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Campus Box 4200 Normal, IL 61790-4200 Telephone (309)438-7090 Facsimile (309)438-5228 [EMAIL REDACTED] http://www.StevensonCenter.org April 2011 Report to the McLean County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council At the end of each month the data to the McLean County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council download information from the EJS System. Those data are merged and aggregated to provide a picture of the manner in which the jail population is changing in size and composition over time. Number of Different Persons, Average Number of Beds Used, and Total Beds Used by Pre-Trial Cases By charge, we compare the annual figures, for pre-trial cases, on Number of Different Persons; Average Number of Beds Used; and Total Beds Used in the McLean County Jail over 4 years, 2007 to 2010. As jail populations ebb and flow in a cyclical fashion over a year, this report also compares the same data for the first quarter across a five-year period, 2007-2011 (see attached table). Annual Comparison of Pre-Trial Case Persons in the Jail (2007-2011): Across the last four years, there was a general decline in the number of different persons in the jail. From a height of 2,123 different persons in 2008 to 1,856 in 2010. The number of persons in the jail for Class 1 and Class 4 Felonies, specifically, decreased in the same way. However, compared to 2009, persons charged with Class M or X (46 persons), Class 2 (215 persons), and Class 3 (221 persons) Felonies rose in 2010. The average length of stay for Class 1 (74 days) and Class 3 (27 days) Felonies was higher in 2010 than in the previous 3 years. There was a decline in length of stay for Class 2 Felonies across those four years. The length of stay for Misdemeanor and DUI cases was flat for the past four years. Regarding Total Bed Days Used, the 2010 number of 38,420 bed days is lower than its height in 2008 (43,468 bed days), but is up compared to 2007 and 2009. This same pattern exists for Class M or X and Class 2 Felonies, specifically. Over the last 3 years the total number of bed days being used by defendants charged with Class 1 (12,050 days) or Class 4 (4,817) Felonies has decreased. The total bed days used for cases involving Class 3 Felonies (5,902) has significantly increased over the last 4 years. Quarterly Comparison of Pre-Trial Case Persons in the Jail (2007-2011): When comparing the same values for the first quarter (January through March) across the last 5 years, including 2011, the most remarkable trend is the lower total number of beds used so far this year. The total bed days used in 2011 (7,453) is lower than the same quarterly statistics for the previous 4 years. When broken down, the same pattern holds for Class 3 and Class 4 Felony cases, DUI cases, and Misdemeanors. Total bed days used for Class 1 Felonies declined to 2,775 in the first quarter of 2011. The drop in total bed days used by persons charged with Class 3 or Class 4 Felonies is being driven by both a decline in the overall number of persons and a decline in the length of stay. The average length of stay for such Case Persons is 14 and 10, respectively. When comparing quarters, the number of persons in the jail is lower than in the previous four years for Class 3 Felonies (42), Class 4 Felonies (64), and Misdemeanors (170). The same values for Class 1 Felonies (61 persons) and Class 2 Felonies (56) were also lower than in 2008. ---PAGE BREAK--- Timing of Case-Processing Events Dr. Ed Wells has worked extensively on the timing of significant judicial events (first Custody Hearing, first Arraignment Hearing, first Status Hearing, first Plea Appearance, first and last Trial Date, and first and last Sentencing Appearance). He is also able to track the number of appearances by the type of appearance. See the attached report regarding the timing and number of appearances. Action Steps The Stevenson Center will provide this report each month. For the next report, we will make the comparison between the first four months of each year. We will also provide preliminary data on cases where an individual is in the jail based on a McLean County Warrant. If desired, we can begin to explore the case processing intervals and number of appearances by class of felony. Other comments regarding how to make this analysis more useful to the CJCC are welcome.