Corrections Privatization

 

Recent Research Regarding Privatization

The debate over whether private-sector involvement in corrections should be increased has generated an extensive body of literature, comprising for the most part essays and position papers that reflect the author's stance on the issue. Often the ideological and political predispositions of the researchers seem to have shaped the interpretation of the data. However, as stated by Thomas (1997a):

[I]t is equally clear that a rapidly growing body of literature is accumulating within which one finds highly repetitive themes. The core theme is that properly conceptualized, properly managed, and properly monitored privatization initiatives can serve the public interest. . . . Sound performance presupposes competent and qualified people from both the public and the private sector coming together cooperatively to attack important public policy problems.

Much of the discourse on correctional privatization entails an introduction to the topic, a review of the circumstances that gave rise to the demand for increased private-sector involvement, followed by a discussion of the issues involved (see for example, Bowman et al., 1993). The discussion of issues is invariably cast in favor of or in opposition to privatization. As discussed in chapter 2, there are a number of reasons why advocates support the use of the private sector in the provision of institutional correctional services. Most are related to the potential cost savings and efficient service that the private sector can achieve over the public sector. On the other hand, the movement against privatizing prisons is gaining momentum by attacking such issues as the transfer of services from a public to private provider, the potential decline in the quality of inmate services, the propriety of private-sector operation of correctional facilities, and the legal liability surrounding privatization.

There are literally hundreds of documents related to privatization of correctional services, and a few dozen studies have attempted an empirically based comparison of public and private facilities. This chapter examines the results of some of the more well-known comparative institutional studies, rather than the numerous essays and position papers that comprise the bulk of the publications in the field.