Case-oriented Paper
Journal of the Operational Research Society (2000) 51, 1228–1237. doi:10.1057/palgrave.jors.2601021
An analytic model for capacity planning of prisons in the Netherlands
R Korporaal1, A Ridder2, P Kloprogge3 and R Dekker1
- 1Erasmus Universiteit, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- 2Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- 3Point Logic Systems, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Correspondence: Dr R Dekker, Econometrisch Instituut, Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam, PO Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands. E-mail: rdekker@few.eur.nl
Received March 1999; Accepted April 2000.
Abstract
In this paper we describe a decision support system developed to help in assessing the need for various types of prison cells. In particular we predict the probability that a criminal has to be sent home because of a shortage of cells. The problem is modelled through a queuing network with blocking after service. The main objective of our study is to describe our analytical method and an approximate algorithm to solve this network. Through simulation studies we evaluate our method. Both the analytic and the simulation tool are elements of the decision support system.
Keywords:
capacity planning, prisons, queuing network, approximate algorithm
