NCJ Number
147257
Journal
Corrections Compendium Volume: 18 Issue: 3 Dated: (March 1993) Pages: 7-14
Date Published
1993
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This national survey found that prison construction in the United States and Canada for the 1993-1994 period decreased by approximately 2 percent, even though the amount of new beds increased by 13 percent; funds spent on prison construction decreased from $5 billion in 1992-1993 to $4.9 billion in 1993-1994.
Abstract
Of 47 State jurisdictions responding to the survey, 31 were constructing new facilities or additions to existing facilities. A total of 181 units (99 new units, 63 additions, 12 support facilities, three replacements, two renovations, and teo other) were under construction. Of six responding provincial systems in Canada, 3 reported constructing seven new units and one addition to an existing unit at a cost of $72 million. Of 554 beds added in Canada, 324 were in minimum-security and 230 were in maximum-security units. The estimated cost per bed added in the United States ranged from $1,826 in Arkansas to $147,000 in Connecticut. Bond issues were used to pay for prison construction in 12 State systems. Communities in 20 States supported prison construction, while six States encountered community opposition. Five States contracted with private management agencies to construct eight facilities. While most States dealt with prison overcrowding by building more bed space, prison construction was an expensive proposition for strained State budgets. States using temporary facilities to house inmates are noted, and data on prison construction in the United States and Canada are tabulated. 1 table and 2 figures