Capital District Regional Planning Commission

Capital District Facility Will Have the Lowest Total Cost

The Capital District Regional Planning Commission today released its analysis which compared the per diem costs of the proposed Regional Juvenile Secure Detention Center to the costs of the existing juvenile secure detention facilities in New York State. The analysis shows that the Capital District facility will have the lowest total cost for the four counties -- Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady -- if transportation expenses are included.

At present, all four counties must transport juvenile offenders awaiting adjudication to one of the six facilities in distant counties, ranging from 130 miles for Westchester County to 290 miles for Erie County.

Each juvenile case requires a minimum of two round trips and each trip requires two deputy sheriffs or probation officers. Typically, a portion of most trips must be billed at overtime wage rates. Because of the extensive staff time required and higher transportation expenses, the analysis shows that it will cost a county from the Capital District more than $3,240 to house a juvenile offender at the Erie County facility for ten days of detention compared to only $2,360 for the proposed local facility.

Assuming occupancy rates between 90% and 100%, the estimated per diem rates of the 16-bed Regional facility will range from $256 to $230.

"There is no question that this Regional facility will be the most cost effective alternative for the four counties, in addition to many other benefits," stated Ralph Comanzo, Chairman of CDRPC, who is also the Majority Leader of the Schenectady County Legislature. CDRPC began the Juvenile Secure Detention Center study four years ago and has been asked by the four counties to prepare an action plan for project implementation.

"So many local and State officials and professionals have contributed their ideas and efforts to make this project a very innovative one. A Regional approach and privatization are the hallmarks of the project. The facility will not only save the Region's counties money, but will also be a state-of-the art new building to be operated under new management concepts," said Paul O'Brien, a member of CDRPC from Albany County and President of the Capital District Youth Center, Inc., which was jointly created by the four counties and CDRPC eighteen months ago to carry out the plan.

The Regional Detention Center will be built on a 4-acre County-owned site behind the Albany County Correctional Facility off Albany-Shaker Road in the Town of Colonie. The CDYC Board has selected Berkshire Farm Center & Services for Youth of Canaan, New York as the operator of the facility.

"I am very pleased to see that our local government leaders have worked together to bring this much needed Regional facility to fruition. The interests of the Region's communities and welfare of accused juveniles will be well served by this facility," stated Anthony Cardona, Presiding Justice of Appellate Division of the State Supreme Court and a former Albany County Family Court Judge.

Source: New York State Division for Youth
Prepared by the Capital District Regional Planning Commission

1. Trip costs include wages, mileage, tolls, and meals. Trip costs may vary from county to county due to different wage rates. Typically, a portion of most trips was billed at overtime rates. Personal fringe benefits and overnight lodging costs were not included.
2. Each juvenile case requires a minimum of two round trips and each trip requires two deputy sheriffs or probation officers.
3. The estimated $230 per diem rate at 100% occupancy for the Capital District Detention Center represents approximately $29.30 in capital costs (principal & interest payments), $3.00 in start-up costs, and $197.50 in operational costs.
4. Despite its small size, the Capital District Detention Center will have the lowest total cost to the four counties if transportation costs are included.

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