Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Review of Bay Correctional Facility and Moore Haven Correctional Facility

Report 97-68, April 1998

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Report Summary

  • Although private prison vendor performance during the 1996-97 fiscal year was satisfactory, the private prisons did not provide the state with the 7% level of overall cost savings anticipated by statute.
  • The Bay Correctional Facility, operated by the Corrections Corporation of America, was more costly to construct than public prisons constructed during the same period, and did not provide operating cost savings to the state during the 1996-97 fiscal year.
  • The Moore Haven Correctional Facility, operated by the Wackenhut Corrections Corporation, was constructed within the cost range of public prison constructed during the same period, and provided a savings of about $480,000 in operating costs during the 1996-97 fiscal year. This represents savings of approximately 4% over comparable public prison operating costs.
  • The Correctional Privatization Commission did not structure the contracts to ensure that the projected level of operating cost savings was achieved. Requiring vendors to return canteen profits and telephone commissions to the state treasury and restructuring the contract with the Corrections Corporation of America would allow both private prisons to provide the state with approximately 7% operational cost savings.
  • The private prisons have introduced some different methods of construction and operation into the state correctional system, such as a more compact prison design and greater use of technology such as cameras in the housing units. However, it is too early to determine if implementation of these alternatives would improve existing department practices.

Related Reports
  1. Progress Report: Corrections Program Still Challenged by Inmate Idleness, Prison Planning, and Fleet Maintenance
    Report 04-60 August 2004
  2. Progress Report: Bay and Moore Haven Private Prison Contracts Renewed; Bay Costs Increase
    Report 99-46 April 2000
  3. South Bay Correctional Facility Provides Savings and Success; Room for Improvement
    Report 99-39 March 2000
  4. Lake City Correctional Facility Experienced Start-Up Problems, But It Has Improved
    Report 99-33 February 2000
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
criminal justice, juvenile justice, crime, corrections, private prisons, prisons