by frog
There is no doubt in my mind where all this tougher-than-though-on-crime posturing in the House this week is going. It’s going straight towards private prisons, to the detriment of justice in this country. We need only look to the early adopters of private prisons, the US, to see where this will take us. Truthdig makes the end game clear:
As many as 5,000 children in Pennsylvania have been found guilty, and up to 2,000 of them jailed, by two corrupt judges who received kickbacks from the builders and owners of private prison facilities that benefited. The two judges pleaded guilty in a stunning case of greed and corruption that is still unfolding. Judges Mark A. Ciavarella Jr. and Michael T. Conahan received $2.6 million in kickbacks while imprisoning children who often had no access to a lawyer. The case offers an extraordinary glimpse into the shameful private prison industry that is flourishing in the United States.
The Philadelphia-based Juvenile Law Center got involved when Hillary Transue was sent away for three months for posting a Web site parodying the assistant principal at her school. Hillary clearly marked the Web page as a joke. The assistant principal didn’t find it funny, apparently, and Hillary faced the notoriously harsh Judge Ciavarella.
Congress is considering legislation to improve juvenile justice policy, legislation the American Civil Liberties Union says is “built on the clear evidence that community-based programs can be far more successful at preventing youth crime than the discredited policies of excessive incarceration.” Our children need education and opportunity, not incarceration.
This real life story provides a glimpse of where we are headed when we hear politicians calling for privatising prisons. These ideas need to be nipped in the bud and not allowed to take root. It is hard enough to trust the state to get it right when it comes to managing our corrections facilities, when the mandate is a just one. This week’s mob action against the Corrections CEO is a case in point. If it’s that challenging for a CEO/executive with a proper motive, do we really want executives with no other motive than profit to take charge of our prisons?
on the trolls and those who are unable to keep on topic
If private incarceration were to occur, I’d suggest a fat bonus scheme be held back to be paid out if, upon release, the inmate stayed out of trouble for (2?) years.
(maybe then we’d see judges bribed to find them NOT guilty!)
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Slippery slope fallacy.
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Part 1:
A) The primary motive for any company is returning a profit to its shareholders.
B) Private Prisons are a company.
Therefore
C) The primary motive of prisons is to return a profit to its shareholders.
Part 2:
A) The primary motive of prisons is to return a profit to its shareholders.
B) The largest profits are obtained where the marginal cost is equal to the marginal benefit.
C) Increasing per-prisoner pay-out increases marginal benefit and moves the point of equilibrium higher.
D) Decreasing standards decreases marginal costs and moves the equilibrium higher still.
E) Pay out per prisoner may be increased by increasing the ratio of demand to supply.
Therefore
F) Private prisons will always move to increase the point of equilibrium and thus profits.
G) Decreasing standards results in a higher equilibrium point so long as those standards do not impair excessivly the ability to aquire prisoners.
H) The more prisoners there are; the more profits to prisons and the easyer it is to aquire prisoners.
Therefore
I) A Private prison will act to decrease standards and maximise the number of prisoners.
Part 3:
A) A Private prison will act to decrease standards and maximise the number of prisoners.
B) Decreased standards increases reoffence and hampers any rehabilitation.
C) Prisoner numbers may most easily be enhanced by decreasing sentancing threasholds and ensuring past offenders reoffend.
Therefore
D) Private prisons have a strong motive to increase reoffence and hamper rehabilitation both as a meathod of cost-saving and as a means to obtaining further profits.
Therefore
E) Private prisons have a profit motive in increasing crime and imprisonment rates.
Part 3:
A) The primary motive of prisons is to return a profit to its shareholders.
B) Profit returned to shareholders in a state funded facility is money the state must pay.
C) A properly audited SOE or other part of the state may approximate the efficency of a privatly owned organisation without the need for a profit.
D) Where a profit is not taken the cost of the good or service is smaller
E) Money paid by the state is taken from the population via taxation.
Therefore
F) A private prison results in a higher tax burden on the population than a properly audited state run prison.
Part 5:
A) Private prisons have a profit motive in increasing crime and imprisonment rates.
B) Increased crime and imprisonment rates means more costs to society and the state.
Therefore
C) Private prisons have an interest in increasing costs to state and society.
Part 6:
A) Private prisons have an interest in increasing costs to state and society.
B) Private prisons have a profit motive in increasing crime and imprisonment rates.
C) A private prison results in a higher tax burden on the population than a properly audited state run prison.
D) A higher tax burden is a cost to society.
E) BP is interested in decreasing costs to society in the forms of crime and taxation.
Therefore
F) It is illogical for BP to support private prisons as this impairs, more than the alternative, the obtainment of his interests.
