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Correctional Facilities

See Operational Savings and Architectural Distinction Come Together - Monday, August 30, 2010

Earlier this month, Performa launched its new site, which allows visitors to visually see how architectural distinction and operational efficiency come together to make facilities that spur business and meet business objectives and goals. The new site makes it easy for visitors to find a facility that demonstrates Performa's

Performa Wins National Competition in GSA's Design Excellence Program - Monday, August 30, 2010

Performa Inc. recently won a national design competition sponsored by the General Service Administration (GSA) to design the new $40 million Land Port of Entry located in Madawaska, Maine.

The Design Excellence Program is the center for GSA’s advocacy of design quality and artistic expression. It establishes nationwide policies

5 Ways to Prevent Conflict in Your Correctional Facility - Thursday, August 26, 2010

Reducing conflict is a sure fire, sustainable way to reduce costs in correctional facilities. Here are five ways to prevent conflict:

Prevent overcrowding: Overcrowding causes several problems for a facility as a whole. More inmates means more costs for healthcare, programming, basic services (hair care, food, laundry...) and

Prevent Overcrowding and Save Money on Staff - Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Cutting programs and trimming staff that only leaves the needed few to deal with a swelled inmate population is a one-sided solution. While cost is saved on the staffing line item, other line items such as facility repair and worker's compensation are slammed with more cost.

Overcrowded conditions stands

Cell Phone Contraband: Adding to Staff Injury - Thursday, August 12, 2010

As the Safe Prisons Communications Act awaits a yea or nay, the problem with cell phones in the hands of inmates is ever-increasing. According to a July New York Times article, "States Seek to Jam Prison Cell Phone Signals," 2009, California confiscated 2,809 cell phones. Federal officials found

Stop the Vicious Staffing Cycle and Cut Costs - Tuesday, August 10, 2010

The costs associated with correctional staffing is a vicious cycle that only results in more cost, if not accounting for the entire problem. Operators dealing with budget cuts have reduced staff, put a freeze on hiring, reduced salaries and benefits and eliminated pay increases. While looking good

Funding and Operating Costs Remain Top Issues Facing Corrections - Wednesday, August 04, 2010

At the ACA 140th Congress of Correction in Chicago, attendees visiting the Performa Inc. booth took an informal survey. We asked them what they thought were the top issues facing corrections in the next 12 months.

Attendees ranked Funding (57%) and Operating Costs (48%) as the top

Prison Overcrowding on the Minds of Attendees at the ACA 2010 Summer Congress of Correction - Tuesday, August 03, 2010

As with the over-exaggerated news of Mark Twain’s death, the stories of the ACA’s Summer Conference’s low attendance has proven to be an exaggeration as well. Not sure whether it is the carnival style venue, Chicago’s Navy Pier, or the state of the industry, underfunded and soft, but

Saving Tip #4: Weigh the Costs of Building New and Reusing What You Already Have - Tuesday, August 03, 2010

$169.4 million for a new facility is a scary number for operators just trying to survive budget and funding cuts. But when comparing that number to the potential operations savings over a period of time, that number becomes more feasible.

For instance, Pennsylvania, when faced with the option of

Saving Tip #3: Avoid Lawsuits - Thursday, July 29, 2010

In California, Lawrence Bittaker sued the state because his cookie was broken. As one of the 40 lawsuits the death row inmate filed, the suit cost the state $4,500 before a judge tossed it out two years later. In a similar situation, Kevin Howard sued the state because he

Discover Site Optimization Techniques at ACA’s 140th Congress of Correction - Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Many operational efficiencies and cost-savings can be won with facility design. At ACA's 140th Congress of Correction, Performa Inc. will show attendees site optimization techniques with three-dimensional models. The techniques are proven to enhance organizational efficiency and reduce operational costs.

The models display

Saving Tip #1: Utilize Your Inmate Workforce - Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Let’s take a look at some of the jobs your current inmate population could be doing:

Forestry
Horticulture
Farming
Construction
Grounds maintenance
On-site food service
Janitorial services
Road work
And in nearly 140 industries nationwide

Significant savings can be seen in prison operations when inmates are

How Have You Helped Your Facility Save Money? Corrections Professionals Share Their Thoughts - Thursday, July 15, 2010

In our recent eBook, So You Don’t Have a Rich Uncle: 9 Fresh Tactics That Combat Funding Shortages, we presented 9 ways to save money. We understand this list is not complete, so we posed the question in the Corrections group on LinkedIn—asking correctional experts how they

Share Your Opinion at ACA's 140th Congress of Correction - Wednesday, July 14, 2010

The inside of a prison affects inmate behavior, prison operations and either enhances or dismisses the mission of the organization. The future of prison design is in the hands of those who are active in corrections today.

Visit Performa, Inc. at ACA's 140th Congress of

Join the Debate: Future of Prison Design - Thursday, July 08, 2010

What do you think the prison of the future will look like? To share your opinion and join the debate, visit Performa, Inc. in booth 200 at the ACA's 140th Congress of Correction held in Chicago, Ill., July 30 to Aug. 4.

Performa's President of the Justice Group,

Get Your Facility Project Started in 4 Steps - Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Too often correctional facility projects begin at a detailed level or use a micro level of analysis . Plans are made. Construction crews begin their work,

The Outsourced Prison Operations and Services Guide - Friday, April 16, 2010

At the 2010 ACA Winter Conference, attendees identified operating costs as the No. 3 issue facing them in 2010. In a recent blog

Learn How to Cut Costs and Optimize Performance - Thursday, April 01, 2010

AS DHS/ICE considers a program to standardize its detention facilities for immigrant detention, one of the agency's major challenges will be coalescing diverse operations, locations and operational philosophies.

How to Develop a Facility Prototype Faster - Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Developing a prototype for a detention or corrections facility is complex and frustrating. It often leads to spending much time, money, resources, and thought. Our white paper, How to Conduct Macro Analysis, offers a method solution to streamline the necessary components of this undertaking

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

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
More >>

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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?

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.

More >>

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

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 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

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

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

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

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,

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Evidence-Based Design Reduces Costs and Increases Effective Outcomes - Tuesday, May 26, 2009

The first noted prison in the newly formed American colonies in 1775 resembled a large house with few restrictions housing both females and males. The lenient character of this first prison reflected the colonists' Calvinist belief that just as sin could not be cured, criminals could not be rehabilitated.

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

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.