Jail Standards and Inspection Programs, Resource - National ...

and inspection programs to a specific agency ororganizational entity. Historically, this has oftenfallen to the state’s department of corrections,although there are some very successful examplesof programs administered by independentcommissions. Some considerations in settingup the standards agency or office include staffing,function and duties, budget, and operatingprocedures.StaffingThe typical staff of a standards and inspectionprogram includes a chief, one or more inspectors,and clerical support. If a program is establishedas a section or division within a largeragency, the parent agency may provide administrativesupport for human resources, assistancewith fiscal management, legal support, and relatedadministrative services. The parent agency(this is particularly true if the parent agency isa department of corrections or similar agency)may also provide access to in-house expertise insuch areas as training, food service, health care,safety, and facility plans review. In consideringstaffing requirements for a standards and inspectionprogram, decisionmakers must ensure thatthe number and types of staff are sufficient tocarry out the functions and duties of the programand to meet agency goals.Programs administered by professional associationsmay employ only a coordinator and relymore heavily on trained volunteers to conductinspections and assist local jails in meetingthe standards. These volunteers are typicallyjail administrators, sheriffs, or other local officialswho are organized into peer inspectionteams. Regardless of who is assigned to inspectfacilities, it is critical that all inspections be performedconsistently.Functions and DutiesThe function of the standards program may belimited to inspections and compliance monitoringor may include a range of resource, advocacy,and support services for jails. The policy goalsfor the program, the philosophical orientation ofthe program’s leadership, and funding levels willdetermine the emphasis placed on various functionsand the duties of the program’s staff. TheNational Institute of Corrections has developeda competency profile for a detention facilityinspector that describes the typical duties andresponsibilities of that position (see appendix F).BudgetA funding request must be developed and submittedto the appropriate funding authority forthe program. Initially, it may be a special appropriationtied to the enabling legislation to get theprogram up and running. Subsequent fundingfor the program may then be included in thebudget requests submitted by the parent agencyduring the normal budget cycle. The budget forthe standards program may include funding forprogram staff and operations. It may includeadditional funds for grants or subsidies to localjurisdictions to support compliance with thestandards.Adequate funding for the standards programshould be viewed as a priority. State electedofficials (and sometimes officials within the parentagency) tend to view standards programsas a nonessential function of state governmentbecause the primary focus is on local jails.When states seek to reduce government spending,standards programs are easy targets. Thefinancial and social cost of failing to maintainsafe, humane, and constitutional jails in the statemust be clearly understood and communicated tofunding decisionmakers.