Government Releases Official Price Tag for Federal Prison Stay
Published Date: 12/15/2025
Notice
Summary
The Bureau of Prisons just announced the average cost to keep a federal inmate locked up for FY 2024. It costs about $47,162 per year (or $129.21 per day) for inmates in regular prisons, and $43,703 per year (or $119.73 per day) for those in halfway houses. This update affects federal inmates and anyone tracking incarceration expenses starting December 15, 2025.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
COIF for Federal Prison Inmates
If you are a federal inmate or you track federal incarceration costs, the Bureau of Prisons set the FY2024 Cost of Incarceration Fee (COIF) at $47,162 per year, which is $129.21 per day for inmates housed in Bureau or non‑Bureau facilities. This COIF figure is published from FY2024 data and is effective December 15, 2025 (FY2024 had 366 days).
COIF for Residential Reentry Centers
If you are a federal inmate in a Residential Reentry Center (halfway house) or you track those costs, the Bureau of Prisons set the FY2024 COIF at $43,703 per year, which is $119.73 per day. This COIF figure is published from FY2024 data and is effective December 15, 2025 (FY2024 had 366 days).
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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