Jail Population Trend Report
Jan - Mar 2016
Prepared by Mecklenburg County Criminal Justice Services Planning
This report identifies and tracks emerging trends that may influence the operation of the detention
facilities. The data below captures activity during the third quarter of FY 2016 and compares the
observations to those of the previous quarter and year.
I. Average Jail Population by Facility
Percent Change From
Jan - Mar 2016
ADP
Oct - Dec 2015
ADP
Jan - Mar 2015
ADP
Oct - Dec
2015
Jan - Mar
2015
Jail Central
1,154
1,118
1,035
3%
12%
Jail North
249
317
351
-21%
-29%
Work Release 1
-
-
25
-
-100%
All Facilities
1,403
1,435
1,411
-2%
-1%
ADP As A Percentage Of Design / Functional Capacity 2
Facility Capacity
Jan - Mar 2016
D/F %
Oct - Dec 2015
D/F %
Jan - Mar 2015
D/F %
Design
Functional
Jail Central
61 / 71
59 / 69
54 / 64
1,904
1,618
Jail North
35 / 41
44 / 52
49 / 57
721
613
All Facilities
53 / 63
55 / 64
52 / 613
2,625
2,231

Total ADP decreased 2 percent from the previous quarter and decreased 1 percent from the
previous year.

Jail North ADP decreased 21 percent from the previous quarter and decreased 29 percent
from the previous year.

Total ADP was 37 percent below functional capacity during the third quarter.
1
Work Release was closed at the end of FY 2015.
Design capacity is the total beds available in the facilities. Functional capacity represents 85 percent of design capacity. Functional capacity is
considered the maximum number that can be housed while still permitting the proper segregation and movement of inmates according to
gender, security risk, and related factors.
3 Includes Work Release.
2
1
II. Characteristics of the Jail Population
Jan – Mar 2016
Oct – Dec 2015
Jan – Mar 2015
Adult Male
1,227
(87%)
1,269
(88%)
1,253
(88%)
Female
115
(8%)
107
(7%)
108
(8%)
Youthful Offender (Male)
62
(4%)
58
(4%)
50
(4%)
African-American
934
(67%)
952
(66%)
970
(69%)
Caucasian
251
(18%)
257
(18%)
238
(17%)
Hispanic
190
(14%)
199
(14%)
174
(12%)
Others
17
(1%)
14
(<1%)
15
(1%)
Pretrial
828
(59%)
827
(58%)
913
(67%)
Sentenced
57
(4%)
67
(5%)
82
(6%)
Federal- U.S Marshals
367
(26%)
356
(25%)
329
(24%)
Federal- Immigration
1
(<1%)
0
(0%)
0
(0%)
Federal- 287(g)
1
(<1%)
1
(<1%)
1
(<1%)
Federal- BOP
1
(<1%)
4
(<1%)
3
(<1%)
State Misdemeanant
46
(3%)
56
(4%)
41
(3%)
Probation Quick
Dip/Dunk
3
(<1%)
4
(<1%)
1
(<1%)
Gender
Race / Ethnicity
Custody Type

Gender and race characteristics within the jail population were unchanged compared to the
previous quarter and same period last year. Males (87 percent) and African-Americans (67
percent) remain the dominant population groups.

Pretrial offenders comprised 59 percent of the jail’s population in the third quarter, an increase
of 1 percent from the previous quarter but an 8 percent decrease from the previous year.
2
III. Booking and Release Composition4
Jan - Mar 2016
Jan - Mar 2015
Avg. Monthly
Composition
Avg. Length of
Stay (days)
Avg. Monthly
Composition
Avg. Length of
Stay (days)
Intakes
State
2,033
15
1,943
17
State Misdemeanant Program
12
83
11
51
Federal- USM
74
147
56
142
Federal- Immigration
16
0
8
1
Federal- 287(g)
4
1
4
1
Released
State
4
2,124
2,049
State Misdemeanant Program
11
13
Federal- USM
79
66
Federal- Immigration
17
8
Federal- 287(g)
14
14

Average monthly intake volume for Federal USM inmates increased 33 percent from the previous
year.

