Last week we were asked to present our secure Internet access services to a local prison. The Warden was in attendance and before we got started he declared, “I just want you to know we don’t have budget for whatever it is you’re selling.” Hmmmm. That’s a different mind-set than what we are used to.
When we sell our cyber security solutions into businesses, one of the driving questions is, “How will this help my bottom line.” With capital expenditures in business, if an investment is going to save money and increase profitability, monies can typically be found or raised depending on the short, near or long term implications of the project.
Time for some math: Alaska, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont all currently have annual per inmate costs over $50,000. Individuals taking educational courses in prison are 43% percent less likely to be re-incarcerated. Recidivism rates in the United States currently sit at around 50%. So any expenditure of less than $10,750 per inmate ($50,000 x .43 x .50) is going to pay dividends in the long run.
With an eye on ROI, strained budgets can be augmented via government, second chance or even church provided grants in order to reduce future costs and ultimately reduce budgets or free up monies for additional needs.
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