https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/24/nyregion/citys-annual-cos...
> New York State was the most expensive, with an average cost of $60,000 per prison inmate. [New York City] paid $167,731 to feed, house and guard each inmate last year, according to a study the Independent Budget Office released this week.
The governor proposed free community college for inmates, citing drastic reductions in recidivism rates - it would've paid for itself many times over - but voters flipped out.
Food, shelter, plumbing, facilities upkeep, medical/psychological care, and very high security costs? That really isn't a surprising figure. Prison are incredibly expensive. It's a great argument for minimizing prison populations to only people that pose immediate threats to others and focusing as much as possible on reducing recidivism.