NCJ Number
111864
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 49 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1985) Pages: 11-16
Date Published
1985
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article focuses on the question of whether the complete operations of facilities should be turned over to the private sector.
Abstract
Due to increasing inmate populations and costs, and the lack of public confidence in the quality of services provided, privatization has been explored as an alternative to government-run facilities. While the American Correctional Association has issued a generally supportive policy statement of further privatization, the issue has provoked intense debate. When considering privatization, the lessons of history must not be ignored. Originally, jails and prison industries were operated by private individuals for profit. Subsequently, they were turned over to the public sector because of bribery, graft, and exploitation. It was decided that the government was ultimately accountable for crime control. Most of the privately run institutions today serve either juveniles or illegal aliens. A model facility in Kentucky for custody and treatment of DWI offenders has been proposed by a company in Ohio. The Federal Government and many States currently contract for institutional correctional services, such as housing for work-release and furlough programs. Other services provided by private companies are halfway houses, health care, and counseling. Advantages of privatization include cost effectiveness, the promise of a free market, and avoiding the perils of bureaucracy. The problems of privatization concern legal issues, cost issue, and accountability issues. Rather than viewing privatization as a dichotomous choice, administrators should consider service contracts a variable strategy -good for some services and not appropriate for others. 15 references.