AFSCME Urges Bill to Stop Prison Privatization

At AFSCME’s urging, three congressmen introduced a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives March 3 to prohibit the privatization of federal corrections facilities throughout the country.

The Public Safety Act would require that inmates be housed in facilities that federal employees manage and maintain. By keeping prison operation a public function, this bill would protect taxpayers by avoiding hidden costs and financial and legal liabilities.

The bill also would deny corrections grants authorized under the 1994 crime bill (the Violent Crime and Law Enforcement Act) to states and localities that operate private corrections facilities.

Speaking in support of the bill, AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee said: “Let me be clear, crime should not pay. The perils of prison privatization are clear — violence, escapes, and incidents of prisoner abuse are well-known and should not be tolerated. The members of Congress who are sponsoring this legislation should be commended for recognizing that government — and only government — should have the awesome responsibility of incarcerating criminals and for keeping society safe from these individuals.”

The problems associated with private prisons has become more apparent in recent years, with high-profile escapes, riots, and reports of inmate abuse. Last year, AFSCME issued a report, “Should Crime Pay?” which debunked the claim by for-profit proponents that prison privatization yields big savings for taxpayers. The report also outlined some of the problems that communities have experienced as a result of for-profit prisons. For example, many for-profit companies claim to save taxpayers as much as 15-20 percent in cost reductions. However, research shows that these savings rarely, if ever, materialize.