Privatization Watch
ALASKA: In Anchorage, Corrections Group North’s (CGN) proposal to build and operate a prison in the southern part of the city was defeated. Faced with growing resistance from local residents — led by Alaska State Employees Association (ASEA)/AFSCME Local 52 — CGN withdrew its proposal for that location. It is now negotiating with two other communities near Anchorage for a site.
GEORGIA: Lawmakers have convinced Gov. Zell Miller to restore $2 million to the state budget for security on a planned 500-bed private prison in Charlton County, in the southeastern part of the state.
IDAHO: As legislation to approve private prisons moves through the state legislature, planning and negotiations have begun to build a 1,250-bed private prison near a group of existing state prisons. The private company will include construction costs in its operating fees. Legislators are considering following Florida, Tennessee and Texas by requiring private prisons to charge less than the cost of public prisons.
MARYLAND: The arrest of a Suitland man who police say assaulted six women while under the supervision of a private detention company has placed the entire private detention industry under scrutiny. The courts have transferred a segment of the prisoner population into the custody of private detention companies, but even the companies themselves say adequate safeguards are not in place to protect the public. They also acknowledge a potential conflict of interest: Rejecting a risky applicant or catching a detainee in violation of the rules and reporting him or her means losing a client — and money.
MINNESOTA: Thanks to AFSCME’s efforts, Corrections Corporation of America and legislators have ceased attempts to promote the building of a new private prison at Rush City, north of Minneapolis.
MISSISSIPPI: In his latest budget, Gov. Kirk Fordice set aside $12.1 million to contract with a private prison in Wilkinson County, in the southwestern corner of the state, and with jails in other counties to house state prisoners.
MONTANA: A proposal by the Bobby Ross Group (BRG) to build a 500-bed prison in Deer Lodge ran into a brick wall when Gov. Marc Racicot refused to consider allowing out-of-state prisoners to be housed in private facilities. BRG stated that without the option of housing outside prisoners, the financial risk of the deal was too high. Nonetheless, the governor’s budget plan calls for $12 million to house 500 inmates in private jails over the next two years.
OREGON: Oregon Council 75 testified loudly and forcefully against several legislative schemes that supported prison privatization. These efforts killed two bills that required seeking a private company to operate at least one state prison.
PENNSYLVANIA: State officials decided not to privatize the state’s newest prison, as had been proposed.
TENNESSEE: The legislature is considering a plan to turn over the entire state prison system to a private firm.
Primary Source: Publications of The Reason Foundation, a pro-privatization organization.