LOL, Ive deliberatly kept that simple and left out many of the obvious, now unstated, premises as including them would make the post far to long, more time consuming, and even more unreadable.
We need logic trees on this blog
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Though, since ive left so many premises unstated for the purposes of saving time, space, and readers, the arguement will appear much less convincing that it otherwise would.
If one does not find a premise acceptable or a conclusion to follow then i would be happy to go into more detail on said premise/conclusion, up to a certain point.
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“Burn all prisons” …
http://www.october15thsolidarity.info/files/hongihongitewhewheia.jpg
Doesn’t even need to get as far as corrupt judges when we have Police arresting on false warrants, and trying to get US law enacted de facto!
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I disagree with your conclusions Sapient you are making a blanket statement that private prisons lead to higher costs on society.
While it is true that the model used in the US will lead to higher costs.
A better model to use is the one proposed by samiam where the state pays more money to the prison if the prisoner stays out of prison after he/she is let out. In fact if the prisoner re-offends the company should be required to return money back to the state.
To the argument about the US judges, oh please ALL US judges and the entire judicary here in the US is corrupt they are supposed to follow the constitution except they let the federal government find rough shot over the constitution.
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Turnip,
The system proposed by samiam does sound much much better than the american system. However it tackles only the increased population motive and, given the low effectivness of even our best methods, the prisons would not take on substantial potential deductions to their profits so inorder for the system to work at all the dedutins would have to be quite small, most likley to the point where it is still more profitable for the prisons to ensure recividism.
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I think it’s a little unfair to compare the American prison system to just about anywhere else. The American system is in effect a social welfare system. Whats the opposite of the American dream? Jail.
I too like the idea that prison businesses are paid on results.
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…I knew it was a mistake to delete the qualifying clauses in my premises…
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While we are at it…What’s with the proposed ‘Boot Camps’ teaching kids how to fight? Shouldn’t they be learning how to NOT fight?
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A “SINGLE VOICE PROJECT” is the official name of the petition sponsored by: The National Public Service Council To Abolish Private Prisons (NPSCTAPP)
THIS PETITION SEEKS TO ABOLISH ALL PRIVATE PRISONS IN THE UNITED STATES, (or any place subject to its jurisdiction)
The National Public Service Council To Abolish Private Prisons (NPSCTAPP) is a grass roots organization driven by a single objective. We want the United States government to reclaim sole authority for state and federal prisons on US soil.
We want the United States Congress to immediately rescind all state and federal contracts that permit private prisons “for profit” to exist in the United States, or any place subject to its jurisdiction. We understand that the problems that currently plague our government, its criminal justice system and in particular, the state & federal bureau of prisons (and most correctional and rehabilitation facilities) are massive. However, it is our solemn belief that the solutions for prison reform will remain unattainable and virtually impossible as long as private prisons for profit are permitted to operate in America.
Prior to the past month, and the fiasco of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, AIG, Lehman Brothers, and now the “Big Three” American Automobile manufacturers, the NPSCTAPP has always felt compelled to highlight the “moral Bottom line” when it comes to corrections and privatization. Although, we remain confounded by the reality that our government has allowed our justice system to be operated by private interests. The NPSCTAPP philosophy has always been “justice” should not be for sale at any price. It is our belief that the inherent and most fundamental responsibility of the criminal justice system should not be shirked, or “jobbed-out.” This is not the same as privatizing the post office or some trash pick up service in the community. There has to be a loss of meaning and purpose when an inmate looks at a guard’s uniform and instead of seeing an emblem that reads State Department of Corrections or Federal Bureau of Prisons, he sees one that says: “Atlas Prison Corporation.”
Let’s assume that the real danger of privatization is not some innate inhumanity on the part of its practitioners but rather the added financial incentives that reward inhumanity. The same logic that motivates companies to operate prisons more efficiently also encourages them to cut corners at the expense of workers, prisoners and the public. Every penny they do not spend on food, medical care or training for guards is a dime they can pocket. What happens when the pennies pocketed are not enough for the shareholders? Who will bailout the private prison industry when they hold the government and the American people hostage with the threat of financial failure…“bankruptcy?” What was unimaginable a month ago merits serious consideration today. State and Federal prison programs originate from government design, and therefore, need to be maintained by the government. It’s time to restore the principles and the vacated promise of our judicial system.
John F. Kennedy said, “The time to repair the roof is while the sun is shinning”. Well the sun may not be shinning but, it’s not a bad time to begin repair on a dangerous roof that is certain to fall…. because, “Incarcerating people for profit is, in a word WRONG”
There is an urgent need for the good people of this country to emerge from the shadows of cynicism, indifference, apathy and those other dark places that we migrate to when we are overwhelmed by frustration and the loss of hope.
