加州監獄人滿為患。上次因為實在人太多，隻得把幾百個性罪犯提前釋放。經過加州同學的抗議，現在決定把輕罪犯送到別的州教養。是這樣的，加州同學給罪犯們每人每天出150美元，算是買了份安全。這些錢送到別家大人那裏讓他們嚴加管教。別家拿了這150美元，每人每天，正琢磨著怎樣加蓋監獄。在沒加蓋前也不想放棄這筆收入。但是每家都沒有空餘的牢房，所以為了多賺錢，說不得隻得學加州以前樣，提前釋放輕罪犯。有了前車之鑒，不能把他們直接放入社會，所以就讓他們到halfway house過渡一下。
這筆帳是這樣的。本地監獄從加州接一個人，賺150美元，放一個人給halfway house，男犯付65美元，女犯付85美元。政府一轉手就賺了每人每天75美元。halfway house有武裝門衛，隻有去見管教幹部，去見谘詢人員，去工作，才能在登記以後出外。一般是每間宿舍8-16張床鋪，bunk beds。每個house 8-10個宿舍。加上活動室，大廳，圖書館，教室，辦公室等等占一半麵積。halfway house一般是由倉庫改成，沒有任何窗子。監獄會每天派護士和谘詢專家到場坐班。
經濟賬是這樣的。首先是房屋。倉庫8000尺，capacity 100人，價格40萬，加上按要求要加裝玻璃天蓬，谘詢下來5-8萬。每天每人1美元。insurance+property tax 大約一年6500元。liability insurance可能高些，但不會超過每人每天1元。utility cost 每人每天2元。每天的夥食是由catering公司提供的。我跟一個中餐館谘詢過了。如果每頓都給中國炒飯的話，一天夥食開銷每人7元。如果吃得精致些，那麽每人每天12-15元。加上其他日用品，每人每天2元。清潔工每天工資25元，門衛24小時240元，second門衛12小時，120元，經理8小時120元，武裝教員5人，16小時1600元，合計每人每天21元。總計，每人每天費用34-42美元。收入75美元。盈利每人每天33-41多美元。
前期投入10萬down payment，加上維修費10萬，槍械設備5萬。共計25萬。盈利是35×100×365=128萬。ROI=500%。
入門門檻：1。需要有前警察參與。2。要有group dwelling license。3。人員資格培訓。
小蜜剛發過來的proposal：
4.0 The Merits of the Proposed Halfway House
Acetone Foundation (AF) is a non-profit organization. AF is proposing to establish a halfway home of 88 people in downtown area to complement the existing state and local law enforcement facilities and efforts. The halfway house is to temporarily house released inmates for a transition period of 3-6 months for them to start to reintegrate their life with the society.
4.1 The Need of a Halfway House
The population in jails and prisons suggested that there is a need for halfway houses. There are two reasons. First, the existing correction facilities can trade their capacity with federal prisons and supervise their less serious offenders in halfway houses. There is a cost difference that is around $50 per bed × day. The total number of people in custody in the state is about 50 thousands (see section 2.2). A lot of them can be put on various work program and placed in halfway houses. Currently about 9% detainees in the nation are put into these programs (see section 2.1). If the correction facilities place about 1000 people (2% of the detainees) in work programs, it will save the correction department about 50,000 dollars per day, 18.25 million dollars per year. For every 100 people more placement, the correction facility will save 1.8 million dollars per year.
Second, we have surveyed the existing facilities in three Counties. There are 3 small facilities in the S County, and none in W and D counties. Therefore, there is a need for such facilities in W and D Counties.
A previous facility held up to 88 people supervised by the local law enforcement facilities. It was closed about 2 years ago. The director of the facility told us that when it is in operation, the 88 beds were always taken with no vacancy.
4.2 Merit of a Halfway House
Crime fighting merit: Studies show that a halfway home can lower the returning rate of former inmates. The proposed halfway house will help the state and local law enforcement agencies to control crime rate, reduce incarceration rate, and lower the returning rate. Especially, we want to provide a full spectrum of education programs in the proposed halfway house, in addition to its basic rooming, boarding, counseling, and supervising functions. We will teach skills in good behavior, group working, and anger management.
State and local budget merit: See Section 3.1.
Economical merit: The education function of the proposed halfway home also involves the teaching of basic job skills that will greatly help the residents to reintegrate with the society. Some proposals include an in-house library, newspaper readership, book clubs, and computer skills. Our goal is to establish a model halfway home that will prepare the inmates to become a contributing citizen to the society.
The proposed halfway home will create 12 direct jobs as staff workers. There are three shifts each day and we need some staff to fill swing shifts. It also creates a number of indirect jobs. Counselors from the Human Service Department of the County are often stationed inside such a facility. We also need local food services to provide food for residents. We need cleaning service periodically. We also create construction jobs as we maintain, repair and upgrade the facilities. The proposed halfway home also creates induced jobs. Induced jobs are generated because of the establishment of the new halfway home that increases the local population, and then store traffic. For example, such induced positions include jobs in local supermarkets and home improvement stores.
