Controlling federal prison costs / Gregory N. Berritas, editor.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Berritas, Gregory N.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Prisons--United States.

Prisons.

Prisons--United States--Accounting.

Prisons--United States--Cost control.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (73 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Hauppauge, N.Y. : Nova Science Publishers, c2009.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Over the last 10 years, the cost to confine federal Bureau of Prison (BOP) inmates in non-BOP facilities has nearly tripled from about $250 million in fiscal year 1996 to about $700 million in fiscal year 2006. Proponents of using contractors to operate prisons claim it can save money; others question whether contracting is a cost-effective alternative. This book discusses the feasibility and implications of comparing the costs for confining federal inmates in low and minimum security BOP facilities with those managed by private firms for BOP.

Contents:

Intro

CONTROLLING FEDERAL PRISON COSTS

CONTENTS

PREFACE

Chapter 1 COST OF PRISONS∗

ABBREVIATIONS

RESULTS IN BRIEF

BACKGROUND

BOP LACKS DATA NEEDED TO PERFORM A METHODOLOGICALLY SOUND COST COMPARISON AND IS NOT POSITIONED TO EVALUATE ALTERNATIVES FOR CONFINING INMATES IN LOW AND MINIMUM SECURITY FACILITIES

A Cost Comparison Is Not Currently Feasible because BOP Lacks Data Needed to Perform a Methodologically Sound Comparison

BOP Cannot Evaluate whether Privately Contracted Facilities Provide Better or Worse Value than Other Low and Minimum Security Confinement

CONCLUSIONS

RECOMMENDATION FOR EXECUTIVE ACTION

AGENCY COMMENTS AND OUR EVALUATION

APPENDIX I: OBJECTIVES, SCOPE, AND METHODOLOGY

APPENDIX II: COMMENTS FROM THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS

REFERENCES

Appendix I

Chapter 2 PRISON CONSTRUCTION∗

Developing Initial Project Cost Estimates

Project Delays Contributed to Increased Cost Estimates, and the Imprecise Nature of Estimates Was Not Communicated to ongress and Other Stakeholders

Problems with Site Selection and the Availability of Funding Contributed to Project Construction Delays

FCI Mendota

FCI Berlin and FCI McDowell

Construction Costs Increased at a Rate Higher Than the Rate of Inflation

Cost Estimates Are Imprecise, and Congress and Other Stakeholders Were Not Informed of the Extent to Which They Might Vary

BOP Has Eliminated or Reduced Portions of Two Projects, and Plans to Use Its Construction Management Policies Procedures to Control Cost and Schedule Changes

BOP Has Eliminated or Reduced Facilities at FCI Berlin and FCI Mendota, but Did Not Clearly Communicate These Changes to Congress and Other Stakeholders.

BOP Plans to Use Its Policies and Procedures to Control Cost Increases and Schedule Delays during Construction

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EXECUTIVE ACTION

AGENCY COMMENTS

APPENDIX II: FCI MENDOTA, FCI BERLIN, AND FCI MCDOWELL: PROJECT ESTIMATES, BUDGET REQUESTS, AND FUNDING FOR FISCAL YEARS 2001-2009

APPENDIX III: COMMENTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS

INDEX

Blank Page.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-61728-208-1