Private Correctional Institutions Advantages And Disadvantages

The first private prison opened, well closed rather, its doors in 1984. This initiated a rapid expansion of private correctional facilities within the state and federal correctional industries. At the forefront of the private corrections industry are the Correctional Corporation of America and The GEO Group, Inc. These two privately contracted companies have become billion dollar corporations. Since the influx of these types of correctional institutions, there have been many studies and statistics developed, which have outlined the benefits and detriments of using privately operated correctional facilities. There are numerous opinions on this matter. Studies have provided both advantages and disadvantages to the use of privately operated correctional institutions.
One advantage to the privatization of correctional institutions is public safety. It relieves state and federal correctional industries of the burden of budgetary and housing constraints. When funds for additional prison construction runs out, the government can utilize privately operated prisons for additional housing. This prevents early releases of inmates due to lack of housing, as well as reduces the need for alternative sentencing programs, keeping criminals
This advantage is simply described as cost savings. Advocates for the use of private correctional institutions claim that private correctional facilities are more efficiently operated, thus making them more cost efficient. There are several studies that have shown a cost savings of up to 20%. This cost savings derives from the lower wages and benefits for employees, lower costs for goods and services, and more efficient operation and administration. Saving money may be beneficial for budgetary reasons, however cheaper does not always mean better. There may be some truth in the saying “you get what you pay