Comparing Public and Private Prison Systems

Abstract

Portion of Abstract: In conducting this study I will attempt to provide an insight into whether governments at state levels are making proper decisions in providing adult prison system provision. The information I examined covers 1985 to the present. This study is being conducted at the “state,” levels. My population will be the “state prison systems,” in the United States. The unit of analysis will be “adult prison system.” <p>Is there a way to make prison systems more efficient and cost effective? While the cost of local government services has been rising, many local government decision-makers are facing considerable resistance to tax increases. Costs are rising faster in the public sector than in any other major sector of the economy (except construction). (Benson, 1990:179) <p>The government has a responsibility to provide prison system services, with the best cost solution, and an acceptable quality level. The dilemma that policy makers face is how to accomplish this task in the absence of competition, given constituent pressure for cost reductions, and the demand to keep the public safe. <p>My research is dedicated to comparing “public prison systems” to “contracted prison systems,” two choices available to policy makers. My paper will frame the history of contracting for prison systems, discuss the arguments for and against privatization, discuss the performance issues and standards for prison systems, conduct an analysis of the costs for both contracted systems and public systems, and describe what conditions are necessary for introduction of privatization. <p>In conducting this study I hope to provide an insight into whether governments at state levels are making proper decisions in providing cost effective and quality prison systems. The two central questions that I will attempt to answer in this comparative analysis are: 1) Does contracting for prison operations save money?, and 2) Do privately operated facilities provide equal or better services than publicly operated facilities? <p>Government has accepted the role of prison system provision. Is it doing its duty to the public by providing it at the best price, and service level? Is privatization of prison services the best method for providing these services? I will use the information provided by scholars and the government to try to answer these questions.