Housing inmates in prisons requires substantial resources for security, food, health care and other services. The cost per prisoner varies significantly between facilities and inmate types across the UK. This article examines the average prisoner cost and what factors drive this expenditure.
Average Annual UK Prisoner Cost
The current average cost per prison place in England and Wales is approximately £44,000 per year. Scotland’s rate is around £42,000 annually, while Northern Ireland averages £54,500.
So keeping the over 80,000 inmates in UK prisons costs taxpayers more than £3.5 billion overall each year. Costs have risen sharply from approximately £32,000 per prisoner in 2012.
Key Elements Driving Prisoner Costs
Several core elements make up total inmate costs:
- Staff – Salaries for guards and other staff account for 60-70% of costs. Staff-to-inmate ratios drive this.
- Infrastructure – Building, maintaining and operating prison facilities requires major capital. Older prisons cost more.
- Services and Supplies – Food, medical care, programs, utilities and supplies add up quickly with thousands of prisoners.
- Administration – Oversight, management and regulatory compliance expenses are fixed costs.
Staff wages make up the bulk, but all elements must be adequately funded to humanely and safely house inmates.
Factors Causing Variation in Costs
While the averages cited above provide a baseline, the precise cost per inmate fluctuates widely based on:
Prison Type and Security Level
High-security prisons require more staff and infrastructure, driving costs over £50,000 per inmate. Open prisons can cost under £30,000.
Region and Population Density
Facilities in London and other expensive urban areas have higher costs. Remote rural prisons are often cheaper.
Prison Population Mix
Complex cases like elderly, sick or maximum security prisoners cost much more to house.
Private vs Public Facilities
Private prisons often cost 20-30% less due to lower staff wages and more inmates per cell.
These factors create a wide range around the national average. However, most prisons cost between £35,000-£55,000 per occupant.
Comparing UK and U.S. Prisoner Costs
The table below shows the approximate average prisoner costs in the UK versus the United States:
| Country | Average Annual Cost Per Inmate |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | £40,000-£45,000 |
| United States | $31,000-$60,000 |
So costs are broadly comparable accounting for exchange rates. The U.S. also experiences wide variability based on state, prison type, and other factors.
Can Costs per Prisoner Be Reduced?
The UK has implemented some reforms aimed at cutting inmate costs:
- Reduced staff-to-inmate ratios where safe
- Increased private prisons and contracted services
- Consolidated underutilized prisons
- Limited pay rates for prison work
However, significant savings often require releasing low-risk prisoners earlier through probation or parole. Ultimately there is a baseline cost to providing humane incarceration that is difficult to go below.
Conclusion
The annual cost to incarcerate a single prisoner averages around £40,000-£50,000 in the UK, with significant variation between facilities. Staffing represents the biggest cost factor. While efforts can be made to control expenses, fundamental resource needs and infrastructure requirements establish a minimum cost threshold. Providing safe, humane imprisonment requires substantial taxpayer funds.
FAQs About Prisoner Costs in the UK
Does overcrowding increase or reduce per prisoner costs?
Up to a point it reduces average costs through economies of scale. But severe overcrowding can increase violence and other issues that offset savings.
Are prison education programs a net cost or saver?
Good education programs reduce recidivism, providing long-term savings despite their operational costs.
What are the biggest drivers of rising prisoner costs?
Increased staff wages and benefits, infrastructure upgrades to old prisons, and a higher portion of costly maximum security inmates.
How do medical costs impact overall prisoner spending?
Inmates typically cost around 3x more than standard patients for medical care due to complex health issues. This can represent 5-15% of total costs.
What are the costs of parole and probation versus incarceration?
Supervised release through probation or parole costs about £2,000-£5,000 annually – far less than imprisonment.
Are prisons still subsidized by inmate labor?
Prison work programs used to offset around 10% of costs, but now only offset 1-2% due to minimum wage laws.
How is the UK able to spend less per prisoner than comparable European countries?
The UK has lower prison staff costs compared to countries like Sweden. UK facilities are also often overcrowded.