Originally Posted By skinnerbox <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/10/09/971431/nations-first-privately-owned-state-prison-riddled-with-violations-of-state-law/" target="_blank">http://thinkprogress.org/justi...ate-law/</a> <> Nation’s First Privately Owned State Prison Riddled With Violations Of State Law By Aviva Shen on Oct 9, 2012 at 10:30 am An Ohio prison owned by Corrections Corporation of America, one of the largest private prison companies in the US, has failed to meet state standards in food quality, sanitation, hygiene, and many other areas, according to a recently concluded audit. In total, the CCA prison had 47 violations. CityBeat details the abysmal conditions at the Ohio facility, the first privately owned state prison in the country: The local fire plan had no specific steps to release inmates from locked areas in case of emergency, and local employees said “they had no idea what they should do” in case of a fire emergency. The audit also found all housing units provided less than the required 25 square feet on unencumbered space per occupant. It found single watch cells held two prisoners with some sleeping on the floor, and some triple-bunked cells had a third inmate sleeping on a mattress on the floor. Inmates claimed laundry and cell cleaning services were not provided and CCA could not prove otherwise, recreation time was not always allowed five times a week in segregation as required, food quality and sanitization was not up to standards, infirmary patients were “not seen timely,” patients’ doctor appointments were often delayed with follow-ups rarely occurring, the facility had no written confined space program, the health care administrator could not explain or show an overall plan and nursing competency evaluations were not completed before the audit was conducted. Many more issues were found as well. Despite the many abuses discovered at private prisons all over the country, CCA and other industry giants have greatly benefited from cash-strapped states’ attempts to save money. However, recent studies show that private prisons actually cost more than state-owned ones. Undeterred, CCA has started offering states millions to buy state facilities like the Ohio prison. Ohio sold the prison to CCA last year to help balance the state’s 2012-2013 budget, and CCA recently offered to buy another one in exchange for the state’s guarantee of 90% occupancy for 20 or 30 years. <> Did you catch that? "Despite the many abuses discovered at private prisons all over the country, CCA and other industry giants have greatly benefited from cash-strapped states’ attempts to save money. However, recent studies show that private prisons actually cost more than state-owned ones." It costs state governments *more* to privatize their prison systems than to run the prisons themselves. So why do it? 'Cuz it makes money for Wall Street! That's why! Privatizing prisons was always a bad idea. This article demonstrates why very clearly. Privatization of many government services should be forbidden. Allowing corporations that are publicly traded for investment purposes to manage government agencies were human life is on the line is folly. Corporations have demonstrated since their inception that most only care about the bottom line and have little regard to the health and safety of those they serve and/or employ.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox ^^ You bet. And that scares the sh*t outta me. I can't remember which state, but apparently there was a long-time Judge being scrutinized for handing down incredibly long sentences for minor offenses, like 5 years for first-time possession of one joint, stuff like that. Turns out the guy was heavily invested in CCA, which had purchased the county prison a few years prior. The Judge's conviction rate skyrocketed after CCA took over the prison, and the sentences grew dramatically in length. Definitely a MAJOR conflict of interest!!
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 What scares me even worse is the privatization of our educational system. Just imagine how worse our educational system would get if it became a for-profit industry...
Originally Posted By SuperDry There's also the issue of the private prison industry being major sponsors of all sorts of "get tough" ballot initiatives like Three Strikes that are designed to fill the prisons to overflowing.
Originally Posted By Tikiduck You see? In twenty years the corporations will be running everything. Prisons... very scary. Very Orwellian. Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow? My A--!
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>Just imagine how worse our educational system would get if it became a for-profit industry...<< You don't have to imagine a lot. Just look at all the diploma mills that crank out incompetent "college graduates" while making huge profits. Now imagine that being done at the K-12 level. Now imagine having to take out student loans to send your kids to school, because the taxpayer provided vouchers aren't enough to cover the tuition rates.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<You don't have to imagine a lot. Just look at all the diploma mills that crank out incompetent "college graduates" while making huge profits.>> I wouldn't want to mention names (University of Phoenix) but places like that should be shut down.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder "I wouldn't want to mention names (University of Phoenix) but places like that should be shut down." Every time I read or hear that school's name I'm reminded of the time in 1992 I arrested their Director of Admissions for shoplifting. He stuffed a men's hat down his pants right below the huge two way window we had. Then he started to fight when we stopped him outside. Not very bright.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 "Did you also get the part about guaranteeing 90% occupancy?" Yeah, I noticed that too, as if it's a hotel...that's very sad.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <"Did you also get the part about guaranteeing 90% occupancy?"> 90% occupancy for 20 or 30 years, no less. Think about that. If the crime rate drops (as indeed it has), they've still "guaranteed" a 90% occupancy rate. Even if the drop in crime is nothing more than demographic (i.e. fewer males aged 16-35, who commit the lion's share of crimes), they still have that guaranteed occupancy rate. Which would mean locking up more people than ought to be locked up, with all the attendant social problems that entails long-term, not to mention the cost. We're supposed to lock people up based on...you know, due process of the law. If fewer people commit crimes in 2012 than in 2002, you lock fewer people up. What a quaint concept. Completely turned on its head by a "guaranteed 90% occupancy rate."
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Now imagine having to take out student loans to send your kids to school, because the taxpayer provided vouchers aren't enough to cover the tuition rates.<< Which is exactly what would happen. Because private schools skim the cream of the crop to keep their scores higher. Then they pretend they have magic answers to producing better students. meanwhile, kids who don't fit the mold are out on their ear. If vouchers were in place, they'd simply raise the rates up to where those in lower economic circles could not get in.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan So, to review, school vouchers only benefit private schools. They'll get a nice little bump as they raise tuition rates to keep out the 47% who won't take responsibility for their lives. Meanwhile, public schools will be devastated by the loss of revenue, so then the GOP can stand around screaming about how public schools have failed us.
Originally Posted By fkurucz ^^ Or if the system is fully privatized, the poor kids would go to "McSchools" that would be (mostly) covered by the vouchers, and said schools would be far inferior to the ones that charge above the voucher rate. Those kids would learn their "three R's" (sort of) and nothing more and be ready for their future as Lucky Duckies, working three menial part time jobs.
