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CORRECTIONS

Minnesota’s prison population is increasing because of tough anti-crime policies and methamphetamine convictions.

Meanwhile, private companies are seeking opportunities to make profits from prisons. Public safety should not be for sale to the lowest bidder. Here’s why.

There’s no clear evidence that for-profit prisons save money.
In general, private prisons cost taxpayers more by:

  • providing low-paying jobs and inadequate benefits to employees
  • endangering public safety with errors caused by high turnover in staff
  • leaving government liable for mistakes
  • removing public accountability
  • allowing private contracts that avoid property and income taxes while taking advantage of tax incentives for development

Audits of private prisons show that public safety is at risk from:

  • unsecured posts
  • inmate access to tools that be used as weapons
  • deficiencies in discipline

For-profit prisons fail to prepare inmates to return to society as productive citizens. For example, the Appleton Corrections Facility in Minnesota is operated by the Corrections Corporation of America, based out of Tennessee. Compared to inmates in state-run prisons, Appleton’s inmates are less likely to participate full-time in vocational classes and intensive drug treatment.

"And the Answer is... Prison! What Was the Question?" An Interview with Judy Greene of Justice Solutions.

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AFSCME Council 5 is supporting legislation to require that state and local jail and prison inmates be housed in publicly owned and operated facilities.  The bill would prohibit private contracting and authorize the purchase of the Prairie Correctional Facility in Appleton.

Read House bill HF 3004 and Senate bill SF 2615

Union leaders testified in support of HF 3004 before the House Public Safety Policy and Finance Committee on March 8, 2006.  Read their testimony:

Maupin Prison Testimony
Korpi Prison Testimony

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Watch the commercial that will be seen on WCCO-TV (Quick Time Version)

Watch a 7 minute video about the risks of private prisons:

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Read news about private prison lessons and disasters in other states:
Date Location/News Summary
4/06 Florida – Ex-prison privatization chief is sentenced to three years in federal prison and ordered to repay more than $224,000 he admitted siphoning out of state funds for prison maintenance and repair. read more....
2/06 Florida – Hernando County Jail has battled issues ranging from inmate suicides to jail breaks to prisoners released in error. The operator of the jail, Corrections Corporation of America, also has had to deal with three recent suicides and the arrest of a corrections officer for stealing money from inmates. read more....
11/05 Fort Worth, TX – Escapee from Cornell Corrections Facility, a privately-operated halfway house, is charged with three murders tied to white supremacy.
10/05 Corrections Corporation of America announces 3rd Quarter earnings for 2005. Net income available to stock increased 20.9% over 9/04 income. Operating income increased 13.5% for same period.
9/05 Michigan – Governor to veto funding for private prison
9/05 Torrance County, TX – County officials informed by consultant that they can save money by having their own jail rather than housing inmates at CCA prison or in other counties.
8/05 Jefferson County, TX – three security guards employed by Corrections Services Corporation were fired due to mistakes leading to escape of three dangerous inmates on July 10.

8/05 		Sacramento, CA / San Joaquin Corrections Facility – Gov. Schwarzenegger gave a $20 million contract to a well-connected private prison company (GEO Group) after they donated $10,000 to an initiative campaign tied to the governor.

8/05 		Washington, DC – District of Columbia is liable for mistakenly holding a deaf, mute and mentally disabled man in jail for nearly two years. The private contractor, Center for Correctional Health and Policy Studies, violated the man’s civil rights by failing to provide him with a way to communicate with medical staff. He was awarded between $1.2 million and $1.5 million, of which CCHPS has agreed to pay $640,000.
8/05 Nashville, TN – Four security guards in jail run by Corrections Corporation of America charged with beating death of a female inmate in July 2004.
8/05 Bay County, FL – Inmate charged with murdering police officer is found with hacksaw blades in his cell at prison run by Corrections Corporation of America.
7/05 Hawaii, Washington and Wyoming contemplate pulling their inmates from Colorado’s five private prisons after sexual misconduct scandal.
6/05 Colorado – Corrections Corporation of America showers Colorado lawmakers with campaign cash – at least $43,000 over the last five years.
5/05 Michigan – State audit says prison officials should reconsider sending young felons to a private prison in northern Michigan because it is one of the most expensive prisons in the state. Not an efficient use of state money.
4/05 Santa Fe County, NM – Private prison wants out of contract with one year remaining.
3/05 Oklahoma – Hundreds of Hawaii’s inmates are adding to the problems of gang violence and drug dealing at Diamondback Correctional Facility in Oklahoma. Prison officials recommend moving 800 convicts from Hawaii unless the Corrections Corporation of America can improve the situation.
12/04 Florida – At least 200 employees have been hired at juvenile justice centers after being fired from similar jobs for violence, misconduct or incompetence. Some had sex with teenagers whom they were hired to protect.
1/04 Nevada – Pregnant inmate at Southern Nevada Women’s Correctional Facility sues the state, the Corrections Corporation of America, and the security guard who impregnated her.
 
Home Page Snow Plows Corrections Care Givers Take Action Links

Got Gov? - AFSCME Council 5
300 Hardman Avenue So, South St Paul MN 55075 * (651) 450-4990, fax (651) 455-1311
211 W 2nd Street, Duluth MN 55802 * (218) 722-0577, fax (218) 722-6802
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Last revised: January 10, 2007 5:01 PM