CONTROLLING FEDERAL PRISON COSTS

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∗

ABBREVIATIONS

RESULTS IN BRIEF

BACKGROUND

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

CONCLUSIONS

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EXECUTIVE ACTION

AGENCY COMMENTS

APPENDIX I: OBJECTIVES, SCOPE, AND METHODOLOGY

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

REFERENCES

INDEX

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