“Incarcerating one person in the state for one year costs about $60,000.”
This isn’t remotely how prison cost work, but of all the wrong takes on incarceration this is the one I most think simply cannot be changed.
thedailynewsonline.com/top_story/addi…
This isn’t remotely how prison cost work, but of all the wrong takes on incarceration this is the one I most think simply cannot be changed.
thedailynewsonline.com/top_story/addi…
It’s like the “million dollar blocks” claim. Equally wrong for the same reason, but so intuitively appealing that I think it is basically invulnerable.
So we’ll cut prisons, and not see the savings, and not get why (happened to a program in IN that made EXACTLY this error).
So we’ll cut prisons, and not see the savings, and not get why (happened to a program in IN that made EXACTLY this error).
In short: $60,000 is the AVERAGE cost.
But 2/3 of that cost, if not more, if wages. Then some is heating and cleaning and other fixed costs.
So release 1, or 10, or maybe even 1,000, and savings will be <<< $60,000 per. Maybe $10,000, maybe less.
Marginal <<< average.
But 2/3 of that cost, if not more, if wages. Then some is heating and cleaning and other fixed costs.
So release 1, or 10, or maybe even 1,000, and savings will be <<< $60,000 per. Maybe $10,000, maybe less.
Marginal <<< average.
Cut the prison pop enough that you close entire wings or facilities AND cut the staff that works there (and given pub sector union power, the first need not lead to the second), and maybe you can save that $60,000 per.
But need huge cuts in prison pop to do so.
But need huge cuts in prison pop to do so.
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