Jail Management: Should We Privatize?

• NCJ Number: 168262
• Journal: Sheriff Volume: 48 Issue: 4 Dated: (July-August 1996) Pages: 12,46
• Author(s): C S Casey
• Date Published: 1996
• Length: 2 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article categorizes various government services and suggests which categories should and should not be privatized.

Abstract

Government officials who are developing standards for the allocation of funds can divide government services into three basic categories: primary, secondary, and discretionary. Primary services are those that pertain to the government's obligation to protect its citizens. These services are required by the State and Federal constitutions and pertain to an individual's civil rights, liberty, and justice. By their very nature, these services often are required to impinge upon or take away the rights of citizens through the direct application of physical force. Services such as the military, the judicial system, law enforcement, and corrections are the only ones entrusted to exercise such power. These services should only be provided by individuals who are directly answerable for their actions or inactions to the people who placed them in office. Government cannot be released from its primary service responsibilities through contract or any other means. Secondary services are those services that, although not required by the State and Federal constitutions, are generally provided by government for the efficient operation of society. These services tend to benefit all citizens and do not involve placing restrictions on the liberty citizens enjoy. In some cases, these services should be privatized if private firms can offer the same quality of service at a lower cost. These would include services such as airports, ambulance service, education, cable television, fire suppression, and hospitals. Discretionary services are those services that are not required by the State and Federal constitutions and generally do not provide a benefit for all citizens. These services tend to address the needs of special interest groups and should be privatized if the government chooses to continue to provide them and a private firm can provide the same quality of service at a reduced cost.