Clark County, NV

Change in Jail Population 25%

Action Areas Data Analysis Pretrial Services

Last Updated

Background

Clark County is in the southeast corner of Nevada, encompassing the Las Vegas metropolitan area. When joining the Safety and Justice Challenge, the greatest trend affecting Clark County’s jail population was the increase in arrests of the transient and/or indigent population, with many suffering from substance use disorders and/or mental illness. An estimated 35 percent of the county’s jail population was on psychotropic medication for various mental illnesses. As a result, the county jail was often referred to as the largest mental health facility in Nevada.

Unfair and ineffective bail practices took a particularly heavy toll on people of color, low-income communities, and people with mental health and substance use issues. Pretrial detention and relatively long stays were the main drivers of the jail population. The pretrial proportion of the jail population was 67 percent in 2017, with 7.9 percent remaining in custody for more than one year. In 2017, 16 percent of all low- and low-moderate-risk defendants remained detained beyond three days, spending an average of 58 days in jail. Despite making up 42.3 percent of the local population, Black and Hispanic people made up 54.1 percent of the jail population on average.

Strategies

Clark County advanced a number of strategies to rethink and redesign its criminal justice system so that it is more fair, just, and equitable for all.

01

CASE PROCESSING

The county implemented improved case processing for pretrial defendants, including a new prosecutor case screening process.

02

ENHANCED DATA

The county enhanced data collection capabilities and electronic distribution of arrest documentation to the court and district attorney.

03

PRETRIAL RELEASE

The county increased its focus on risk assessment and low-risk offender release to ensure people who do not pose a risk to public safety are not held in jail.

Results

Quartery ADP for Clark County (2018-2023)

25.3% from baseline

Lead Agency

Clark County Detention Center and Las Vegas Metro Police Department

Contact Information

Ta’mara Silver
Analyst, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
T10156S@lvmpd.com

Partners

Clark County Board of Commissioners, County Manager’s Office, Las Vegas Justice Courts, Public Defender’s and District Attorney’s Offices

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