The Consequences of Jail Crowding

Over the past 20 years, there has been an enormous increase in American jail populations. The most frequently documented result of this increase has been overcrowding in jail facilities. Many also hypothesize that an array of secondary problems for the jail have arisen from such crowding. A nationally representative sample of sheriffs was questioned about 13 of these problems in relation jail crowding within their respective facilities. It was found that although many problems are perceived as related to over-crowding by this study group, others are not believed to be as problematic as is typically assumed. Policy implications of these perceptions are discussed.