Four Ways Cities Can Make Jails Fairer to the Poor—and Save Money

[whatthehey]

2. I'm fine with the concept, but this kind of fantasy CBA always irks me

The "170K per prisoner" averages all costs of the prison system, from buildings to utilities to admin and everything else, divided by the number of prisoner days. Having 1 prisoner less saves you essentially zero (they are hardly likely to vary industrial level food orders based on individual head count, although significant shifts may eventually affect that first). No less to light, heat, etc. No fewer guards, janitors, accountants, etc. Reducing prisoners below a level which would allow them to, say, close a facility or at least a block or wing entirely would actually put the cost per prisoner UP as you would be using a smaller denominator for the same fixed costs. It certainly wouldn't save "big bucks" for anybody.