Fewer cons, higher costs at city lockups

The cost of operating the city’s jails has hit a record $1.36 billion — even as the inmate population reached a low of 9,500, Comptroller Scott Stringer said in a study released Tuesday.

The average cost of housing each inmate has risen to $143,130 a year — an 8.5 percent increase between fiscal 2016 and 2017.

Just three years earlier in 2014, when Mayor de Blasio first took office, the cost was $96,237 annually.

Stringer’s study also pointed out that there are now 10,862 uniformed correction officers patrolling the city’s jails — more than the number of inmates.

Despite the heavy manpower, overtime reached $266 million in fiscal 2017, nearly double the $139 million spent just three years earlier.

“An extraordinary decline in inmates should yield cost-savings and better all-around outcomes — not dramatic spending increases. That’s what’s so alarming about the numbers,” said Stringer.

His analysis also showed increases in the rate of fights and assaults among inmates, as well as attacks on staff.

City Hall spokeswoman Natalie Grybauskas defended the costs, saying the higher spending was helping to turn around the troubled jails system.

“We’re proud of our success in reducing the jail population, and we’re proud of the reforms that have made Rikers safer for staff and inmates,” she said.

“Our investments in safety and skills development for staff and inmates cost money but have been key in improving conditions in our jails.”