NCJ Number
115508
Date Published
1987
Length
66 pages
Annotation
This study evaluated the economic and fiscal impacts of a proposed State prison for women to be constructed between Madera City and Chowchilla in Madera County, Calif.
Abstract
While the design capacity is 2,000, overcrowding may raise this figure to 3,000 inmates. Depending on occupancy rate, the prison will employ 775 to 1,280 persons with an annual payroll of $21,312,500 to $35,200,000. The prison will spend an additional $1,000 per inmate on goods and services. About 60 percent of prison wages and 35 percent of local prison expenditures are expected to be spent in Madera County. About half of prison employees will be transferees, and half will be local residents from Madera and neighboring Counties. About 186 to 336 induced jobs will be created in the County, primarily in retail and wholesale trade and food services. Most of these will be filled by current County residents. Economic growth associated with the prison will result in annual fiscal surplus for both the County and Madera City and Chowchilla. Additional economic benefits are predicted to result from prison visitation. Reimbursable costs for prison-related services will range from $95,400 to $174,300. While school enrollments will increase, this increase will be readily accommodated by already planned construction. The current housing supply will meet much of increased demand for owner-occupied, but more rental units will be needed. Adequate space and infrastructure are available to meet increased demands, except in Chowchilla. However, prison construction could provide impetus to developers to build new units and finance the needed infrastructure. Supplemental materials are appended. 13 tables and 6 references.