Private Prisons

Furthermore, one could say that private prisons are more effective because they have lower recidivism rates. However, this is not true. As stated by Peter Kerwin, “private prisons are likely to serve as many as two to three more month behind bars than those assigned to public prisons and are equally likely to commit more crimes after release, despite industry claims to lower recidivism rates through high-quality and innovative rehabilitation programs” (2015) this quote shows that more offenders return to private prisons than those prisons that are operated by the government. The federal correctional facility in Cumberland, Maryland owned by the federal bureau of prisons, houses 1,292 inmates (Bureau of prisons,2016). As of March 2016, recidivism
Moreover, Private prison conditions are not better than the conditions at federally owned prisons. For example, A privately operated prison named Walnut Grove Facility located in Mississippi shows how bad conditions can be within a private facility. Timothy Williams reported, that the conditions of Walnut Grove “paints a picture of such horror as should be unrealized anywhere in the civilized world.”(2016). Not only, were conditions unsatisfactory at Walnut Grove correctional facility but conditions were unsatisfactory in numerous Mississippi correctional facilities. Williams mentioned that, conditions in a number of Mississippi’s correctional facilities have been denounced by prison overhaul advocates or enjoined by the federal authorities for violating inmates’ constitutional rights, but Walnut Grove was cited as a particularly brutal, often lawless place”(2016). Oftentimes, Walnut grove was known for sexual misconduct and violence between inmates and correctional officers. Also, Williams reported that, as of 2012 the Justice Department report, found that rape of younger inmates by older prisoners was relatively common, and that guards
Private prisons are made to save money, Therefore many unconstitutional acts take place to reduce costs within the facility. As Joe Davidson stated, “Like any business, private prison companies are in business to make money. That can lead to cost-cutting and understaffing that promotes dangerous and unhealthy conditions” (2016). It is extremely hard to establish a safe environment for inmates without cutting costs. Although, private prisons such as Walnut Grove made operating companies 100 million dollars in revenue (Booth Gunter,2012) it does not mean that the conditions of the prison are up to par. Additionally, it is time for individuals in today’s society to stop focusing on the money, half of individuals would not want their loved ones to live in some of the hazardous conditions that many of these inmates are forced to live in today. Even Though offenders are serving time for disobeying the law, they still deserve to have basic human rights. It is unfair to treat those individuals like they are less than human. Furthermore, Prisons are suppose to rehabilitate the offender and help them stay on the right path when the focus prisons change they began to be less effective than before. After doing research on the effectiveness and safety conditions of Lake City Correctional facility, Idaho Correctional center, Cheyenne Transitional center, Walnut Grove correctional facility to the effectiveness of Federal