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As much as I disagree with mass incarceration, I don't like these "it costs $nK to house a prisoner", since usually it's not quite true - costs are amortised ov

As much as I disagree with mass incarceration, I don't like these "it costs $nK to house a prisoner", since usually it's not quite true - costs are amortised over many thousands of prisoners and the state wouldn't actually regain $75k by releasing one prisoner. That being said, I am sure they would regain enough money to seriously help that person, which is more likely what they need than to be locked in a cage to get some kind if societal retribution.

johnnyfaehell 8y ago
I'm not sure about how the contracts are but some contracts (I've heard of UK ones) it's a cost per prisoner. So if the prison holds 300 prisoners the company is owed money for 300 prisoners. I've heard of some that are run a prison for a certain amount of time for x amount of money. So depending on what the contract is for a private prison, it could actually be a case of it costs x for a prisoner.
pyb 8y ago
>> the state wouldn't actually regain $75k by releasing one prisoner. Neither would Harvard, so at least the comparison still stands.
austincheney 8y ago
> That being said, I am sure they would regain enough money to seriously help that person That depends on the person. How do you help a person who is primarily motivated due to narcissism?
trhway 8y ago
> I don't like these "it costs $nK to house a prisoner", since usually it's not quite true - costs are amortised over many thousands of prisoners and the state wouldn't actually regain $75k by releasing one prisoner. given the structure of the costs https://lao.ca.gov/policyareas/cj/6_cj_inmatecost https://lao.ca.gov/policyareas/cj/6_cj_inmatecost there is not much amortization going on, at least not at the scale "over many thousands", more like "over tens and hundreds".
jillesvangurp 8y ago
It's not cost but profit. The prison business is a huge business in the US and there are lots of people profiting from it. Some prison companies are on the New York stock exchange even. We are talking billion $ companies backed by institutional investors. It's a great business because your primary customers are clueless politicians trying to look tough on crime paying whatever they are being told to pay. Prisoners are also laborers, slave laborers that is because they don't actually earn a lot. Somebody profits from that as well. The reason so many people are in prisons in the US is that it is good business for a lot of people. So, to spell this out, US prisons are funneling tax money straight to institutional investors. Cost has nothing to do with it. Meanwhile they are cutting corners left right and center on cost and exploiting the prison population via lucrative corporate contracts.

johnnyfaehell 8y ago

I'm not sure about how the contracts are but some contracts (I've heard of UK ones) it's a cost per prisoner. So if the prison holds 300 prisoners the company is owed money for 300 prisoners. I've heard of some that are run a prison for a certain amount of time for x amount of money. So depending on what the contract is for a private prison, it could actually be a case of it costs x for a prisoner.

pyb 8y ago

>> the state wouldn't actually regain $75k by releasing one prisoner. Neither would Harvard, so at least the comparison still stands.

austincheney 8y ago

> That being said, I am sure they would regain enough money to seriously help that person That depends on the person. How do you help a person who is primarily motivated due to narcissism?

trhway 8y ago

> I don't like these "it costs $nK to house a prisoner", since usually it's not quite true - costs are amortised over many thousands of prisoners and the state wouldn't actually regain $75k by releasing one prisoner. given the structure of the costs https://lao.ca.gov/policyareas/cj/6_cj_inmatecost https://lao.ca.gov/policyareas/cj/6_cj_inmatecost there is not much amortization going on, at least not at the scale "over many thousands", more like "over tens and hundreds".

jillesvangurp 8y ago

It's not cost but profit. The prison business is a huge business in the US and there are lots of people profiting from it. Some prison companies are on the New York stock exchange even. We are talking billion $ companies backed by institutional investors. It's a great business because your primary customers are clueless politicians trying to look tough on crime paying whatever they are being told to pay. Prisoners are also laborers, slave laborers that is because they don't actually earn a lot. Somebody profits from that as well. The reason so many people are in prisons in the US is that it is good business for a lot of people. So, to spell this out, US prisons are funneling tax money straight to institutional investors. Cost has nothing to do with it. Meanwhile they are cutting corners left right and center on cost and exploiting the prison population via lucrative corporate contracts.