Christine Tartaro

The impact of density on jail violence

Abstract The operation of jails over their rated capacities is frequently thought of as a major contributor to increased tension among inmates, an additional burden on corrections officers, and a hindrance to classification procedures. The increased tensions combined with difficult working conditions are expected by administrators to contribute to correctional violence. Data for the current study were collected from 646 jails. Spatial density was found to be a significant predictor of inmate–inmate and inmate–staff assaults, but not in the manner that was expected. Increased density was associated with lower assault rates in the participating facilities. The measures of social density were not associated with either type of assaults once other variables, such as jail-level inmate characteristics or inmate supervision variables were considered. Variables such as aggregate inmate age, race, trial status, inmate/officer ratio, transiency of the jail population, and the use of direct supervision were included in the analysis.

A tale of two counties: the impact of pretrial release, race, and ethnicity upon sentencing decisions

Pretrial release is clearly an important issue for defendants, since the results of previous research has suggested that pretrial release or detention can have an effect on later processing decisions. Additionally, race and ethnicity have been identified as factors in processing decisions in American courts. The current study is an analysis of a sample of felony filings in two Florida counties during 1998. Two dependent variables are considered: type of sentence (incarceration or another sentence) and the actual length of incarceration. The purpose of the analysis is to detect whether pretrial release remains a significant predictor of sentence type and length after controlling for legal and extra‐legal variables. Specifically, we are interested in whether pretrial release has a differential impact on Hispanic and non‐white defendants compared to whites. Defendants held pending trial faced significant disadvantages compared to their released peers in all models, but race and ethnicity did not appear to be universally contributing factors. Significant differences between the counties suggest that smaller‐scale studies have the potential to uncover local and regional variations within state criminal justice systems that multi‐state studies fail to capture.

Suicide and the jail environment: An evaluation of three types of institutions

A sample of 321 jail administrators identified their facilities as being either linear intermittent; podular, indirect supervision; or podular, direct supervision. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the odds of these jails experiencing at least one inmate suicide during 1998. Jail design and supervision were not found to affect the likelihood of these jails reporting at least one inmate suicide. Other possible factors, such as aggregate inmate sex and age, the percent of pretrial detainees, officer/inmate ratio, the number of bookings, and the amount of time that officers spent in the inmate living areas were controlled for in the models.

Repeat Victimization: A Study of Auto Theft in Atlantic City Using the WALLS Variables to Measure Environmental Indicators

The study of the repeat victimization phenomenon is at the forefront of research in environmental criminology and situational crime prevention (SCP). This study utilizes a unique approach in that it compares data collected at two points in time as well as locations that experienced only one auto theft to those that experienced more than one. Five variables were measured at both points in time using the Watchers, Activity Nodes, Location, Lighting and Security indices (WALLS). Independent samples t tests were conducted for the WALLS variables while comparing data from 2004-2005 to 2006-2007. Findings indicate stability in the Watchers, Activity Nodes, and Lighting indices but statistically significant differences in the Watchers (day traffic variable) and Location and Security indices. The “Location” variable continues to be a significant predictor of repeat auto theft victimization. This suggests a need to closely examine the parking structures and street layout to determine how they can be altered to design out crime.

Density, Inmate Assaults, and Direct Supervision Jails:

Researchers have completed several studies on the effects of density on violence in prisons and jails, but little work has been done on densitys impact on direct supervision jails. Direct supervision facilities, also known as new generation jails, were created by the Federal Bureau of Prisons with the goal of reducing violence, suicide and disorder. Given the crowded conditions in most jails across the country, it is important to determine the impact, if any, that density has on the operations of these jails. The current study involves an analysis of density on assaults in nearly 150 direct supervision jails. The results indicate that neither spatial nor social density are predictors of violence in these jails. Several direct supervision jail characteristics are also included in the analysis, but they are not associated with reported assaults. The racial composition of inmates, location of the jail, and number of inmates each officer is permitted to supervise predicted assaults.

An Application of Durkheim's Theory of Suicide to Prison Suicide Rates in the United States

ABSTRACT E. Durkheim (1897) suggested that the societal rate of suicide might be explained by societal factors, such as marriage, divorce, and birth rates. The current study examined male prison suicide rates and suicide rates for men in the total population in the United States and found that variables based on Durkheims theory of suicide explained prison suicide rates better than suicide rates for total population. Possible reasons for these findings are discussed.

Watered Down Partial Implementation of the New Generation Jail Philosophy

Podular direct-supervision jails, also known as new generation jails, are a radical departure from the design and management strategy of traditional institutions. These facilities provide a normalized physical environment plus a proactive supervision and management strategy in an attempt to provide a safer and more comfortable living environment than what has historically been found in jails. Are these jails truly different from traditional facilities? The current article presents the results of a national survey of new generation jails conducted in 2004. Results of the data analysis indicate that many of these jails are not including important components of the new generation jail model, such as a normalized living environment, in their facilities.

Trouble in Mayberry: A national analysis of suicides and attempts in small jails

Despite the fact that there are approximately 1,775 American jails of 99 beds or less, little is known about how these jails function, or the challenges that they confront. This study examined the problem of suicides and attempted suicides in small jails, finding that the prevalence of these incidents is two to five times greater than in their larger counterparts. Net of other factors, jails that had higher rates of admissions, as well as overcrowded facilities had a positive relationship with suicide attempts. We also found that jails that reported higher concentrations of special needs inmates were significantly associated with attempts. Specifically, facilities that had higher levels of long-term inmates were positively associated with suicide attempts. While almost one-fifth of small jails did not use formal suicide assessments at admission, and only slightly more than one-half of these facilities provided annual suicide training to jail officers, these factors were not significantly associated with suicide attempts in 2004. Implications for future research and practice are outlined.

The effect of race on criminal justice students’ career choices

This research compares White and Nonwhite criminal justice students in their career goals and reasons for studying criminal justice. Four hundred students from 12 four-year colleges and universities completed surveys for the study. The surveys included several questions about reasons why they chose to major in criminal justice and what the students hoped to achieve in their professional lives. Results of bivariate analyses indicated that students’ career choices do vary by race, but few of these differences remained significant when multivariate models were developed.

Suicide on Death Row

Despite the level of supervision of inmates on death row, their suicide rate is higher than both the male prison population in the United States and the population of males over the age of 14 in free society. This study presents suicide data for death row inmates from 1978 through 2010. For the years 1978 through 2010, suicide rates on death row were higher than that for the general population of males over the age of 15 and for state prisons for all but 2 years.