NASHVILLE, TN — Rutherford County is not the only area in need of a new jail. Apparently, prisons across the State of Tennessee are also increasing their inmate population, some at a higher rate than the county. This rise in the incarcerated population is not only concerning to local and state leaders, but also costly for taxpayers. State Representative Mike Sparks (R-Smyrna) has highlighted the growing financial and logistical strain caused by prison overcrowding in Tennessee, suggesting that the state may soon be forced to invest hundreds of millions in new facilities.
Following recent budget hearings, Sparks expressed concern and irritation over the lack of concrete estimates on what it will cost Tennessee taxpayers to build a new state prison. The representative told WGNS he looked to Frank Strada, the Tennessee Department of Correction Commissioner, for answers to the mathematical question…
Nationwide, the average cost per square foot to build a new prison sits between $586 to $610, which is a figure that does not include the price of land or architect to design the building. If the state decides to build a 200-thousand square foot structure to house 600 to 800 inmates, it would cost the state over $122-million, according to a past article from by RSMeans Data (RSMeans.com). But that cost skyrockets even higher when you figure in the price of land, prison design and 1,200 to 1,500 beds, as opposed to a facility that can only house 600 to 800 inmates…