An Overview of the Construction Grant Program

The Corrections Standards Authority (CSA), formerly known as the Board of Corrections (BOC) administers federally and state funded construction projects. In terms of federal dollars, the Violent Offender Incarceration and Truth-in-Sentencing (VOI/TIS) Incentive Grant Program funds local adult and juvenile facility construction.  State funded projects have been supported through the General Fund.

VOI/TIS Incentive Grant Program: Under this federal grant program, from 1997-2002 all states were eligible to receive annual formula-driven grants for local adult and juvenile detention facility construction. Federal law allows up to 15 percent of a state’s grant to be used for adult and juvenile detention facility construction by counties. States may declare "exigent circumstances" in order to allocate more than 15 percent to counties, but exigent circumstances funds can only be used for local juvenile facility construction.

Since 1997, the Legislature has appropriated over $318 million in federal VOI/TIS funds to the CSA for distribution to counties on a competitive basis for local adult jail and juvenile detention facility construction.  The vast majority of money ($280 million) was appropriated to build or expand local juvenile detention facilities as a result of the Legislature's declaration of exigent circumstances.   All state appropriations of VOI/TIS funds are subject to the availability of funds and reflect annual federal funding determinations/adjustments. All VOI/TIS funds have been appropriated and allocated. There are no further federal funds expected to be available to states under this program. All construction projects are slated to be completed by 2007.

State Funded Construction Projects:  Since FY 1998/99, the Legislature has appropriated $172 million from the General Fund for competitive grants supporting the renovation, reconstruction, construction, and replacement of county juvenile facilities and the performance of deferred maintenance. Since federal construction grant funds are limited to adding bed space and related support space, this provides counties with needed renovation and deferred maintenance funds not otherwise available. All state funds have been appropriated and allocated. All construction projects are slated to be completed by 2007.