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ACA 2010 Winter Conference Wraps Up in Tampa - Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Tuesday was the final day of the ACA 2010 Winter Conference held in Tampa, FL. The team from Performa saw a lot of booth traffic the final day- as did many exhibitors. Performa wishes to thank everyone who stopped by
More >>Costs are the Major Issues for ACA Attendees - Tuesday, January 26, 2010
At the ACA 2010 Winter Conference, Performa has been conducting an informal survey asking attendees to identify the top issues challenging them as they look ahead to 2010. Costs lead the way. Below are the top three vote getters:
1. Funding
2. Staffing Costs
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First Day is Busy for Performa at ACA 2010 Winter Conference - Monday, January 25, 2010
Sunday evening was the first exhibit day for the ACA's 2010 Winter Conference in Tampa Bay, FL. Despite being opposite the AFC Championship football game between the Indianapolis Colts and New York Jets, attendance was strong.
David Robillard, President of Performa's Federal Programs Group, met with a large
More >>A Design for Multiple Clients - Thursday, January 21, 2010
In December, Cornell Companies, Inc., a private provider of correctional services, began housing Alaskan inmates at its newest facility located in Hudson, Colo. Performa, Inc. planned and designed the 1,250 bed, medium-security correctional facility to house multiple clients.
"To bring on multiple clients, Cornell needs to accommodate individual
More >>Join Performa at ACA's 2010 Winter Conference - Thursday, January 21, 2010
Performa will attend the American Correctional Association's 2010 Winter Conference in Tampa, Fla. February 22 to 27. At the conference Performa will highlight its extensive experience in lowering corrections/detention operating costs. Performa's President of the Federal Programs Group, David Robillard and CEO, Jeff Kanzelberger will be in
More >>High-Tech Technologies for Today - Tuesday, November 24, 2009
In the midst of budget cuts and high recidivism rates, CorrectionsOne selected high-tech products on display at the American Correctional Association's
More >>Autism Guide for Correctional Officers: A Must Read - Monday, November 23, 2009
Recent estimates state that the number of children with autism-related disorders has increased to one in 150. The chances are very likely that correction officers will encounter and have to deal with situations where a person with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is involved. Careful, thoughtful actions need to
More >>CorrectionsOne.com - Tuesday, November 10, 2009
CorrectionOne.com is an online resource geared to provide correctional officers information, news and educational resources that enable them to keep their facility a safe and controlled environment.
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The 4 Ultimate Benefits of Master Planning - Tuesday, November 03, 2009
The 4 Ultimate Benefits of Master Planning
Site and Facility Master Planning provides you the ability to walk into the future with ease knowing your business strategy is documented and that your capital assets support your organizations near and long-term organizational, operational and functional needs.
Simply beginning as
More >>The Top 10 Benefits of Planning for the Future - Thursday, October 29, 2009
Developing a strategic capital asset master plan will deliver the following benefits to your organization as you head into the future:
1. Facilities that meet your organization's Strategic Business Plan
2. A shared vision and the feeling of ownership will be created within your organization
3. Better use of
More >>Discover the Surprising Capital Assets You Already Have - Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Should we expand our existing facilities, should we renovate our existing facilities or should we build new facilities?
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The Importance of Front-End Planning - Wednesday, October 07, 2009
In our previous blog, "What it Really Means to Listen", we discussed the benefits gained when an architecture firm listens to clarify the foundational needs behind any project rather than simply building a facility.
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The Key to a Safe and Secure Jail - Tuesday, September 29, 2009
The recent prison riot in Chino, California sparked by overcrowding and under programming, has many corrections professionals predicting more U.S. prisons are a ticking time bomb due to the financial stress federal and
More >>JPay Keeps Jails Safe and Secure - Thursday, September 24, 2009
Enhancing information technologies within correctional systems is proven to benefit both inmates and correctional systems. In effort to provide these services to inmates at a lower cost, Rockville Correctional Facility in Indiana utilizes an ATM-looking
More >>More Ways to Eliminate Cell Phone Contraband - Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Permitting cell phone jamming in prisons has become a hot topic in attempting to crack down on the thousands of cell phone smuggled into U.S. prisons each year. Essentially, a cell phone jammer blocks the transmission of radio signals within a
More >>How to Choose a Private Prison Operator - Friday, September 18, 2009
According to analysts reported in recent Reuters article, states can save between 10 to 20 percent on the cost of housing an inmate from outsourcing to private players. In addition to saving you money, outsourcing to a private operator allows you to cure overcrowding issues as they have
More >>Top 10 Questions You Need to Answer Before You Build - Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Every new project whether a large-scale organizational capital asset system, a park or a facility poses crucial development questions that should be answered in the planning stage.
