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Contents Introduction: Economic Recession Part I: History of Private Prisons The Convict Lease System 1980s to the Present A Further Examination of Accreditation Relationship between Overcrowding and Criminal Justice Policy Part II Introduction Factors Increasing Costs Comparative Analysis Micro-Level Studies Recidivism Prison Culture Conclusion

This Discovery Guide has presented a brief comparison of public versus private prisons. Part I discussed the history of private prisons, and also showed that the top two private companies that operate private prisons, Wackenhut and CCA, provide equal or better services at a lower cost than public facilities. Part I also stressed the importance of the accreditation process through the American Correctional Association (ACA), an organization that will only continue to play a major role in the correctional field. This agency regulates privately operated prisons to ensure that they continue to meet standards that result in quality services. Part II presented studies that show that private prisons can provide cost-savings without impacting quality of services, and that recidivism rates can be lower through private services as compared to public services.

Because prison costs continue to rise, budgets will continue to increase as well (e.g. health care services); states can therefore best address prison needs and budget issues by finding a balance that best works for each individual system. As Mitchell emphasizes, states that move 5% of their public prisoners to a private facility can save money. These states should work on determining which type of inmate is most appropriate to serve time in a privately operated prison.

	Mara Salvatrucha suspect bearing gang tattoos is handcuffed

The most hopeful aspect of private prisons is a return to offering rehabilitative programs in the correctional system. These programs are the first to be cut in the public arena. However, due to providing a cost-savings, perhaps private prisons can return the criminal justice model to include these services again. This shift would return the system to a balance between punishment and rehabilitation.

List of Visuals

1. Visitors entrance to the Utah State Prison in Draper, Utah, United States
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah_State_Prison
   Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

2. Adults in the Prison System
   http://www.project.org/info.php?recordID=172
   U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey

3. Convict laborers at work on the granite columns for the Texas State Capitol construction, circa 1885. Prints and Photographs Collection, Texas State Library and Archives
   http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/exhibits/forever/repression/page5.html
   Texas State Library & Archives Commission

4. Corrections Corporation of America Uniform
   http://www.correctionsproject.com/corrections/pris_priv.htm
   The Corrections Documentary Project

5. Wackenhut Security Officer
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wackenhut
   Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
back to article
6. Woman smoking crack cocaine
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocaine
   Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

7. Spoon containing baking soda, cocaine, and a small amount of water,a "poor-man's" crack-cocaine
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocaine
   Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

8. Incarcerated Americans
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_incarceration_timeline-clean.svg
   Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

9. Direct Expenditure by Criminal Justice Function, 1982-2006
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_criminal_justice_cost_timeline.gif
   Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

10. Cell in Alcatrez, archetypal public prison
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcatraz
    Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
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11. Valerie Dunn, 41, of Riverside, reads on her bunk during an inmate count at The Leo Chesney Center, a private prison in Live Oak, California
    Pauline Lubens/San Jose Mercury News. March 16, 2002, Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service, Taken from Proquest's eLibrary

12. Education can help prevent recidivism
    http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Divisions_Boards/Adult_Programs/index.html
    California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

13. Crowded Prisoners
    http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/news/images/overcrowding/CIM1_081006v1.jpg
    California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

14. Mara Salvatrucha suspect bearing gang tattoos is handcuffed
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gang_member
    Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

back to article

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