What type of count is conducted when the reported number of inmates does not agree with the census shown by jail records?

• A. Informal Random Count
• B. Regular Count
• C. Off-Count
• D. Administrative Count

Answer: (C)

When the reported inmate tally doesn’t match the census in jail records, staff perform an off-count to reconcile the numbers. It’s a focused, thorough re-count that checks each inmate’s location, rechecks rosters and housing assignments, and reviews admissions, releases, and out-of-cell statuses to correct the record. This process protects safety and security by ensuring every inmate is accounted for. Routine counts are just the regular checks and won’t fix a discrepancy, while an administrative count is about paperwork and not used to resolve mismatches; an informal random count lacks the systematic approach needed to locate differences.