Avoiding unforeseen problems and getting the most out of project dollars requires that the following questions be answered:
1. Will the project
More >>One-Sided Planning Will Break Your Budget - Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Revenue-driven organizations can be overwhelmed by the rush to build. Not planning for current and future situations at the same time will result in tremendous cost hikes, in both construction
More >>The Pitfalls of Backdoor Financing - Wednesday, September 02, 2009
A previous blog post provided information on Municipal-Lease Purchase Financing for local and state governments needing to secure funds to tend to outdated, overcrowded correctional facilities. While moving away from General Obligation Bonds (GOBs) and taking on alternative forms of financing seem to solve legislatures' problems,
More >>Correctional News Keeps Your Facility Current - Monday, August 31, 2009
Have you ever wondered if your facility is up to par with other facilities? CorrectionalNews.com is a good resource for private and public prison operators looking for news and information on the latest innovations in design, construction, management
More >>Is Green Sustainable? - Thursday, August 27, 2009
Washington and California state governments are the leaders of LEED implementation. Washington currently has 34 LEED certified correctional facilities. California, with plans to retrofit 16 facilities to become more green, is home to the country's first LEED gold certified jail. Green, LEED certified facilities have been given the reputation
More >>How to Get the ROI You Want - Monday, August 24, 2009
Bluntly- construction of a new facility is downright expensive. Furthermore, if not built to suit the needs or goals of your organization, it could end up costing you even more in renovations and operations. It is extremely important that the huge investment you secure in a facility pays you
More >>How to Find Money for Prisons - Thursday, August 20, 2009
Federal and state aid for state, county and city municipal projects is drying up. Many state governments are dealing with budget deficits reaching into the millions and billions. While this is the case, the prison population and population types are consistently growing and diversifying as existing local prisons and
More >>Corrections.com: Connecting Point for Correctional Staff - Wednesday, August 19, 2009
From guards to facility principals and operators, Corrections.com is an engaging informational resource on all topics pertaining to the correctional industry. News and information on the site is updated daily, so there is always fresh information waiting to enhance your career.
More >>4 Ways to Dramatically Cut Operation Costs - Thursday, August 13, 2009
Whether you are a private or public prison operator, you understand the continual pressure to cut costs while providing the best rehabilitative care for inmates. One of the most commonly overlooked opportunities to cut costs is optimizing work flow and usage during the facility design process. Here are 4
More >>5 Proven Steps That Will Cut Prison Operation Costs - Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Performa's ebook Five Correctional Facility Strategies that Cut Construction Costs lays out the five steps every prison builder should undergo before digging the dirt. The ebook is a great guide for correctional facility developers, both private and public, as they drive the prethinking process.
Property Shape Handcuffing Expansion? - Friday, August 07, 2009
Feeling the pressure of the demanding need to house the ever-growing inmate population, prison developers often rush to build and ignore how their biggest resource, land, affects their long-term facility strategy for the present and the future.
