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Problems of County Jails in the United StatesAt the last Membership Meeting, Mr. William Castro of the Adult Probation Office gave a very enlightening talk about jails. He did not touch on the Honolulu Jail, but on jails in general. This is a brief resume of his speech. The history of county jails (gaols) dates from the time of Henry 11 of England. The jail was originally a place of detention for prisoners awaiting trial. County jails have been under the jurisdiction of the County Sheriff since early times. (Remember the Sheriff of Nottingham in ROBIN HOOD). When a prisoner was in jail awaiting trial, it was customary for him to pay the Sheriff for his keep. This practice was the origin of the fee system which still is used in a modified form in some jails today. In later years as houses of correction became crowded, jails were used to house some of the sentenced prisoners. The modern jail continues to play this dual role of holding prisoners awaiting trial who cannot put up bail and of holding incarcerated prisoners who have been sentenced by the courts for minor offenses. Thus we find that jail populations are heterogeneous, including those who have been sentenced for 30 days and murderers awaiting trial. Because of this condition there is a rapid turnover with three million people passing through local jails each year. Jails are often old, unsuitable buildings which are overcrowded: In such buildings segregation of prisoners is often impossible. Medical services and sanitary facilities are not always adequate. Rehabilitation and recreation programs are often lacking. Even the major purpose of jails, to protect the public by keeping prisoners in safe custody, is difficult to fulfill. It has been suggested by some that the dual functioning jail be eliminated and that detention homes be used to house those awaiting trial, while work farms or forestry camps be used for the sentenced prisoners. The National Jail Association suggests that juveniles, the physically ill and the mentally ill be taken out of jails. It suggests that jails be taken out of politics (more use be made of civil service personnel); that the cruel treatment of prisoners by other prisoners be prevented. Such treatment often takes the form of a kangaroo court where prisoners make "laws", act as judges, and punish other prisoners. Further suggestions for reducing the jail population are: that greater use be made of bail and personal recognizance, that greater use be made of installment fines, that greater use be made of probation officer. (They usually do not handle misdemeanors) DOES OUR HONOLULU JAIL COMPARE WITH JAILS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES? HELP ANSWER THIS QUESTION BY ATTENDING FUTURE LEAGUE MEMBERSHIP AND UNIT MEETINGS.
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