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Prison privatization since 1960 essays
Thesis on privatized prison
Development of private prisons
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Private prisons were constructed as a response to the overcrowding in federal prisons during the 1980s; many people speculate whether or not private prisons are good or bad. Critics argue that private prisons like any business are driven by profit, and prisons profit from the amount of criminals they are able to contain which gives the private prisons and their shareholders incentive to keep the prison population high and expenses low. The National Council on Crime and Delinquency estimates that over the next ten years state and federal expenditures on prisons will amount to $351 billion6. These government subsidies along with the support of private prison shareholders allow the prison industrial complex to keep their power and influence
Ever since For-Profit prisons started, jails have been overcrowded and are distributing inmates into prisons in neighboring states, such as Arizona, Mississippi, and Oklahoma. Judges and the government only have one thing in mind. Profit. As a result of wanting more profit, judges are convicting more prisoners for petty crimes. Therefore, For-Profit prisons have more employees to make more products.
Looking at the statistics, the number of prisoners has multiplied by almost 800% from 1980 – 2013, is the primary reason why the federal state has first resorted to the privatization of prisons, the same sentiment was related by the Justice Department’s Inspector General, Michael Horowitz, to prevent overcrowded public facilities of federal jailhouses. However, with the report that he has released earlier in August, it turned out that private prisons are now more problematic and violent than its public
Current policy allows government agencies to fund private, non-profit correctional facilities (also referred to as private prisons). While new policies to end federal contracts with private prisons have been issued, government agencies such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), continue to work with private prisons now known as immigration detention facilities. The continued support of private prisons by government agencies for the last four decades has sparked public debate. “Conflict over the direction of government policy” on private prisons has resulted in the use of private prisons to be an unresolved public policy issue (1). Modern private, for-profit correctional facilities emerged in the 1980s that allowed private corporations to have full operational control for the first time.
Hi Michelle, I agree with you. I am against the use of tax payer dollars funding private prisons as well. As you mentioned, private prisons main objective is not the prisoner or the public but the money that they are benefiting from housing inmates. There has been a lot of controversy about the use of Private prisons in the United States. I am against the use of tax payer dollars funding private prisons for many reasons.
Improving American Prisons When looking at the American prison system it can be seen that it is something that can and needs to be improved on. Compared to other countries around the world the United States is number one with the highest incarceration rates. In 2013, the United States Department of Justice, estimated that more than 1.5 million persons were in a state or federal prison. That is an increase of 4000 more than in the previous year. As we can see, overcrowding is one of the biggest problems that the government faces when looking at prisons.
With the number of people sent to prisons increasing exponentially in the United States and the aggregate cost of the system being around $1 trillion per year, conversation has erupted about reform and abolishment. From adjusting the way in which prisons are run, who is sent to them, and how long people stay to outright demolishing them entirely, there are many perspectives regarding the topic, and there are also people who believe that the system should remain the same or even increase its reach in society. Changing the prison system has also become a question of politics and ethics, in addition to the basic question of whether or not they are effective, so these aspects have also shaped the current argument. Considering the negative impacts
In the US, the number of private prisons is continuously increasing at such a rate that it started to raise some eyebrows. What benefits are gained from these institutions and what is being sacrificed? This topic is increasingly causing a controversy and sparking debate among opposite sides. To gain a good perspective about this, let us
Prisons that are managed by the government is the most effective form of prison system. The government is responsible for the services that the citizens want to be provided publicly and are willing to pay (Gregson, 2000). Privatization means that there will be more government spending as the government will be the financier as they shift the functions and responsibilities to the private sector (Gregson, 2000). Private prisons can raise concerns on how are they managed.
As Emily enters jail, she has no idea what to expect in prison. She believes prison punishes people appropriately and gives people time to rehabilitate themselves. Adam believes our prison system is a complete failure and explains why. There are 2.2 million people incarcerated in the U.S 10x more then it was 50 years ago. A study conducted by the NYU school of Law found that the effect on the crime rate of increasing incarceration has been 0.
In recent decades, there has been a trend developing in America towards the privatization of America’s prisons. Independent companies have contracted, built and staffed prisons in several different states instead of having the government in control of these facilities. There is still much uncertainty, however, if private prisons will be able to succeed. Some companies have failed while others cling to average revenues. Some people believe that these measures will save taxpayers money while other are afraid that private prisons have no real interest in rehabilitating prisoners.
The 2016, presidential election posed many opinions from our candidates as to the efforts taken on prison reform. With Donald Trump being elected the fate of our country's prison system was held in his hands. Trump argued the true problem of incarceration in our country; is that we don't do enough to raise our rates and clear our streets from crime. With obama out of office and new officials being appointed, congress has developed new forms of ideals when pertaining to our countries prisoners. 2017 was said to be a unknown year, walking in blind Trump administration dismembered the plans drawn up by the expired congressional party.
The privatization of prisons has many supposed benefits but also presents many weaknesses. While “proponents of privatization argue that by having private, for-profit businesses run jails and prisons, taxpayers end up paying less for incarceration of inmates” (Cincinnaticriminalattorney.com). However, “opponents argue that cost savings haven’t manifested as promised and that private prisons have a detrimental impact on society by failing to focus on rehabilitation of inmates, but instead on warehousing offenders in exchange for a fee per inmate.”
A large number of criminals who serve their first jail prison sentence, leave jail to recommit crime again. This is mainly due to the lack of rehabilitation policy by the jail authorities and lack of job opportunities. There are numerous possible solutions which should be implemented to deal with criminals who reoffend. Firstly, when the prisoner is released from the jail attitude of the nearby people is changed towards them and they do not accept them as a part of the mainstream society.
Open prisons are usually for prisoners who were moved from closed prisons for rehab purposes. There are no external protection to an open prison. The prisoners with good conduct in the work force belong in this kind of prison area. Enforcement officers can go out under the supervision and protection, and also it is possible to discuss freely with visitors. Prisoners in the open prison are required to work hard labor for the government, it can also be community service.