Who is in Jail? An Examination of the Rabble Hypothesis

Abstract

John Irwin's The Jail contends that jails are filled with petty offenders or persons who have committed no crime at all but who are socially offensive members of “the rabble.” However, the research reported here indicates that a large number of persons charged with seemingly serious crimes were incarcerated in two Pacific Northwest jail systems. Although more research is in order, this article suggests that Irwin's thesis may well be overstated.