A new BOP statement sheds light on the high costs of using minimum security facilities, also known as camps, in lieu of cheaper detention alternatives, including halfway houses and home confinement. The BOP’s main facility designations are minimum, low, medium, and high security. Minimum security facilities are used to house detainees convicted of nonviolent, white collar, and low-level drug crimes. There are approximately 24,000 detainees in minimum security facilities. Minimum security facilities cost $152.02 per day per detainee, a cost per detainee significantly greater than the $129.72/d and $122.50/d costs of low and medium security facilities respectively.
Cheaper alternatives to minimum security facilities exist, including home confinement and halfway homes. For example, halfway houses cost $126.17/d, a potential savings of $24.85/d per detainee for the BOP in housing minimum security detainees. The BOP acknowledges these alternative options are cheaper. However, the BOP claims there is a shortage in halfway houses and has struggled to fully implement the home confinement alternative available via the First Step Act. More information on the BOP’s statement and cost of detention can be found here.