Private Prisons Rainmaker Laganelli

Issues Cost benefits Human rights Transparency effect

Background Individuals are physically confined or interned by a third party that is contracted by a government agency Pay a per diem or monthly rate for each prisoner confined in the facility Debate: whether private-sector involvement in corrections should be increased

History After the American Revolution, the contracting out of confinement and care of prisoners After the Civil War, farmers and businessmen needed to find replacements for the labor force once their slaves had been freed. 1868: convict leases were issued to private parties to supplement their workforce

History 1980’s: War on Drugs caused prison overcrowding and rising costs private-sector involvement in prisons moved from the simple contracting of services to contracting for the complete management and operation of entire prisons

History 1984: CCA was awarded a contract to take over a facility in Hamilton County, Tennessee first time that any gov had contracted out the complete operation of a jail to a private operator As of December 2000, there were 153 private correctional facilities (prisons, jails and detention centers)

Proponent Arguments “Private prisons put fresh air into the often inefficient, inhumane and corrupt system of federal, state and local correctional institutions”- CCA Cost savings Good security Flexibility

Opponent Arguments Is it worth opening the doors to potential prisoner abuse and reduced spending for education, medical care, food and guard training--all in the name of making a profit? Arguments: Issues as the transfer of services from public to private The potential decline in the quality of inmate services The propriety of private-sector operation of private facilities The legal liability surrounding privatization.

CCA Corrections Corporation of America Support private prisons Arguments: High Standards Speed - can design, build and begin operating a new partnership prison in months Cost Savings percent Flexibility – gives prisoners liberties Teatment and Rehabilitation Give security good training

ACLU American Civil Liberties Union Against Private Prisons Beliefs: Rob individuals of certain liberties and freedoms Affects colored people more than whites Corrupt: owners are getting money for the number of prisoners

Statistics

Recent Developments Illinois (1990) New York (2000) Lousianna (2001) enacted laws that ban the privatization of prisons, correctional facilities and any services related to their operation. 2001: Nebraska legislation required private prisons to meet public prison standards pocket-vetoed by the governor. 2005: Oklahoma passed a law that requires private prisons to have emergency plans in place

Recent Developments 2004:Israeli passed a law permitting the establishment of private prisons save money by transferring prisoners to facilities managed by a private firm. the human rights department challenged the law with two arguments 1- transferring prison powers to private hands would violate the prisoners' fundamental human rights to liberty and dignity. 2 - a private organization always aims to maximize profit, and would therefore seek to cut costs by, for instance, skimping on prison facilities and paying its guards poorly, thus further undermining the prisoners' rights Israeli Supreme Court ruled that privately run prisons are unconstitutional. They violate the prisoners' basic human rights to dignity and freedom

Political Parties Democrats- opponents Republicans- proponents

Discussion Td5flSxg Td5flSxg mAb1BrGw mAb1BrGw Lobbying- the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government