NCJ Number
102380
Date Published
1986
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This report provides Utah's Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice with background information on issues in the privatization of various corrections operations.
Abstract
The report is based primarily on reports by the National Institute of Justice, other relevant literature, and conversations with practitioners. Corrections privatization refers to contracting for goods and services used in the corrections system. Privatization is currently used in the areas of prison industries and work programs, the financing of prison and jail construction, and correctional facilities management for adults and juveniles. Advantages of privatization are cost savings and flexibility. Disadvantages include State employee opposition and staff shortages. Liability and standards enforcement are other potential disadvantages. Privatization promises to be useful to achieve rapid mobilization, experimentation, decentralization, specialization, and regionalization. Should the commission determine that corrections privatization would be useful in addressing some of Utah's correctional needs, potential problems should be addressed through legislation before contracting. Issues that should be covered in legislation are outlined. 29-item bibliography.