Privatization of the American Prison System essays

Privatization of the American Prison System essays The question of how to deal with the miscreants of our society has always been the source of many complicated and profound challenges. The latest problem facing our corrections system is a burgeoning prison population that is becoming increasingly dangerous and expensive. Due to tougher legislation the prison system is overwhelmed causing many states to seek alternatives to mass incarceration; yet, many of these alternatives have proven to be ineffective and costly to the American people. In dealing with violent criminals, incarceration is still the safest and most reasonable method, however almost one-quarter of Americas prison population is comprised of drug offenders . Assuming that the legalization of drugs will not be seen as a feasible option to reducing prison populations in the foreseeable future, the privatization of the prison system would provide a safer and less congested environment for incarceration. The privatization of prisons has given rise to a new industry in this country. Despite the fact that the crime rate has fallen by nearly 20 percent, prison population has nearly doubled, and increases by 50,000 to 80,000 each year . This new boom industry has many advantages to state operated prisons, as well. Inmates are generally housed in new facilities and overcrowding is greatly reduced. In addition, these facilities are usually more humane than their state operated counterparts and much safer. However, private corporations are profit-driven and their tendency to manipulate the system in order to realize the greatest possible profit-margin is always an inherent risk to allowing this type of industry. In recent years, telecommunications companies have found prisons to be a very viable source of revenue. With roughly a billion dollars to be made each year, the prison pay phone market is extremely lucrativ ...