For Immediate Release
Wednesday, September 22, 1999
The Public Agrees: Crime Shouldn't Pay
WASHINGTON —More than 40 assaults, including 20 stabbings and two inmate homicides in an Ohio for-profit prison. Four inmate deaths and a guard murdered in a rash of violence over the last ten months in New Mexico's for-profit prisons. A private prison in Oklahoma that each year receives inmates from states as far away as Hawaii and Indiana. Hidden costs associated with government subsidies and assistance in quelling riots and capturing escapees. Prison riots, escapes and deaths at rates far exceeding the level of problems in government-run prisons.
All of these true incidents illustrate why crime shouldn't pay. It's a conclusion that the public has reached as well, according to a recent poll by Lake Snell Perry & Associates. According to the Lake poll, a majority of the public (51 percent opposed, 34 percent strongly) is opposed to privatizing prisons. In fact, less than one-third of voters support privatization of prisons (28 percent favor, 13 percent strongly).
Other findings show that:
- Voters believe that government-run prisons are better equipped than private companies to handle violent criminals (by a 37 point margin).
- Voters believe government-run prisons are more accountable (by a whopping 40 point margin), do a better job of preventing escapes (by a 37 point margin) and are better at protecting public safety (by a 40 point margin).
- At the same time, voters think prisons run by private companies are more likely to cut corners (by a 19 point margin), be understaffed (by a 15 point margin) and have poorly trained staff (by a 6 point margin).
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, which represents more corrections employees than any other union, has long maintained that the incarceration of prisoners is an intrinsic responsibility of government and should not contracted out to the lowest bidder. Recent events have supported AFSCME's position, and now public opinion and support on Capitol Hill indicate that the days of for-profit prisons should be numbered.
"It's clear that profits and prisons don't mix," said AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee. "All over the country, we have heard state and local officials lament their earlier decisions to support for-profit prisons. These decision-makers -- along with their communities -- come to regret and resent these money-making enterprises because they have learned the hard way that these companies are accountable only to their stockholders, not the taxpayers."
McEntee said that he was gratified that legislation making it more difficult to privatize prisons is winning widespread and bipartisan support. The legislation, the Public Safety Act, would prohibit the privatization of federal corrections facilities throughout the country. It would require that inmates be housed in facilities that federal employees manage and maintain.
The bill now has over 100 Congressional co-sponsors. Its chief sponsors include Representatives Tom Sweeney (R-NY), Tim Holden (D-PA) and Peter King (R-NY), who today joined McEntee and Celinda Lake, of Lake Snell Perry & Associates, at a news conference to release the poll findings.
Related materials:
- Private Prisons Survey
- Prepared Remarks by AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee on New Private Prison Poll
- Public Safety Act - AFSCME Alert
