If private prisons in Kansas are a good idea — and they may be fine — their authorization should be able to survive the legislative committee process and pass as a stand-alone bill. Instead, a private prisons amendment was tacked onto a bill increasing prison time for sex offenders. And given that it’s an election year, politicians — including Gov. Kathleen Sebelius — are eager to appear tough on crime and are likely to approve the bill without giving private prisons proper scrutiny. That’s a mistake, given the security and abuse reports from private prisons in other states. Also, Kansas Secretary of Corrections Roger Werholtz opposes private prisons and argues that they can make the state system less efficient. Don’t his concerns at least deserve a committee hearing?
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
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9 Comments
“given the security and abuse reports from other states”
Nice generalization, but stats don’t necessarily support it. In Oklahoma, for example, they have found comparable security with lower costs. You cannot paint all privately owned prisons with the same brush because some have had some problems, anymore than you can say all state owned prisons are horrible because of a riot at Attica.
Like anything, there are pros and cons on privitization. But painting an unfairly negative image of them in this forum is not conducive to rational discussion.
Phillip why aren’t you just as upset that the education bill that passed the house never had a committee hearing? Is it because you agree with it? There’s many times where the legislature passes some of the biggest pieces of legislation during debate in their respective chambers. You should be more consistent. If it is ok to pass education funding without a committee hearing than it should be ok to pass private prisons without a committee hearing. You are now showing your true colors.
This is the worst idea since half the military was “outsourced” to Halliburton–who btw is feeding our troops sewer laden water.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/3780160.ht...
In medieval England they too had “private prisons.” The warden would let the prisoners out at night to rob and steal and split the take in the morning.
Sounds like more of the same.
I think there might be a role for private in the minimum-security and work-release areas. I have problems with it in high-security however.
Privatizing prison is the most immoral act I have seen during the decline of our civilization. To think reasonable people would allow others to imprison people for profit boggles the mind. If Tennessee (the home of captivating humans for profit) and CCA has not been enough of an example for others nothing ever will. Sure you will see a temporary reduction in cost. Within a very few years the cost will skyrocket just as it has with every other sector of Correction in this state. Look at heath care and Food service. They hire non qualified individuals at half the cost and see what the results are with the recent death of an inmate because the nurse had no business even being there. This is the rule folks not the exception.Food Service, instead of using state employees cross trained in that field, Kansas decided to hire contractors which were so bad it caused huge amounts of violence and the drug traffic increased to the point that the prosecuters would no longer take the cases. The cost of feeding inmates went from .25 cents per meal to 8 times that in less than 5 years.Consider this, the Supreme Court has already ruled that States cannot give private prison staff the authority of law enforcement personel. (even though they tried) and many many states have already outlawed allowing the private prison industry into their states period. Lets not forget the SEC investigation of CCA’s CEO and his son for their REIT scam. If Kansans are so greedy to allow private prisons to get a foothold in this state, you will find out exactly why escapee’s run to Tennessee. Heaven help us all. A few will get rich and the taxpayers will be bilked for billions or imprisioned for the profit of a few.
YBS,
You are correct, there is no violence or drug use in state run corrections facilities, right?
Viva la Raza Blanco!!
With “Out-sourcing” being the norm these days – Why don’t we out-source all prisoners to Mexico?Mexico’s treatment of their prisioners is notorious.I think it would greatly reduce the crime rate if a bad person thought they would be sent to a Mexican Prison they would think twice, maybe even go straight.
When their time is served (if they servive) Mexico would let them loose at the border. Let them go where ever they want to go. But I think they would think twice about coming back to Kansas.
EWWWW Not good GFUN.Mexico is already exporting its own bad guys to us. Not a good idea I think to trust our prisoners to them.
Outsourcing an arm of the justice system (corrections) is abominable! Now I know that the courts are slow so shall we bow to efficiency and outsource the courts? Private enterprise contolled justice? That is what we would be doing. What would be next? Buisness controlled government? Oh wait that already happened.
J R, you are on the right track. What if each government agency that is struggling with costs would be “privatized,” that is, contracted out to private business.
In the case of prisons, I think our state government needs to run our larger prisons and perhaps farm out the surplus to private operators who prove their effectiveness.I have taken time to learn a little about our Kansas prison system and I don’t like what I see. A book could be written about what I have found so far.
In any case, some solutions would be:
1) Re-evaluate prison sentences. They are generally too long. The prevailing idea that “being hard on crime means lengthening sentences” is simply and completely wrong.
2) Double and quadruple the work of parole boards. Every prison or group of prisons should have a working parole board. At one time, I wanted to be appointed to our Kansas parole board so I know something about the system.
3) The same mindset that prevails in our Kansas school districts prevails in our prison system — that is, the more students or prisoners on the official roll/census, the more dollars each receives from state and federal government. This is the uncontrolled bull in the china shop.
4) Prisons need more real rehabilitation services to try to change attitudes to get prisoners back home quicker. I know this can easily be criticised. But keep in mind, there is a “waiting list” of more people on the outside that need to be inside for some mind improvement.
5) Obviously there are people in prison who need to stay there many years to make society safe from them.
I believe the costs of housing prisoners in our state prisons is something like $20,000 to $30,000 per prisoner per year. Perhaps someone who is an expert can sharpen up these figures. I know this can be increased dramatically for medical care and pharmaceuticals which are paid by taxpayers.State-wide blue-ribbon citizens committees are needed to review this entire judicial and state prison system. I think it wouldn’t be overdoing it for our legislators who are on the judicial committee to hold information meetings in all three Kansas metropolitan areas as well as, say, in Garden City and/or Hays. And then organize a blue-ribbon committee of about 100 very interested citizens (no lawyers, please).The increasing cost of our justice/prison system is rivaling our education system for state tax dollars.
Since we have basically a do-nothing governor, progressive members of our state legislature must get involved in solving these run away financial obligations.