Massachusetts May Turn Ship Into Prison
Massachusetts is considering using a ship as a floating prison to relieve overcrowding.
The ship would be converted to hold 600 to 800 inmates, Public Safety Commissioner Thomas C. Rapone said. It would be used for state and county prisoners.
Whereas it took 2 1/2 years to build the new Suffolk County Jail in Boston, a prison ship could be ready in six to 10 months and would cost one-third less to build, officials said. At the end of March, state prisons were operating at 173% of capacity.
New York City has had four floating jails for five years and plans to add a fifth, an 800-bed barge, in February.
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