The shape and contour of the land you expect to build your
More >>The High Cost of “Great” Design - Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Buildings that look the most aesthetically pleasing or are one-of-a-kind in design often receive awards and prizes of distinction. While the design may be very attractive to outside viewers, you need to ask yourself the most important question: Will the facility design proactively work to enhance process and drive
More >>Solutions to Reduce Correctional Staff Stress and Inmate Aggression - Tuesday, July 28, 2009
While the effects of excessive noise are readily available, noise control within prisons is often overlooked in predesign, marginalized or victim of budgetary constraints. Many corrections professionals believe noise is part of the natural prison physical environment thus, beyond their ability to change. Through design interventions however, noise can
More >>Effective Prison Design Can Reduce Sexual Abuses - Thursday, July 23, 2009
Sexual abuse in prisons is as old as prisons themselves. While knowledge of these occurrences is prevalent, only recently have guidelines and standards for prisons to follow in effort to prevent abuses come into fruition. The National Prison Rape Elimination Commission (NPREC), an eight-member panel formed under the 2003
More >>Correctional Facility Design to Enhance Staff Outcomes and Satisfaction - Tuesday, July 21, 2009
A recent article from Corrections.com noted how the effects of the prison environment wear down correctional officers. They work in an environment of chronic stress, continual alertness with the ever-present possibility and exposure to violence. Correction officers read about crimes in offender files, they view assault and riot videos
More >>Master Planning for Easy Prison Expansion with Minimal Operational Disruption - Friday, July 10, 2009
When an initial correctional facility is built, creating a master plan for current and projected trends in prison populations as well as expected business decisions will save construction costs in the long run. The master plan should include: knowing the number inmates to build for from the get-go, the
More >>Long Range Master Planning and Site Acquisition Go Hand-in-Hand - Monday, June 29, 2009
As the corrections industry expands to cater to the increasing population of inmates, correctional budgets are weighing on state and federal governments as well as privately owned prisons. In fact, this is the biggest budget line item for the majority of states. While methods for controlling the prison population
More >>The Effect of Natural Light within Prisons - Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Natural light affects humans physiologically (bodily) and psychologically (mentally) in a way that can only be understood when it is taken away for a long period of time. Building a prison that is just as encouraging of natural human necessities as well as providing a detained environment plays a
More >>A Step Toward Environmentally-Friendly Prisons: Applying LEED to Correctional Facility Design - Monday, June 15, 2009
The fundamental nature of penal facilities does not easily lend itself to sustainability. With construction costs rising, everything a facility owner can do to reduce life-cycle cost and represent sound financial stewardship of tax payer dollars is essential. By implementing Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) into sustainable
More >>Alternative Energy Technologies Available for Correction Facilities - Wednesday, June 10, 2009
The implementation of alternative energies in correction facilities helps reduce the amount of tax payer funding over time and can qualify the system for government green-initiative grants. Many correctional facilities throughout the U.S. are committed to implementing alternative-energy technologies to fuel their energy demands. Under the guidance of prison
More >>Alternative Energy Resources in Correctional Facilities - Monday, June 08, 2009
There is recently massive support and funding by the U.S. government to increase the energy efficiency of large public and municipal facilities. These facilities can benefit financially from the governments greening initiatives, cash to help improve sustainability otherwise losing a return-on-investment, by implementing environmentally friendly practices and technologies within
More >>Evidence-Based Design Reduces Costs and Increases Effective Outcomes - Tuesday, May 26, 2009
The First Step to Prison Reform: Evidence-Based Programs - Monday, May 18, 2009
The growing element to enhancing the prisoner environment and reducing costs in correctional facilities is the implementation of evidence-based programs.
According to the Center for Evidence-Based Corrections, proven rehabilitative programs for inmates are available and formed through evidence-based policy. This is an approach that helps decision-makers in prison reform
More >>The Need for Change in Prison Design - Friday, May 15, 2009
Correctional facilities tend to have a one size fits all approach to facility design, directly impacting how prisoners are treated.
- The design spaces for male facilities and female facilities are nearly identical and provide minimal positive mental and physical stimulation.
- Costs for security, design and staffing for
How to Cut Prison Costs - Monday, April 13, 2009
The Problem: Rising Prison Costs
- Prison Populations Are Rising. Since 2000, State and Federal prison populations have increased an average of 4.1% annually, almost 32% in eight years.
- 43 States Are Facing Financial Shortfalls. As of March 2009, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities identified
Five Ways to Cut Correctional Facility Construction Costs - Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Priority one for both private and public prison operators today is finding any possible way to cut costs. Here are five strategies prison operators can use to dramatically reduce construction costs:
- Site Optimization - Optimizing the prison's land development plan prior to engaging in facility design can save
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About This Blog
This blog is a collaborative effort of the Justice group at Performa Inc. It is a platform for dialogue and the exploration of issues impacting correctional facilities, detention centers, homeland security facilities and more. The group is led by David Robillard, President of the Performa Justice Team.