The average length of stay increased by 63 percent for the State Misdemeanant Program from the
previous year.

The average number of State inmates released increased by 4 percent and the average number of
Federal USM inmates released increased by 20 percent from the previous year.

The average monthly intakes and releases for Federal Immigration offenders increased by 96
percent and 108 percent respectively when compared to the same period in the previous year.
Average length of stay is determined by averaging the reported ALOS for each group in the FY 2016 MCSO Detention Report. The Detention
Report calculates ALOS as (Total Bed Days / Number of Jail Intakes). “Bed days” is calculated as the sum of the reported average daily
population. An “intake” is defined as an individual receiving a housing assignment (those who bond out or are otherwise released prior to a
housing assignment are not considered intakes).
3
IV. Average Length of Stay and Jail Bed Days by Release Type5
Jan - Mar 2016

Jan - Mar 2015
Type of Release
Released
Bed Days
ALOS (days)
Released
Bed Days
ALOS (days)
Secured
2,545
14,166
6
2,618
15,478
6
Time Served
455
23,654
52
528
18,760
36
Unsecured
1,304
7,327
6
1,062
7,145
7
Dismissed
285
8,618
30
199
5,343
27
Probation/Parole
115
5,809
51
88
5,444
62
Other Jurisdiction
1,012
88,832
88
976
83,757
86
Bed days attributable to ‘Dismissed’ releases increased 61% from the previous year while the
Average Length of Stay for ‘Time Served’ releases increased by 44% from the previous year.
V. Assessed Risk Score (PSA)6
Percent Change
From
Oct Jan Dec
Mar
2015
2015
Jan - Mar 2016
Assessments
Oct - Dec 2015
Assessments
Jan - Mar 2015
Assessments
Low Risk
611
(20%)
590
(20%)
512
(19%)
4%
19%
Medium-Low
Risk
233
(8%)
213
(7%)
227
(8%)
9%
3%
Medium Risk
634
(21%)
610
(21%)
600
(22%)
4%
6%
Medium-High
Risk
429
(14%)
393
(14%)
377
(14%)
9%
14%
High Risk
1,076
(36%)
1,078
(37%)
1,030
(38%)
0%
4%
Total
Assessments
2,983
(100%)
2,884
(100%)
2,746
(100%)
3%
9%

The total number of PSA assessments has increased 3 percent from the previous quarter and 9
percent from the previous year.

Percent distribution across the risk levels has remained relatively consistent across all three time
periods examined.
5
This table examines ALOS based on the release reason. Length of stay is calculated as the number of days between the commit date and
release date as found in the OMS Release Report (OIRRELDT). Only those individuals assigned housing in the jail will be found on the OMS
report.
6 This table represents the total number and distribution of pretrial risk assessments completed. Assessments are categorized base on the date
on which they were completed and the NCA score and the FTA score; all of which is found in the PSA database. Risk levels are defined as per
the Mecklenburg County Decision Making Framework.
4
VI. Trends and Forecasting
Observed and Forecast Average Daily Population
Jul 2010 - Jun 2016
Average Daily Population
2,600
2,100
1524
1,600
Observed
Apr-16
Jan-16
Oct-15
Jul-15
Apr-15
Jan-15
Oct-14
Jul-14
Apr-14
Jan-14
Oct-13
Jul-13
Apr-13
Jan-13
Oct-12
Jul-12
Apr-12
Jan-12
Oct-11
Jul-11
Apr-11
Jan-11
Oct-10
Jul-10
1,100
Forecast
1,800
1,600
1524
1,400
Observed

Forecast
Jun-16
May-16
Apr-16
Mar-16
Feb-16
Jan-16
Dec-15
Nov-15
Oct-15
Sep-15
Aug-15
Jul-15
Jun-15
May-15
Apr-15
Mar-15
Feb-15
1,200
Jan-15
Average Daily Population
Observed and Forecast Average Daily Population
Jan 2015 - Jun 2016
Confidence Range
Given no changes within the criminal justice system, Mecklenburg County ADP is projected to
seasonally increase to 1,524 for the month of June 2016.
5