Texas Jail Admin Test #3 - Ch 7, 8, 10, & 11 Detailed
Questions and Expert Answers
What were early jails like? - ANS -They were houses, and the sheriff lived in them
or next to them
-They were used to detain accused person's waiting trial and to shelter misfits who
couldn't be taken care of elsewhere
How did jails change in the 1800s? - ANS -started housing offenders serving short
terms/sentences, in response to the penitentiary movement
Jail Population Characteristics - ANS -86% are men, two-thirds are under 35,
almost half are white, and most have little education and low income
-African Americans and the young are overrepresented
In which part of the country are jail rates the highest? - ANS The West and the
South
Why are people in jail? - ANS -55% serving a sentence
-28% detained awaiting trial
How many jails are in the US? - ANS 2,860 jails
,How are jails administered? - ANS -they are typically county-level, administered by
an elected sheriff
Lockup - ANS -a facility authorized to hold people before court appearances for up
to 48 hours
-administered by local police agencies
-also called drunk tanks or holding tanks
Fee system - ANS -a system by which jail operations are funded by a set amount
paid each day per prisoner held
-the costs of housing, food, and services are averaged and remitted to the sheriffs
department
-creates an incentive for poor jails to skimp on things
Why are regional jail systems advantageous for some states? - ANS -they combine
more than one county, so the counties can pool their resources together, so they
have more money to spend on the facility.
-can better offer adequate medical care, services, and programs
Influence of local Politics - ANS -close link between jail administration and local
politics
-fiscal pressures and political conservatism greatly affect jails
-fiscally sound and effective measures are often ignored because of political
pressures
,-Local facilities especially because they are associated with a politically sensitive
office, such as a sheriff who must be elected
-political considerations can affect hiring and promotion
-politicians typically don't surrender control over jails, so change is slow
Jimmy's First Day in Jail - ANS
What are the usual qualifications to be a Corrections Officer? - ANS -High School
Diploma
-Federal: Bachelor's Degree
What is usually asked during a jail intake interview? - ANS -trying to assess suicide
risk
-risk assessment
-asked about your background that will help determine how best to manage you
while you are in jail
Why is an arrest, booking, and placement in a cell a crisis for many people? - ANS -
the full extent of the situation begins to sink in, causing people to panic
-they feel a sense of vulnerability, hopelessness, fear of lost freedom
-Over 1/3 of deaths in jails are suicides, with most happening in the first 6-10
hours
, Detainees: Mental health problems - ANS -those with unpredictable and
sometimes uncontrollable behavior, formerly would be taken to mental
institutions where they could be treated. But the deinstitutionalization movement
caused them to have to be in society where they are unable to function well, so
they often spend time in jail
-almost 2/3 of jail prisoners have a history of mental problems
-unstable people often respond to the stress of jail with emotional outbursts and
irrational behavior
-jails also add to the ranks of the mentally disturbed
-Many jails now screen new arrivals for mental health problems
Detainees: Substance dependency - ANS -half of all people put in jail were under
the influence of alcohol or an illegal drug at the time of arrest
-over 2/3 of inmates have a history of substance abuse
-most dramatic problem is withdrawal
-addicts are more likely to attempt suicide
-
Detainees: Medical needs - ANS -minor & bruises to major injuries
-normal health needs of lower class: infections, poor nutrition, and lack of dental
care
-over 1/3 of inmates have a physical ailment
-60% of jails make prisoners pay for medical care
-many jails employees have misconceptions about how HIV/AIDS is spread, which
can lead to mishandling of HIV/AIDS infected inmates
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller Schoolflix. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $13.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
