More than half of the states and the federal government have contracted with private sector companies to operate about 120,000 beds in more than 140 adult secure facilities.

Why have these government agencies privatized their corrections operations?

PRIVATE CORRECTIONS DELIVERS IMPROVE ACCOUNTABILITY, COSTS, QUALITY, AND OUTCOMES

Private corrections operators are subject to higher quality standards, including day-to-day management, safety, staff training and inmate program outcomes. Government plays a vital role in setting tough regulations and standards. Contractors are then held accountable for specified outcomes. Private prisons also generate cost savings during design, construction, and start-up as well as program management for years in the future. This allows government leaders to allocate scarce financial resources to other important needs.

Accountability is a business priority
Market forces play a major role in private prison accountability (Harvard Law Review, May 2002).

• If prison managers do not reach specified outcomes, they can and should be replaced.
• There is concern with renewing current contracts and winning new ones.
• Government contractors maintain their right to rescind or decline to renew contracts.
• Government contractors set high standards and hold private operators to them.

Cost effectiveness of private prisons demonstrated through research
Meeting higher standards, obtaining better outcomes and accountability does not have to cost more.

• Private prisons save taxpayers 11 - 17% according to research studies.
• States employing private prisons had an average increase in their corrections budgets of 38% compared with states without privatization who had a 50% increase in their corrections budgets over the same time period.
• Construction costs 24% lower than the government operations have been observed.

Quality must be as good or better to retain contracts
Due to the nature of prison privatization, contractors are subject to meeting higher standards in order to remain competitive.

• Forty-four percent of private prisons are accredited by the American Correctional Association (ACA) compared to just 10% of all public prisons.
• Independent studies indicate, private operators were as good or better at providing services as public prison operators.
• Private correctional management should be accountable for the quality of institutional life and the creation of a standards-based, safe, learning environment.

Many private prison contracts have specific outcomes identified
Private prison operators are subject to higher program outcomes in career and technical training, academic areas and re-entry programs that help reduce the number of inmates returning to prison.

• Private contractors are given incentives to increase and expand inmate programs.
• Private contractors also have incentives to reduce the number of inmates who return to prison after release.
• Quality companies invest in staff training, program development, and research, looking for more effective ways to improve outcomes.

To find out how you can improve the operation of your correctional facilities through private management, contact us.