NCJ Number
139499
Date Published
1992
Length
40 pages
Annotation
This General Accounting Office study used a survey questionnaire to obtain prison construction and operations costs information for prisons opened between 1985 and 1989.
Abstract
Four Federal facilities were involved in the survey; construction-cost data were obtained from 32 prisons in 20 States and the District of Columbia and operations-costs data were obtained from 21 prisons in 16 States. Construction costs varied widely among the medium-security State and Federal prisons, from $11,243 to $93,333 per bed. The most important factor that contributed to differences in prison construction costs per bed was the amount of space provided, measured in terms of gross square feet per inmate. Other factors that might have contributed to the cost differences were the type of building structure, the housing area design and layout, whether the facility was designed for a mix of security levels, and geographic location; however, none of the combinations of these factors explained a significant amount of additional variability in constructions costs beyond that explained by the amount of space provided each inmate. Operations costs also varied widely at the 23 prisons that provided operations costs information, ranging from $22.25 to $81.08 per inmate per day and averaging $41.93. The key factors that contributed to the operations cost differences were personnel salaries and related expenses; inmate-to-staff ratios; and the amount spent on supplies, materials, and food. 6 figures, 10 tables, and appended supplementary information