Privatization of American Prisons: a System for Profit

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Abstract

The subject of this paper will be a compilation of research on the privatization of American prisons. This will include the reasons for, the historical aspects of, and the ethical and legal problems that it can and has caused. The research methods that will be used to develop this research paper will be done through both classical use of books and use of internet-based sources. This topic is important for analysis because the privatization of American prisons is a subject that raises many ethical and legal questions on its legitimacy and effectiveness as a means of correction. One believes that the findings of this paper will show that privatization of American prisons is for the most part an ineffective means to run prisons because it has the potential to cause abuse and corruption at all levels and is done for the sole purpose of profit.

Privatization of American Prisons

A System for Profit

In America today there is a trend in corrections of taking the job of running prisons out of the hands of state and federal governments and contracting it out to private corporations who run prisons for a profit. This trend is not a new one for at one time in American history this was the way that many prisons were ran. But, over time this changed and prisons became the responsibility of state and federal governments. Because of factors occurring in the 1980's prisons once again began to be privatized and turned over to corporations to run. This movement of privatizing prisons is one that is not beneficial or effective. Private prisons are both ethically and at times legally wrong for when prisons become about profit and not rehabilitation and correction then America itself can and will suffer.

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...e. Retrieved November 1, 2004 from the World Wide Web: http: //www.ncpa.org~ncpa/studies/s181/s181n.html

Pasholk, Shirley. (1999). Prisons for Profit. Retrieved October 25, 2004 from the World Wide Web: http: //www.socialsitaction.org/news/199912/prison.html

Schneider, Anne L. (1999). Public-Private partnerships in the U.S. Prison System. In Peter G. Herman (Ed.), The American Prison Systems (pp. 85-104). United States: H.W. Wilson Co.

Shichor, David. (1995). Punishment for Profit. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Smith, Phil. (1993). Private Prisons: Profits of Crime. Retrieved September 14, 2004 from http: //media filter.org/MFF/Prison.html

Tipp, Stacey L. (Ed). America's Prisons: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc.

Yeoman, Barry. (2000). Steel Town Lockdown. Retrieved November 8, 2004 from the World Wide Web: http

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