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Private Prisons
RainmakerLaganelli
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 12-18 months
Cost Savings - 5-20 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
Statistics
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 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
oaNTd5flSxg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
vyomAb1BrGw Lobbying- the act of attempting to
influence decisions made by officials in the government