NCJ Number
129934
Date Published
1991
Length
52 pages
Annotation
The use of private prisons was examined with respect to its nature and extent, the authority of the Federal Bureau of Prisons to use privatization, and the extent to which privatization could help reduce costs and overcrowding in Federal prisons.
Abstract
The analysis showed that 4 states have already opened privately operated State prisons, 1 State government is soliciting proposals for privately operated prisons, and 16 local governments have opened or plan to open private jails. The Federal government has limited the use of privatization to specialized groups of offenders such as certain aliens and some unsentenced offenders. Currently the Federal Bureau of Prisons lacks sufficient statutory authority to use private prisons for the general adult inmate population, however. Although State officials say that privatization has generally provided the same level of service at a lower cost, existing empirical studies on service and cost are inconclusive. If granted the authority to do so, the Federal Bureau of Prisons should test privatization to help resolve these questions at the Federal level. Data tables and appended data on individual prisons and background information