How Dangerous are Privatized Prisons to Society As a Whole?
The initial idea may seem plausible due to slightly lower cost, but when we take a look at the facts the consequences are frightening.
On average privately run prisons are $20 cheaper per inmate per day, which would be equivalent to over 40 million dollars per day in savings if prisons were completely privatized. This fact alone is enough for many politicians and law makers to be in support of the implementation of these private prisons, but this statistic doesn't address the consequences that private prisons have. Like any other major construction project, the investors and companies building and maintaining these private prisons must have a degree of certainty that they will recoup their original investment and make profit thereafter. The companies will typically enter into a contract with the states or federal government, and in that contract is where the danger lies.
A stipulation that is present in nearly every private prison contract is a commitment by the government to keep the prison a certain percentage full. Typically between 70-90% full.
When we look at this from the perspective of the companies, it is clear that this is how they guarantee a return and profits off of their investments. These types of stipulations make the construction and investment into the private prison industry relatively risk-free. This is also the aspect that is never discussed publicly, because these types of inmate population requirements give incentive for the prison industry to advocate longer sentences. Since 1989, the two biggest private prison organizations have given over 10 million dollars to candidates and spent in excess of 25 million dollars on their lobbying efforts. Private prison companies are allowed to have indirect access and influence on legislation regarding mandatory minimum sentencing, inmates serving more of their sentence before they are eligible for parole, and other "tough on crime" legislation.
Any type of justice reform is directly against the interests of the prison industry.
Has any legislator or politician truly thought about the idea of allowing companies to profit directly off of the punishment and incarceration of its own citizens? As nearly everyone knows, corporations and institutions play a huge role in politics and governance, but allowing for companies to directly attempt to combat any forms of legislation that may work against their own interests is extremely dangerous in regards to prisons. The dangers that private prisons pose for society are abundant, but the consequences to the inmates of the private prison are the greatest.
How do these private prisons stay cheaper? They cut costs in staff, food, and medical personnel/equipment.
There is no incentive for a prison company to offer "reasonable" accommodations that are typically provided by government run prisons unless they absolutely have to. Numerous private prisons have been shown on numerous occasions to stay profitable by cutting costs by means of having thess than the required guards and staff, which in turn decreases an inmate's ability to get help with a situation if they need it, such as medical attention. Compared to government run prisons, private prisons have significantly higher rate of medical neglect claims.
In 2014 CCA (Corrections Corporation of America) released the following statement in their annual report that seems to validate the dangers of private prisons.
"The demand for our facilities and services could be adversely affected by the relaxation of enforcement efforts, leniency in conviction or parole standards and sentencing practices or through the decriminalization of certain activities that are currently proscribed by our criminal laws. For instance, any changes with respect to drugs and controlled substances or illegal immigration could affect the number of persons arrested, convicted, and sentenced, thereby potentially reducing demand for correctional facilities to house them. … Legislation has been proposed in numerous jurisdictions that could lower minimum sentences for some non-violent crimes and make more inmates eligible for early release based on good behavior."
Do people realise how dangerous it is for this type of stance is for all individuals in society? This statement bluntly states that even leniency with small infractions is directly against the interests of the prison company. Money and profit should have absolutely nothing to do with decisions regarding taking months and years of a citizens life away. Politicians have largely began to view prisoners as just a number, but they have forgotten that every single one of those individuals is a unique person with a unique story. When we are discussing incarcerating even a single individual, we better have a good and justified reason behind doing it.
I hope that this post may have given you a new perspective to consider or validated the opinion you had. Please consider following and liking this post if you enjoyed this content! Any comments, discussions, or criticisms are welcomed below! Thanks for reading.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/opensecrets-blog/spotlight-on-private-pris_b_11663348.html
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I think that no profit motive should ever be allowed in any aspect of a prison system. I don't think any government can ever be trusted to run a prison system competently. I don't have another option.
Privatization will always lead to more people being imprisoned.
The only thing that gives me pause in this whole situation is, everyone I've asked, who has spent time in jail or prison, which one they would choose, if they had only those two options, has said they would choose privately run prison, hands down, every time.
wow, I have no experiance with prison but I could assume that the employees at a private prison may be a bit more lax, but again that's simple a guess. I agree with you that profit motive allowed in the business of locking people up has no chance for a beneficial outcome.
Luckily, I don't have personal experience, but if you want to learn about prison, without being in prison, there is no substitute for talking to people who've been there. From what I've learned, the way they are portrayed in the media is blatant deception.
Allowing the state to lock people up is not strictly a profit motive, but there is an aspect of protecting personal job security to it, which ends up amounting to the same thing. From my personal experience on the outside, government employees are not usually the nicest people. Add that to the people who end up in prison, who are not exactly the cream of the crop, and it probably can't go anywhere good.
Imagine adding together the DMV, the TSA, and a whole lot of convicted criminals, who were so bad they couldn't even plead down to probation, then lock them all in a steel and concrete box and feed them diets that aggravate their personality issues. I think I'll pass on all of that.
Haha me as well. I definitely think that the motives behind mass incarceration spring from so many things it;s impossible to name any specific reason. The motives for even state run prisons are also a very valid point that I had not considered.
I'm open to any other options. There is a percentage of people that it is not wise to just let run amok. I don't now, but I did live in a place a few years ago where I had to sleep with a gun under my pillow. Some places in the world are not safe. Some people are not intelligent enough to recognize the value of being peaceful. I wish this were otherwise.
I agree with you about that. There is a percentage of people in prison that deserve and should be there for societies best interests. But there are also an abundance of nonviolent offenders given lengthy mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses that would be better in a place other than prison for the lengthy sentences.
I absolutely agree, there are unjust laws and people in prison who have no business being there. We also have an entrenched bureaucracy, and an irretrievably corrupt government. What to do, what to do? What if we could release all the nonviolent drug offenders, and replace them with anyone in government who has any authority at all? It would be a start.
There was a poll, a while ago, the outcome of which said that a majority of Americans thought they would be better served by people randomly chosen from the phone book than what we have now. I think we would be better served by people randomly selected from among the prison population, than what we have now.
Well put...there's already evidence that shows how innocent people, or people guilty of virtually harmless crimes are being targeted for profit. Upvoted & followed.
"Privatization" where government grants some cronies a slice of the political plunder pie is as antithetical to liberty as a government monopoly, with the added cancerous effect that idiots think this "privatization" somehow proves that free markets are a corrupt failure.
If there is no victim, there is no crime. If there is a victim, justice demands restitution. The modern law enforcement, court, and prison system has no bearing whatsoever on justice.
Brilliant article !
Thanks for reading, Glad you enjoyed it!
very well stated.
Let me add a couple of points
And that company used to throw some lavish Christmas parties with the taxpayer's money.
Bookmarked and resteemed
Thanks for your input and support. Great points you presented, especially the long term consequences of privatization from kickbacks.