HD16 - Local Jail Capacity and Population Forecast
Executive Summary: Local jail and State prison populations are closely linked. When State responsibility inmate populations exceed the capacity of prisons, inmates tend to "back up" in local jails, thus straining local capacity. Currently, more than a thousand State responsibility inmates are backed up into local jails. Local jails do not have the capacity to absorb a backup of this magnitude, and consequently many jails are extremely overcrowded. In addition to crowding caused by State prisoners, many localities lack sufficient jail capacity to hold even their own inmates. The situation is unlikely to improve in the near future. Higher Inmate Populations Are Predicted Inmate population levels forecast at 21,169 in 1990 will require new initiatives to expand capacity or to otherwise relieve crowding in Virginia's correctional facilities. Of the projected 21,169 inmates, 13,372 will be State responsibility inmates and 7,797 will be the responsibility of localities. The 1990 forecast of 21,169 represents a 19 percent increase over the June 1986 total inmate population of 17,782. This increase will further stress prisons and jails that are already overcrowded. Because State prisons will not be able to handle all State responsibility prisoners, jail populations will continue to grow unless new State facilities are available. Given current State prison capacity expansion plans, jail populations will rise to 8,814 in 1990 from their June 1986 level of 6,880 (a 28 percent increase). If the State Penitentiary is closed and not replaced, jail populations could reach 9,682 inmates in 1990. |
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