When Government Fails: Going Private As a Last Resort (Private Prisons and the Public Interest, P 179-199, 1990, Douglas C McDonald, ed. -- See NCJ-127372)

• NCJ Number: 127380
• Author(s): D C McDonald
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 21 pages
• Sale Source: Rutgers University Press
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This analysis of issues related to the privatization of prisons and jails in the United States concludes that thorough privatization is neither necessary nor desirable, but that contracting with the private sector may be the most effective strategy for increasing the quality of services in cases in which governments are not able or willing to try to overcome the obstacles to providing satisfactory penal services.

Abstract

In many places correctional facilities are run well by governments and provide commendable levels and types of services. However, in many other places they are not. The governmental deficiencies are probably more pervasive at the local levels of government and affect large numbers of the nation's jails. If private firms are willing to try to improve these facilities and operate them more humanely, especially if the cost is equal to or lower than the costs of public correctional agencies, it seems reasonable to permit and even to encourage them to do so. However, relying on private entities to finance and build penal facilities that are then leased to governments is less easily justified. Privatization of ownership would achieve short-term savings while imposing substantial long-term costs.