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Private Prisons
This week, U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order instructing the Department of Justice to not renew contracts with privately operated prisons – a process that had been started once before during the Obama administration but was reversed under President Donald Trump. Biden cited the inherent problem of private prisons having a commercial interest of keeping inmates incarcerated as a reason for his decision. In fact, research has shown that private prisons can increase incarceration rates and lengths by several factors including corruption, lobbying, increase of capacity and higher rates of violence in private prisons leading to penalties for inmates and later releases.
Private prisons make a profit – an estimated $374 million annually – giving them an incentive to cut costs more than public facilities. Private facilities have been shown to hire fewer staff and train them less. They also pay less, leading to higher turnover and less experienced and well-equipped officers. An analysis of 2014 data by the Department of Justice – the only of its kind – shows that violence and infractions in private prisons are elevated. The same analysis shows that private prisons spent 12 percent less per inmate, but since they are not housing maximum security prisoners, the savings might not actually translate. Several local studies have found mixed results for private prison cost savings. Researchers from the Universities of Minnesota and New Mexico have pointed out that the structural deficits of private prisons might increase incarceration costs in the long run by lengthening sentences and increasing recidivism.
The graphic below also shows that by only addressing the Department of Justice, Biden is leaving out a significant portion of people held in federal private facilities in the United States – those in immigration detention. In 2017, the only data available from ICE, 73 percent of detainees were held in private facilities – the equivalent of 26,000 people. The eight percent of federal and state prisoners held in private detention translated to about an equal number of federal inmates in private prisons in 2019, while another 88,000 in private state detention are also still left out.
Since 2017, the number of immigrant detainees has risen sharply to about 50,000, which at the same rate of private detention would mean more than 36,000 private immigration inmates existed in 2019. In reality, the share of detainees which are held in private facilities has been increasing. In 2002, private facilities still held less than a quarter of immigration detainees. While federal and state inmate populations in the U.S. are only 50,000 higher than the were in the year 2000 (+3.5 percent), the small population held in private prisons rose by 28,000 people in the same time frame (+33 percent).
Katharina Buchholz
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Private prisons in the United States have been a subject of intense debate due to their operational dynamics, financial incentives, and impact on the criminal justice system. As an enthusiast well-versed in this domain, let's delve into the core concepts highlighted in the article you provided:
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Executive Order by President Biden: This order instructed the Department of Justice to halt the renewal of contracts with privately operated prisons. It aims to address the conflict of interest wherein private prisons profit from inmate incarceration, potentially influencing higher incarceration rates.
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Commercial Interest in Incarceration: The core issue identified by President Biden is the conflict arising from private prisons aiming to maximize profits by keeping inmates incarcerated. This financial incentive might contribute to longer sentences, increased capacities, and higher rates of violence within these facilities.
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Financial Incentives and Operational Practices: Private prisons are profit-driven entities, estimated to earn around $374 million annually. To maximize profits, they tend to reduce costs by hiring fewer staff, providing minimal training, and paying lower wages. This often results in higher turnover rates and less experienced personnel, impacting the overall safety and quality of the facility.
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Cost-Cutting and Inmate Well-being: Studies, including a 2014 Department of Justice analysis, have shown that violence and infractions within private prisons are elevated. Despite spending 12 percent less per inmate, the savings might not necessarily translate due to potential compromises in safety and effectiveness.
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Long-Term Impact on Costs and Recidivism: Researchers have highlighted the structural deficits of private prisons, indicating that these facilities might inadvertently increase incarceration costs over time. Factors like longer sentences and higher recidivism rates could contribute to higher overall costs for the criminal justice system.
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Scope of Private Prisons: The focus of Biden's order on the Department of Justice excludes a significant portion of individuals held in federal private facilities, particularly those in immigration detention. The share of detainees held in private facilities, especially in immigration detention, has been increasing over the years.
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Statistical Insights: The article references various statistics, including revenue reported by for-profit prison companies, the rise in immigrant detainees, and the growth of private detention populations compared to federal and state inmate populations.
This comprehensive overview highlights the multifaceted issues surrounding private prisons, encompassing financial interests, inmate well-being, long-term cost implications, and the expanding scope of private facilities, particularly in immigration detention. The decision to limit or eliminate the use of private prisons involves complex considerations that intersect with ethical, financial, and social justice concerns within the criminal justice system.
