NCJ Number
202793
Date Published
October 2001
Length
28 pages
Annotation
This document compares rates paid by various States for private, medium-secure prison beds for males.
Abstract
Prison officials in the 18 States that contract for such beds were surveyed by telephone between September 6 and October 9, 2001. They were asked to provide the latest available data and/or observations about a number of details on their agency’s private prison contracts. Each State’s contracts are unique, and rates are only one of many factors to consider when making a comparison. This survey attempts to adjust rates only for quantifiable differences (specified contract monitoring costs, tiered rate structures, contract supplements for extra services, and cost-of-living indexes). Private prison per-diem rates paid by State for medium-security, general population male prison beds range from $37.92 for Louisiana to $57.89 in Florida. This is the rate adjusted by cost of living index. The State and vendors share transportation responsibilities. States often go beyond their contractual obligation by providing transport services in excess of the contractual requirement, especially if the vendor facility is near or en route to a State prison. The State requires the vendor to provide the same quality and quantity of rehabilitation, education, and work programs as are available in a public medium-security prison. Though some States require a certain number of slots, most program participation provisions are vague. The average State prison system spends $7.34/inmate/day on medical services. Medical provisions of each State contract can account for 12 to 21 percent of per-diems paid to vendors. More than any other area, medical provisions are key to comparing per-diem rates. Cost-sharing is the most common arrangement, used to some degree in 16 of 18 States.