tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651375935571245232.post1978282938784553863..comments2024-01-08T14:16:44.697-08:00Comments on Mark's rants and raves: Hard TimeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06916901728508991420noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651375935571245232.post-66093368826716451852010-02-02T08:00:18.925-08:002010-02-02T08:00:18.925-08:00Anonymous- Did I just receive a scolding? I guess ...Anonymous- Did I just receive a scolding? I guess I stand corrected. Thanks for the informative comment. My point basically was, it's an unusual place to house prisoners. At least I thought so.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06916901728508991420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651375935571245232.post-20416712681196776452010-02-02T03:07:09.631-08:002010-02-02T03:07:09.631-08:00At a cost of $161 million to build, or $201,250 pe...At a cost of $161 million to build, or $201,250 per bed, the Vernon C. Bain Center (aka VCBC and formerly the Maritime Facility III, or MTF 3)is so costly as a pre-trial jail that I don't think too many coastal jurisdictions will opt for it as a reasonable alternative to a permanent, land-based jail.<br /><br />Its distance from any courthouse, like the jails on Rikers Island, make transporting defendants to hearings and trials a logistical and budgetary nightmare. <br /><br />The predecessor MTFs were a converted troop transport used by the British during the Falkland/Malvines Islands War and Staten Island Ferry boats that were diverted from the scrap heap to warehouse inmates at docks on Rikers Island and Manhattan. The problems maintaining those boats were so severe that they were eventually abandoned as soon as the jail population declined from its high point of 22,000 in the early 1990's to its current level of about 14,000.<br /><br />The idea for these boats came originally, not from the Giuliani Administration, but from the Koch Administration in reaction to court orders to reduce overcrowding in the jails that led to a release of about 600 misdemeanants in 1983, after which Mayor Koch vowed to avoid future releases by building as many jails as necessary. However, when the jail population skyrocketted in the 1980s from under 10,000 to 22, 000, the City had to scramble to construct or acquire any kind of jail space that they could get their hands on.<br /><br />Hence, the jail budget in NYC is about $1 billion per year, give or take.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651375935571245232.post-50416268016615166572010-01-31T15:35:02.091-08:002010-01-31T15:35:02.091-08:00Fascinating! Wonder if the idea will catch on.Fascinating! Wonder if the idea will catch on.dcpeghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06717760056852737076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651375935571245232.post-45819414572788024812010-01-31T11:20:13.082-08:002010-01-31T11:20:13.082-08:00actually....if you love water, could it be any wor...actually....if you love water, could it be any worse than a regular prison ?<br /><br />think of the water views and a little rocking to help you sleep at night.....<br /><br />and basketball outside with a water view....better than the views at the regular prison.....<br /><br />and if you're a good swimmer, just think of all the daydreaming you'd have of your prison escape by being able to hold your breath for 5 minutes...they probably time each other during their lunch breaks with this activity...."oh that joe, there he goes again turning blue, but hey, he had the best time of 3 minutes and 45 seconds"<br /><br />OH....there I go again....trying to the see positive in everything :)bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11094533582512917616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651375935571245232.post-58737193417305845042010-01-31T07:18:18.010-08:002010-01-31T07:18:18.010-08:00Mark, this is something i did not know! A floating...Mark, this is something i did not know! A floating prison eh? I would be in the same frame of mind as you if i was a inmate there! As well of basketball games maybe swimming lessons? Hope all is well for you Mark and have a good week!clairedulalunehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13016107591509306202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651375935571245232.post-75076208908502794552010-01-31T05:15:05.114-08:002010-01-31T05:15:05.114-08:00I had no idea ....I have to say it's a brillia...I had no idea ....I have to say it's a brilliant idea.Formerly known as Frauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12798890008067408048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651375935571245232.post-53381833901528675252010-01-31T02:53:15.499-08:002010-01-31T02:53:15.499-08:00Hmmm! Now that is weird! A prison barge?? Amazi...Hmmm! Now that is weird! A prison barge?? Amazing! And you are so right. I can only imagine the look on their faces when they see their new "home"!?! LOL!! Well, at least they have some amenities. Basket ball courts indeed?!<br />Hugs<br />SueAnnSueannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05299288406218968621noreply@blogger.com