Private Prisons essays

Private Prisons essays In recent decades, there has been a trend developing in America towards the privatization of Americas prisons. Independent companies have contracted, built and staffed prisons in several different states instead of having the government in control of these facilities. There is still much uncertainty, however, if private prisons will be able to succeed. Some companies have failed while others cling to mediocre revenues. Some people believe that these measures will save taxpayers money while other are afraid that private prisons have no real interest in rehabilitating prisoners. Why have prisons been moving into private hands in this modern era? The most obvious answer would come from simple economics. If a business feels that there a profit to be made, even in an area that is usually thought of as a part of the public sector, it will try to get its foot in the door and make that profit. There is also a feeling among many people that public-run institutions are not cost efficient. People theorize that if a private company were to control certain institutions that they can remove the bureaucratic red tape and run a more cost-effective and efficient business. This theory is just one that supporters of the privatization of the prison system support. One major flaw of such a system is that if these prisons are being built in order to make money for a company, then the prison has less desire to get rid of its workforce. An ideal privately run prison would have to be one that is packed with able-bodied workers. For these prisons there would be less desire to release inmates early, which would make good time given to inmates something that is less desired. Even this flaw, at least presently, as revoking "good time" is a punishment used in only about 10 percent of cases. The government retains control of parole decisions and the authority to take away good time, which accrues automatically unless revoked b...