North Carolina
Department of Correction
Division of Prisons
Cost of
Supervision
FY 1996-97
Introduction
North Carolina's prison system consists of 88 prison
units of various sizes with 23 of the units having a standard
operating capacity of less than 90 inmates. The three smallest
units--Wilmington, Martin and Sandy Ridge--have a standard
operating capacity of 26, 30, and 44 respectively. The largest
facility, Central Prison, has a capacity of 942. The state's
legacy of small prisons comes from its history. Most prisons were
built during the Depression years when the state assumed
responsibility from the counties for housing prison road crews.
This legacy, coupled with the large number of small prison units,
is what drives up the cost of North Carolina's prison system. For
example, the Fiscal Year 1996-97 per inmate daily operating cost
of the 46 bed medium security prison unit at Yancey County was
$110.78 compared to the $50.22 per inmate daily operating cost of
the 832 bed medium security unit at Brown Creek, a new prison
expanded with a recent dormitory addition. Thus, it is readily
apparent that the economy of scale spreads out the fixed
operating costs in larger units operated by the Division of
Prisons and lowers the per inmate average daily operating costs.
Costs for Housing Prisoners in North Carolina
The system wide average operational cost for housing
inmates in North Carolina prisons in Fiscal Year 1996-97 was
$62.27 per day.
SECURITY LEVEL COSTS PER INMATE PER DAY FY 96-97 |
|
close | 79.96 |
medium | 67.85 |
minimum | 53.63 |
average | 63.27 |
There is a broad variation of costs per inmate
within the security levels in fiscal year 1996-97. Facilities
that house close custody inmates ranged in cost from $53.73 for
Southern Correctional Institution (standard operating capacity of
604) to $125.48 for Blanch Correctional Institution (standard
operating capacity of 80). For medium custody, the costs ranged
from $49.54 per day for Columbus Correctional Institution
(standard operating capacity of average daily population of 584)
to $102.34 at Avery Correctional Center (standard operating
capacity of 48). Minimum security facilities ranged from $31.4 at
Charlotte Correctional Center (standard operating capacity of
average daily population of 214) to $93.20 at Scotland
Correctional Center (standard operating capacity of 44).
Making the Prison System More Efficient
In the last two years, the department has taken steps
to improve the efficiency of operations. Seven prisons built in
the 1930s and rendered less efficient by federal court rulings
that reduced capacity and required increased staffing have been
closed.
PRISON | SECURITY | YEAR CLOSED |
COST PER INMATE | YEAR | CAPACITY |
Moore Correctional Center | medium | 1995 | 131.85 | FY 94-95 | 42 |
Richmond Correctional Center | minimum | 1995 | 120.73 | FY 94-95 | 26 |
Granville Correctional Center | minimum | 1996 | 87.17 | FY 95-96 | 36 |
Halifax Correctional Center | minimum | 1996 | 60.60 | FY 95-96 | 40 |
Person Correctional Center | minimum | 1996 | 79.48 | FY 95-96 | 44 |
Rockingham Correctional Center | medium | 1996 | 96.12 | FY 95-96 | 52 |
Vance Correctional Center | medium | 1996 | 121.95 | FY 95-96 | 44 |
Warren Correctional Center | minimum | 1997 | 122.57 | FY 95-96 | 56 |
Davie Correctional Center | medium | 1997 | 84.56 | FY 96-97 | 48 |
The General Assembly directed the department to
close Davie, Moore, Richmond and Rockingham correctional centers.
The operations of Granville, Halifax, Person, Vance and Warren
correctional centers were consolidated into Warren Correctional
Institution.
Another consolidation project is underway in western North
Carolina. A prison is under construction on the Avery and
Mitchell county line that will allow consolidation of the Avery,
Watauga and Yancey correctional centers.
PRISON | SECURITY | COST/INMATE/DAY | CAPACITY |
Avery Correctional Center | medium | 96.82 | 48 |
Watauga Correctional Center | minimum | 66.38 | 48 |
Yancey Correctional Center | medium | 107.69 | 46 |
In FY 97-98, the legislature provided for three prisons--Alexander, Scotland and Yadkin correctional centers--to be converted from medium to minimum security. The change in security reduced staff allowing an increase in the efficiency of operation.
In FY 98-99, the legislature provided that four prisons--Alexander, Martin, Mecklenburg and Sandy Ridge correctional centers--be closed. The prisons will close by the end of January 1999. The legislature provided for two prisons--Stanly and Union correctional centers--to be converted from medium to minimum security.