NCJ Number
189803
Date Published
1999
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This paper discusses factors that contribute to cost estimates for jail construction and how they can result in cost variations.
Abstract
The usual method of computing the cost of a new jail is to take the average jail bed cost and multiply it by the number of inmates likely to be kept in the jail. However, the concept of "average jail bed cost" is poorly defined. Usually, it refers to an estimate based on a national survey of newly constructed jails. But different items are included in construction costs in different communities, so a national average is a mixture of data. This article examines 15 factors that contribute to cost variation: (1) the definition of "jail"; (2) the design of the jail; (3) what the jail contains; (4) the approach to construction fabrication; (5) inclusion of costs for renovating an existing structure; (6) land preparation costs; (7) differences in security levels of offenders and the influence on jail design; (8) varying number of beds within the same design; (9) design of the jail to accommodate future construction; (10) differences in equipping facilities; (11) regional differences; (12) compliance with standards; (13) standardization of design; (14) adequacy of jail design; and (15) construction management. The paper suggests that, in the initial stages of community discussions about a new jail, cost figures should be expressed as very general approximations. Notes