light of the latest developments in the field
Secure technical assistance from the National Institute
of Corrections (NIC) to assist with the implementation
of the NIC Inmate Behavior Management system,
which will include revision of current practices with
regard to inmate privileges
Conduct a Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) of the jail
facility, space assignment and use, and operations,
identifying the need for revisions and opportunities for
improvement

Jail Operations and Programs
Jail Programs

Revisit primary program delivery practices,
revising as needed to ensure that inmates
receive assigned programs as they progress
through the classification and housing process

Develop a mentoring program in the jail that
continues to work with inmates after release

Jail Operations and Programs
Re-Entry

See mentoring recommendation above
Work with the community to develop housing for
inmates after release
Explore the feasibility of facilitating the
developing of sober living houses, such as the
Oxford House network
Explore the development of a mediation program
that begins in the jail and continues after release

Criminal Justice Process/Procedures
Post Arrest Risk Assessment- Information to Court
Jail should screen all Booking Center admissions and
MDJ pretrial admissions at their time of admission
At that time, collect information and conduct a brief
risk assessment for those who may be appropriate for
alternatives to detention with regard to their potential
for pretrial release
Provide this information to court (do not offer a
release recommendation),to the DA and to the Public
Defender
Use the new Pretrial Risk Assessment instrument that
is being developed by the Arnold Foundation


Criminal Justice Process/Procedures
Post Arrest Risk Assessment- Information to
Court (continued)
Focus efforts on expediting the process for target
inmates, avoiding their loss of employment
and/or housing
Common Pleas judges should establish a bail
schedule, with input from MDJs, the DA and the
Public Defender, authorizing pre-set bail and/or
release conditions
Consider asking the community to establish a
revolving Bail Fund


Criminal Justice Process/Procedures
Access to Counsel, Engaging Prosecution Earlier
in the Timeline

Provide initial jail screening to the Public
Defender as well as the DA
For defendants who are at risk of being jailed,
and who are possible candidates for pretrial
release, assign attorney and review bail


Criminal Justice Process/Procedures
Early Accountability Program (EAP)

Engage defense attorney prior to the take it or
leave it deal at Central Court
For cases that have lab test results or other
information pending at the time of the plea
agreement, distribute the results to all parties
when it is received.
Evaluate the impact of program on the jail
population, probation, and on long term
recidivism


Criminal Justice Process/Procedures
Court Process

Expedite implementation of the JMI recommendations that
will have an impact on in-custody defendants
Review current protocols to ensure that in-custody
defendants are given priority scheduling and other
considerations whenever possible
Explore an agreement among the Common Pleas judges
regarding sanctions for violators, with the hope of allowing
some violators to be adjudicated by a non-sentencing judge
rather than waiting for the sentencing judge s docket to
come around
Periodically review the advisability of developing one or
more specialty courts to address specific
defendant/offender populations, such as drug/alcohol,
mental health, and veterans

Current Programs and Settings
Pretrial Release

Ensure sufficient electronic monitoring (EM)
equipment is available at all times
Expand supervised conditional release, preferably
through a contract, and in concert with the jail
pretrial screening that was previously described
Expand the scope of the Day Reporting Center
(DRC) to include pretrial defendants
Expand the scope of the residential program
(Work Release) to include pretrial detainees

Current Programs and Settings
Day Reporting Center

Offer DRC program to pretrial defendants
Increase direct sentences to the DRC, bypassing
the jail and reducing the negative impact to
offenders in terms of employment, family and
housing
Conduct periodic outcome evaluations of the DRC
that include an independent estimate of the
number of jail days that the program saves
Establish a realistic cost estimate of the jail costs
that are saved by the diversion of an inmate for a
day, review at least annually

Current Programs and Settings
Work Release

Broaden the mission to become a residential
facility, not just work release
Expand the scope of the program to include
unsentenced clients.
Consider moving administrative control of the
residential program to the jail, retaining
probation involvement with pre-release planning
Provide outside work that is self supporting for
offenders who are unable to find a job in the
community, but who otherwise qualify for a
residential setting

New Programs and Settings
Community Based Residential Facility

If the jail-based residential beds are
consistently filled and there is a wait list of
qualified residents, consider establishing a
freestanding residential facility in
Chambersburg
Weekend Sentences
Develop community based program(s) for
offenders who would otherwise be sentenced
to weekends in the jail (see Kennebec County
model)

New Programs and Settings
Work Programs (See Appendix E)

Re-establish the Jail Industries Advisory
Committee, have them review the 2003
Foundation Decisions that were adopted by the
county commissioners, and suggest revisions as
needed
Secure technical assistance from the National
Institute of Corrections (NIC)
Consolidate all criminal justice work programs
and activities to ensure efficient management
and customer service



New Programs and Settings
Work Programs (continued)

Expand work opportunities
In the jail, for sentenced and unsentenced inmates
In the community, using inmates housed in the
residential housing units, and providing a new
sentencing option for the courts
Ensure that all work programs are at least self-
supporting to ensure long term sustainability, as
recommended in 2003

Final Report