Prison Privatization in the United States

Prison Current Issues in the United States Privatization

Introduction to Prison Privatization

Typically, prisons in the United States are operated and funded through taxes either by the states or the federal government. However, chronic prison and jail overcrowding has prompted the growth of prisons-for-profit, privately owned and run prison and jail operations. In 1998 there were 50 privately operated prisons in 15 states. At least 21 states have either established privately operated prisons or have considered legislation permitting their creation. Private prisons are financed and operated just as other for-profit businesses. Governments seeking to house inmates in a private prison typically pay a set amount per day, per prisoner to the company. However, private prisons derive their authority over prisoners from the government and are subject to greater governmental control than many other private corporations.

Privatization of prison services is not new. Private business enterprises have been contracting with prisons and jails for many years to provide goods, services, and prison work programs. Private-enterprise operations in corrections have been particularly noticeable in the juvenile justice system, where minimum-security detention facilities are often privately organized and managed. In recent years, the increase in for-profit prisons, accompanied by the spiraling incarceration rate, has brought more attention to prison privatization.

Opponents of prison privatization raise legal, moral, and ethical objections to for-profit prisons. Some question whether private enterprise can legitimately possess the authority to sanction offenders. Opponents to privatization maintain that only the state has authority to punish criminals, and that the imprisonment of criminals is inherently and exclusively a governmental function. Critics also maintain that private-enterprise officials are not sufficiently accountable for conduct relating to prisoner management and discipline. They fear that profit motives will cause prison administrators to overlook or fail to properly address possible violations of inmates’ rights by private prison staff. Opponents of private prisons also express concern that private interests will exploit prison labor. Finally, critics note that private prison operators have an incentive to increase the number of people imprisoned and to keep inmates in prison longer in order to increase profits.

Supporters of privatization argue that private enterprise can run prison operations more smoothly and effectively than government agencies and at a lower cost. They maintain that government agencies sacrifice efficiency by relying on the sluggish actions of legislatures and other political bodies for appropriations and approval before implementing new policies or engaging in new prison or jail construction. Supporters also claim that the private sector can more effectively negotiate with other private enterprises in the community to furnish necessary goods, services, and programs for offenders.” (1)

Resources

Notes and References

• Information about Prison Privatization in the Encarta Online Encyclopedia

Guide to Prison Privatization

Prison Privatization in the Criminal Justice System

This section covers the topics below related with Prison Privatization :

Corrections

Facilities in relation with Prison Privatization

Prisons

Resources

See Also

• Corrections
• Facilities
• Prisons