Private Prisons Found to Offer Little in Savings

[steve2470]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/19/us/19prisons.html

PHOENIX — The conviction that private prisons save money helped drive more than 30 states to turn to them for housing inmates. But Arizona shows that popular wisdom might be wrong: Data there suggest that privately operated prisons can cost more to operate than state-run prisons — even though they often steer clear of the sickest, costliest inmates.

The state’s experience has particular relevance now, as many politicians have promised to ease budget problems by trimming state agencies. Florida and Ohio are planning major shifts toward private prisons, and Arizona is expected to sign deals doubling its private-inmate population.

The measures would be a shot in the arm for an industry that has struggled, in some places, to fill prison beds as the number of inmates nationwide has leveled off. But hopes of big taxpayer benefits might end in disappointment, independent experts say.

“There’s a perception that the private sector is always going to do it more efficiently and less costly,” said Russ Van Vleet, a former co-director of the University of Utah Criminal Justice Center. “But there really isn’t much out there that says that’s correct.”

[RaleighNCDUer]

1. But they DO offer a lot in profits. nt

[madrchsod]

2. private prisons have to turn a profit

state owned prisons don`t. the tax payer is paying the private prisons the same rate as the state owned prisons.

[Newest Reality]

3. We should reverse this trend,

that is, if we had any say so about it.

Private prisons are profitable and eat our tax dollars for that purpose. They cut corners and economize to the detriment of the inmates and living conditions.

They are also dangerous to our freedom and to our justice system in the sense that keeping their cots full is going to influence sentencing, probation, laws, etc., in a very negative way. They need the maximum number of prisoners in order to retain and increase profit.