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COSTS OF INTERSTATE PRISONER TRANSPORTS - THE POTENTIAL FOR CAPTIS (COMPUTER ASSISTED PRISONER TRANSPORTATION INDEX SERVICE) COST BENEFITS

NCJ Number
50518
Author(s)
R D ENGLER
Date Published
1977
Length
33 pages
Annotation
THE COST OF TRANSPORTING PRISONERS ACROSS STATE LINES IS ASSESSED WITH ATTENTION TO THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF A COMPUTER SERVICE DEVELOPED TO FACILITATE THE RAPID AND COST-EFFECTIVE INTERSTATE TRANSPORT OF PRISONERS.
Abstract
PAST AND EXISTING APPROACHES TO REDUCING THE EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION OF PRISONERS ARE EXAMINED, ALONG WITH THE RESULTS OF THE COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT SURVEY (CLE) CONDUCTED BY THE NATIONAL SHERIFF'S ASSOCIATION (NSA) ON THE COSTS OF MOVING PRISONERS ACROSS STATE LINES. ESTIMATES OF THE SAVINGS THAT MIGHT BE OBTAINED BY AGENCIES UTILIZING THE COMPUTER ASSISTED PRISONER TRANSPORTATION INDEX SERVICE (CAPTIS) DEVELOPED TO ALLOW FOR THE CONVENIENT AND COOPERATIVE TRANSPORT OF PRISONERS ARE ALSO PROVIDED. AN INDIRECT ACCOUNTING IS UNDERTAKEN OF: (1) PAST ATTEMPTS TO REDUCE INTERSTATE TRANSPORT COSTS THROUGH A REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF TRANSPORTS, REFUSALS TO RETURN, AND OUT-OF-STATE INCARCERATION; AND (2) ATTEMPTS TO REDUCE THE EXPENSES PER TRANSPORT THROUGH COOPERATIVE RETURNS, THE USE OF LIGHT AIRCRAFT, AND A PLAN DEVELOPED BY THE STATE OF MARYLAND WHICH REQUIRES A PAROLEE OR PROBATIONER TO POST SUFFICIENT BOND TO COVER THE COST OF HIS OR HER RETURN AS A REQUISITE FOR QUALIFYING FOR PLACEMENT IN THE RECEIVING STATE. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT CAPTIS WILL REDUCE BY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT THE TRANSPORTATION AND MANPOWER COSTS OF MOVING A PRISONER ACROSS STATE LINES. TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. SEE ALSO NCJ 50516, 50517, AND 50519-50521. (KBL)