Some
If this proposal goes through, it will be
If these prisons are privatized and the state abdicates its authority, this will place over 11,000 additional prisoners in the hands of for-profit corporations that have chronic histories of wasteful expenditures, contractual failures and public endangerment.
Why
1. Privatizing an entire state’s prisons would be a reckless experiment that gambles with public safety.
No private for-profit prison corporation has ever attempted to run an entire state’s facilities. Even
Every for-profit prison corporation that would compete for these contracts has a history of serious problems, ranging from financial mismanagement, abuse scandals, riots and disturbances, and patterns of violence and abuse. The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) found a significantly higher rate of prisoner-on-prisoner assaults in private prisons (66% more) than in public prisons. Inmate-on-staff assaults were 49% higher in the for-profits.
For specific information regarding lawsuits, incidents, and poor management of prison facilities for some of the prison corporations doing business in or with the state of Arizona for, please see the attached “Rap Sheets”or go to: http://www.privateci.org/.
This risky, unproven strategy could prove to be a disaster for
2. Private, for-profit prisons are no bargain.
Every credible, independent cost comparison study ever conducted has found that analyses of purported cost savings of private prisons in legitimate apples-to-apples comparisons, conclusively demonstrate that the for-profits cost about the same or in some cases are more expensive.
Maximus, an independent, reputable research firm, studied
Counties and states often pick up the tab for things that private prison companies don’t provide, like mental health and medical care. And when there are riots or escapes, it is local law enforcement that has to put out the fires, send in SWAT teams, and track down escaped prisoners—at taxpayer expense.
Giving one private corporation a monopoly over
These are out of state, for-profit, publicly traded corporations that are concerned only with their bottom line, not what’s best for the people of
3. Privatizing Arizona’s prisons means lower wages for prison staff, in the middle of a huge recession.
One of the ways private prison corporations cut costs is by cutting corners—primarily on staff pay and training. Public safety is one of the few remaining employment sectors in
That’s why the Arizona Correctional Peace Officers Association (the state’s prison guards union) rallied at the State Capitol Monday, July 13, to show their opposition to legislative efforts to privatize the state's prisons. Corrections officers were joined by AZCOPS leaders and union activists from CWA and AFL-CIO.
None of the corporations in the running for these contracts is based in the state of
4. Arizona legislators, including several members of the Republican leadership that brokered this deal, are in the pocket of the private prison industry.
All the major private prison corporations have numerous, highly paid lobbyists working day and night to influence our elected officials.
These lobbyists and other private prison interests gave $77,267 to
Is it any wonder that some of the biggest beneficiaries of these contributions are now the ones leading the charge to privatize
RECIPIENT 2002 2004
Sen. Russell Pearce (R-18) $880 $2,400
Sen. Robert Burns (R-9) $1,735 $736
Sen. Robert Waring (R-7) $650 $1,595
Sen. Thayer Verschoor (R-22) $0 $1,130
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-22) $0 $675
Sen. Jack Harper (R-4) $0 $625
Keep in mind,
Source: The Institute on Money in State Politics, “Policy Lock-Down: Prison
What YOU can do….
Contact the following policy makers tell them to SAY NO TO PRISONS FOR PROFIT!
Governor Jan Brewer
**Please THANK her for vetoing the earlier version of this bill, SB1028 and ask her to hold firm in her commitment to ensuring that
602.542.4331 or 800.253.0883 ph, 602.542.1381 fax. Make a comment online at: http://azgovernor.gov/Contact.asp
ADC Interim Director Charles Ryan
602.542.5497 ph, cryan@azcorrections.gov
602.926.5495 ph, 602.417.3019 fax, kadams@azleg.gov
Arizona Senate President Robert Burns
602.926.5993 ph, 602.417.3225 fax, rburns@azleg.gov
If you can blind copy us, we will have a better idea how effective this initiative is. If you receive responses, even boiler-plate ones, please forward those to us, if possible.
Thanks for all your continuing assistance. Together we can stop this!
Caroline Isaacs
Program Director,
American Friends Service Committee
520.623.9141 p/520.623.5901 f
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