U/CL Pathfinders
PRISON PRIVATIZATION
DEFINITION: “In both the state and federal systems, a new category of prisons is emerging: private prisons built and sometimes operated by private corporations…The delegation by government, to private business, of the power to imprison and, necessarily, the power to use force to maintain order, prevent escape, and the like raises troublesome legal and ethical questions.” (Oxford History of the Prison)
NARROW THE TOPIC:
· Does the growing number of prisoners necessitate privatization of prisons?
· What are the alternatives to prison privatization?
· Can a private contractor be as accountable as a government agency?
· Is delegation of prison management responsibilities to private firms constitutional?
· Can the private sector operate prisons/jails more efficiently?
· Would the legal rights of inmates be affected by privatization?
· Could private operations be effectively monitored?
· Are private companies subject to freedom of information laws? Does privatization make it difficult to scrutinize how the public’s money is being spent?
· Could privatization lead to prisoner abuse and reduced spending for care of prisoners?
· Will the profit motive take precedence over care of prisoners?
· Are Florida's faith-based prisons a violation of the separation of church and state?
LINCC SUBJECT HEADINGS: Corrections—Contracting Out; Privatization—United States
SPECIALIZED SOURCES SHELVED IN THE REFERENCE COLLECTION:
CQ Researcher on Controversies in Law and Society REF KF 379 .C7 2001 Encyclopedia of America's Prisons REF HV 9471 .S54 2003 Encyclopedia of Social Work REF HV 35 .S6, Vol. 1 “Adult Corrections” Prisons and Prison Systems REF HV 8665 .R67 2006 Encyclopedia of Prisons & Correctional Facilities REF HV 9471 .E427 2005 v.2
AVAILABLE AT THE REFERENCE DESK:
CQ Researcher “Prison Building Boom” 9/17/99
Issues and Controversies on File: “Prison Privatization” 3/21/97; “Prison Overcrowding” 1/16/04
Current Controversies: Prisons (also available in the Opposing Viewpoints Database)
Opposing Viewpoints: America's Prisons
STATISTICS:
Information Plus: Crime; Prisons, and Jails Ref Desk (also available in the Opposing Viewpoints Database)
Statistical Abstract of the United States (also at Reference Desk)
ELECTRONIC INDEXES:
Academic Search Complete Expanded Academic ASAP OmniFile Full Text Mega
Business Source Elite General Business File
FULL-TEXT NEWSPAPERS: America's Newspapers
INTERNET SITES:
AFSCME http://www.afscme.org/private/aculink3.htm Bureau of Justice Assistance: Emerging Issues http://www.ncjrs.org/txtfiles1/bja/181249.txt Privitization.org http://www.privatization.org/database/policyissues/corrections_state.html
G YOUR SOURCES:
University/College Library Citing Electronic Resources Links
JM Rev 4/04 |dc| ck2 rev 4/08
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