Pros And Cons Of Private Prisons

Words: 1742
Pages: 7
Open Document
Introduction
Private prisons are those that are privately owned, operated, or managed, under contract to government. No prison today is completely private, in the sense of being independent of government authority, control, and revenue (Logan, 1990). Private prisons now operate only under contract to government (Logan, 1990). Hence, they may often be referred to simply as “contractors,” “vendors,” or “service providers.”
There has been a marked increase in the privatization of correctional facilities during the past 30 years (Armstrong, 2001). The United States (U.S.) already has more than 164 private correctional facilities operated by more than 14 major corporations such as Corrections Corporations of America (CCA) and Wackenhut (Armstrong, …show more content…
Contracting enhances justice by making prison supply more responsive to changes in demand, both upward and downward. Contractual wardens have an incentive to govern inmates fairly in order to enhance their legitimation, induce cooperation, lower costs, and ensure renewal of contracts (Logan, 1990). Contracting, in conjunction with governmental monitoring, adds a new layer of independent review of correctional decisions and actions, thus improving due process.
Cost. One of the most difficult challenges facing corrections agencies is controlling costs without changing the essential character of the system, losing important programming, or neglecting inmates’ general and individual needs (Mays & Winfree, 2013). Contracting allows prisons to be financed, sited, and constructed more quickly and cheaply than government prisons. Contracting discourages waste because prodigality cuts into profits (Logan, 1990). Contracting makes true costs highly visible, allowing them to be analyzed, compared, and adjusted (Logan, 1990). Contracting, through more effective personnel management, better working conditions, and less overcrowding, may increase employee morale and productivity while lowering absenteeism and turnover (Logan, 1990). In every area of contracting out for traditionally government-provided services that has been evaluated, contracting out produces savings of from 10 to 50 percent (Benson, …show more content…
The ongoing problem was, is, and will be institutional crowding. At the end of 2010, 19 states and the federal government reported inmate populations over their highest rated capacity (the number of inmates that the facility can hold at a maximum), and 25 states and the federal government exceed their lowest rated capacity (the number of inmates that the facility should hold for maximum operational efficiency and effectiveness) (Mays & Winfree, 2013). Overall, state prisons were operating at one percent under their highest rated capacity and nine percent above their lowest rated capacity in 2010; the federal prison system was at 36 percent above their capacity (Mays & Winfree, 2013). Contractors can help alleviate today’s capacity crisis by building new prisons faster than the government can. Contracting facilitates the distribution of inmates across agencies or jurisdictions, thereby maintaining occupancy rates at an efficient level (Logan,
Show More

Related Documents: Pros And Cons Of Private Prisons

The Pros And Cons Of Private Prisons

United States doesn’t have worse people nor do we have a lower moral code, the system has just been ruined by the privatization of our criminals. Contract prisons or private prisons were started in the 1980’s under the guise that private operations are considerably more efficient than government ones. The most publicized and largest contract prison firm was born out of this, CCA, or Corrections Corporation of America. Originally CCA, which was founded in 1983, was not as lucrative as they had originally…

Words 1550 - Pages 7

Dental Hygienist

I enjoy working with my hands, helping people, being creative and being a great leader. The Dentistry field has always had this certain appeal to me. As a kid I grew to know the importance of good oral health, and I believe that is where my passion for dental hygiene started. I had the pleasure of visiting Charity Alexander- Williams my dental hygiene to inquire about the dental hygiene profession: her experience, the demands, and etc. Charity has been a practicing Dental Hygienist for 4 years…

Words 704 - Pages 3

Juvenile Justice Essay example

their actions. So instead of ringing them through the rough and brutal normal criminal justice system. We have made a softer and gentler system (processes) for minors called Juvenile Justice. Today we will be discussing the process and the actual pro and cons of the system. The first juvenile court was established in 1899 in Chicago before that anyone who is under the age of 17 was placed in the same system as an adult. Research done by Psychologist established that children don't need to be in…

Words 1073 - Pages 5

Essay on HA545 UNIT4

Unit 4 Assignment HA545: Unit 4: Project July 7, 2015 Prof. Cardell Bell Attala Young Introduction For many years there have been several discussions about the pros and cons with the use of marijuana. Many states and government have protested the use of cannabis. It has been declared illegal and is harmful to individuals’ health. Many drugs have been tested to prove if usage is harmful or safe. However, cannabis has not been put through the trial of determining its safety…

Words 2496 - Pages 10

Barriers: Criminal Law and States Plea Deal Essay

to a misdemeanor if Frye would plead guilty and agree to a 90-day sentence. The lawyer, however, never informed his client of the offer, and when it expired, an uninformed Frye pleaded guilty with no conditions and was sentenced to three years in prison, more than 10 times the plea bargain offer. (NPR) In this particular case the lawyer provided ineffective legal assistance. For this reason maybe the lawyer knew that the defendant was going to do the same thing again or the defense lawyer wanted…

Words 1097 - Pages 5

Pros And Cons Of Interracial Families

Purpose: The purpose of writing this research report is to better understand the trials and tribulations interracial couples and families face. 1. Love knows no boundaries 2. Pros & Cons 3. Experiences Findings: 1. Love knows no boundaries There are no boundaries when it comes to love; not race, religion, culture, gender, etc. The only reason these “boundaries” have ever existed is because society has helped create them. Allowing society to create these labels that segregate everyone is the reason…

Words 2489 - Pages 10

Death Penalty Essay

Just and Applied Fairly? I. What is the death penalty? a. Capital Punishment b. Fifth Amendment II. History a. Babylonia B.C. b. First execution in the colonies c. First woman to be executed III. Pros a. Eye for an eye b. Closure c. Getting rid of evil d. Deter crime IV. Cons a. Discriminatory b. Risk of executing the innocent V. Statistics a. By year b. By state VI. Alternatives to the Death Penalty a. Life Sentence VII. Death Penalty here to stay a. Crimes Is the Death…

Words 1276 - Pages 6

Are Zoos Captive?

Zoos are for recreational purposes and entertainment (“Occupy Theory” par. 10). “No one really goes to visit the zoos with the same mentality people visit the museum with,” says the author of Occupy Theory List of Pros and Cons of Zoos. Another reason zoos are not successful in education is due to the fact patrons take minimal time to stop and read what little information is given about the animals. “Visitors spend on average 10-117 seconds at each exhibit,” announces…

Words 1454 - Pages 6

Fidel Castro: Allegory Of George Orwell's Animal Farm

was quickly halted when Batista cancelled the election, assuming supreme control over the Cuban government. In 1953 Castro gathered 120 guerillas and planned to attack a Moncada army barracks. This assault failed and Castro got sentenced 15 years in prison. Castro got out in 1955 and traveled to Mexico where he met Ernesto Che Guevara and planned to overthrow Batista. Castro and his men became anti-Batista movements. Batista started losing power quickly. A year after Castro and 80 plus men sailed on…

Words 1005 - Pages 5

Essay about Juvenile And Gang Violence 1

Abstract In today’s society juveniles are at the forefront of the majority of major crimes. While many individuals feel that it is necessary that we continuously give them chances at one point have they gone too far? Juveniles no longer seek the admiration of their parents or their positive peers they are looking for the respect that they do not want earn in a positive way. They are willing to take it. It is due to this fact that juveniles should be sentences in the same manner as adults and if…

Words 3377 - Pages 14