The Pros And Cons Of For-Profit Prisons

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Nelson Mandela once said, (QUOTE) “It is said that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails. A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones.” (END QUOTE) It is because we agree with this account that we negate today’s topic. Resolved: For-profit prisons in the United States should be banned. We have seen that the best way to provide for the basic needs of our criminals and still be mindful of the common people is through for-profit prisons. Observation 1: A definition from Webster’s 2014 of a private or for-profit prison is a prison controlled by a third party that is contracted by a government agency. Observation 2: Unless contested by the affirmative side we will assume…show more content…
“Private Prison Experiment: A Private Sector Solution to Prison Overcrowding.” North Carolina Law Review, 1998. “The United States Department of Justice has determined that in order to manage periodic maintenance as well as to provide special housing for protective custody, disciplinary cases, and emergency needs, a prison should maintain reserve capacity. In 1996, however, a report issued by the Department of Justice revealed that on average, state prisons were operating at 116 percent of capacity, and federal prisons were operating at 125 percent of capacity. As a result of prison overpopulation and declining funds for prison maintenance and rehabilitative programs, many prisoners are being placed in “understaffed, vermin-infested” facilities. In addition, overcrowding has also increased the instances of infectious and stress-related diseases within confinement facilities.” Duitsman, Peter. “Private Prison Experiment: A Private Sector Solution to Prison Overcrowding.” North Carolina Law Review,…show more content…
“Comparing Public and Private Prisons on Quality.” Reason
Foundation. 2005. Web. 7 Nov 2014. .
6. Florida Recidivism Study (1998)7
“Researchers at the University of Florida conducted an analysis of recidivism rates
between government and private facilities for the Florida Correctional Privatization
Commission. The study matched 198 inmates each from private and government
prisons, and compared them in five areas for the 12 months following release:
rearrest, technical violations of the terms of release, resentencing on a new offense,
reincarceration, and an overall comparison. The private prison outperformed the
government prison in every category except technical violations. Specifically, 10
percent of the private prison inmates were rearrested in the 12 months following
release versus 19 percent of government prison inmates. Six percent of private
releases were resentenced to a new offense versus 10 percent. Furthermore, 10 percent
of private inmates were reincarcerated compared with 14 percent of government inmates.
The overall indicator showed that 17 percent of private releases have an indication
of recidivism versus 24 percent of government releases. Nine percent of private prison
inmates had a technical violation of release terms compared to eight percent government
prison inmates. Quality findings: The private prison outperformed the government
facility in 4 of 5

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