Cost of Supervision FY 1997-98

Introduction
North Carolina's prison system consists of 82 prison units of various sizes with 17 of the units having a standard operating capacity of less than 90 inmates. The four smallest units--Wilmington, Alamance, Stokes and Yancey--have a standard operating capacity of 26, 46, 46, and 46 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 1997-98 per inmate daily operating cost of the 46 bed medium security prison unit at Yancey County was $112.03 compared to the $52.54 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 1997-98 was $62.41 per day.

There is a broad variation of costs per inmate within the security levels in fiscal year 1997-98. Facilities that house close custody inmates ranged in cost from $56.50 for Pasquotank Correctional Institution (standard operating capacity of 864) to $152.32 for Blanch Correctional Institution (standard operating capacity of 80). For medium custody, the costs ranged from $50.26 per day for Craggy Correctional Center (standard operating capacity of average daily population of 312) to $112.03 at Yancey Correctional Center (standard operating capacity of 46). Minimum security facilities ranged from $33.86 at Rutherford Correctional Center (standard operating capacity of average daily population of 190) to $89.46 at Scotland Correctional Center (standard operating capacity of 44).

Making the Prison System More Efficient
In the last four years, the department has taken steps to improve the efficiency of operations. Fourteen 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
Alexander Correctional Center	minimum	1998	75.58	FY 97-98	46
Martin Correctional Center	minimum	1998	107.97	FY 97-98	30
Mecklenburg Correctional Center	minimum	1998	56.21	FY 97-98	76
Sandy Ridge Correctional Center	minimum	1998	56.14	FY 97-98	44
Watauga Correctional Center	minimum	1998	71.24	FY 97-98	48

The General Assembly directed the department to close Alexander, Davie, Martin, Mecklenburg, Moore, Richmond, Rockingham and Sandy Ridge 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 and Yancey correctional centers. Watauga Correctional Center was closed in Dec. 1998 as part of this project.

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 the prison to increase the efficiency of operation.

In FY 98-99, the legislature provided for two prisons--Stanly and Union correctional centers--to be converted from medium to minimum security.

SECURITY LEVEL COSTS PER INMATE PER DAY FY 97-98
close	78.64
medium	67.44
minimum	51.27
average	62.41

PRISON	SECURITY	97-98 COST	CAPACITY
Avery Correctional Center	medium	99.99	48
Watauga Correctional Center	minimum	71.24	48
Yancey Correctional Center	medium	112.03	46