It is our hope that you will support the NPSCTAPP with a show of solidarity by signing our petition. We intend to assemble a collection of one million signatures, which will subsequently be attached to a proposition for consideration. This proposition will be presented to both, the Speaker Of The House Of Representatives (Nancy Pelosi) and the United States Congress.
Please Help Us. We Need Your Support. Help Us Spread The Word About This Monumental And Courageous Challenge To Create Positive Change. Place The Link To The Petition On Your Website! Pass It On!
The SINGLE VOICE PETITION and the effort to abolish private “for profit” prisons is the sole intent of NPSCTAPP. Our project does not contain any additional agendas. We have no solutions or suggestions regarding prison reform. However, we are unyielding in our belief that the answers to the many problems which currently plague this nation’s criminal justice system and its penal system in particular, cannot and will not be found within or assisted by the private “for profit” prison business. The private “for profit” prison business has a stranglehold on our criminal justice system. Its vice-like grip continues to choke the possibility of justice, fairness, and responsibility from both state and federal systems.
These new slave plantations are not the answer!
For more information please visit: http://www.npsctapp.blogsppot.com or email: williamthomas@exconciliation.com
To sign the petition please visit: http://www.petitiononline.com/gufree2/petition.html
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
William Thomas
National Community Outreach Facilitator
The National Public Service Council To Abolish Private Prisons
P.O. Box 156423
San Francisco, California 94115
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- “This real life story provides a glimpse of where we are headed when we hear politicians calling for privatising prisons.”
Surely such corruption can exist whenever the state purchases any goods or services, not just prisons?
By your reasoning therefore, the state can never buy anything and must instead retain its own vast workforce to supply all its needs – from the mining of the ore and other raw inputs, all the way through to the processing and delivering of every single finished product – from pencils to warships, and everything in between.
Sounds like a (five-year) plan.
However, since such Communist states have always been absolutely rife with corruption (not least because of the absence of market discipline), perhaps you should give the matter a bit more thought.
- “do we really want executives with no other motive than profit to take charge of our prisons?”
It’s a question of devising the right incentives to achieve the outcomes you want, whilst remaining part of the free market to get the value you want.
Remember, the Soviet Gulag is perhaps the greatest ever example of a state-run prison system. Perhaps you could remind us of its virtues, which according to you are inherent?
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Certainly the local prison is the biggest growth industry here. Katie is right – spurious and untrue claims are made by Police with the caveat that a ‘not guilty’ plea will just cause a more serious sentence.
Privatize by all means – and publish all the names of the shareholders.
None of which addresses any problems, which, left alone, loom ever larger; – long as supporters realize, they too are prospective cattle for this industry – it isn’t law anymore.
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I suppose the question is whether the government is looking at the option of private prisons because they will be cheaper than state owned prisons or because they can set up a network for private developers to make more money. Hopefully its a bit of both.
If, though, it is merely based on an idealism (parading as pragmatism), that private industry is better than state ownership, then it’ll just create different problems.. no solving or solutions but a mere card trick to change the look of the problems which will kinda look as if the problems are being solved but… they are just being juggled. The magic of politics!
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Wherever Justice and a Profit Motive intersect – Justice diappears
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Mark,
You can find the name of any company director
here. Shareholders
http://www.companies.govt.nz/cms
It is no secret, plus you can read all the annual reports as well.
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Private Prisons = cash cow for Govt. All that GST.
An exercise in turning the unemployed into cash units, by making the Dole so small that people have to steal to survive.
The leftovers they will put in the Army & send to Afghanistan to help our great allies
No one brings soldiers home during a depression.
Don’t worry folks; Milosevic Key will sort everything out.
Cassandra Kelpie
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Hey Kelpie; not only are u right but i am just the man they need for afghanistan – i will upscale my life and hope i never come back.(putting it gently now).After all, it doesn’t compare to living in a white uptight racist deal, where the only options are losin’…..
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sapient,
Thanks for that excellent analysis of why privatised prisons is a bad idea. Not counting the actual innate inhumanity of using locked up human beings to make a buck.
I copied it to my blog with acknowledgement of you as the author if you have any objections I will remove it again but I hope you won’t
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Just a note here (I’m gonna research it more) but it seems more Prisons means more suicides, particularly amongst the young.
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Travellerev,
sure, post it, though i left out so many premises to keep it shortish that it is hardly solid.
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Private Prisons = cash cow for Govt. All that GST.
And this is a bad thing because…..”
An exercise in turning the unemployed into cash units, by making the Dole so small that people have to steal to survive.
Gee, they could always get a job instead of stealing
The leftovers they will put in the Army & send to Afghanistan to help our great allies
As we should
No one brings soldiers home during a depression.
Not even Hussein Obama it seems.
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