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When fewer inmates is a big problem: Perverse incentives and the McLennan County Jail

A reader forwards me a rather odd article from the Waco Tribune Herald (subscription-only) titled "Inmate decline puzzles officials," that plays the role of apologist for a series of very bad management decisions by the McLennan County Commissioners Court.Here's the backstory: McLennan County a few years ago blew past all suggestions that they consider jail diversion strategies and built an 816-bed jail they don't need, thinking they could have a private prison company manage the thing and lease the extra beds for a profit. "The original construction proposal for the jail states the facility needed to be 90 percent full to generate enough housing revenue to cover operation costs and repay the bond debt."Now, lamented reporter Regina Dennis in Sunday's paper, "A sudden and unexpected drop in inmates in jails has perplexed corrections researchers and law enforcement officials across the country...continue to full post

Full post as published by Grits for Breakfast on March 09, 2011 (boomark / email).