Cell Out: Renting Out the Responsibility for the Criminally Confined (From Negotiating Responsibility in the Criminal Justice System, P 49-67, 1998, Jack Kamerman, ed. -- See NCJ-179431)

• NCJ Number: 179433
• Author(s): Jess Maghan
• Date Published: 1998
• Length: 19 pages
• Sale Source: Southern Illinois University Press
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article discusses several aspects of the privatization of corrections.

Abstract

The article considers accountability, feasibility, social impact and subjective social costs of prison privatization. It claims that the American prison system already functions as a surrogate national public health system, national job training and literacy program, and second-rate mental hospital. It is time to peel away the social engineering tasks the prisons are assuming and let the prisons become a penal system for long-term and dangerous inmates; turn remaining custodial control into a restructured system of correctional programs leading to positive behavior, such as community service and boot camp programs. The United States can serve as a laboratory for the development of a new “social contract” with private correctional entrepreneurs. Government can seek new modes for custodial care of geriatric prisoners, prisoners with alcohol- and drug-related problems, and prisoners with emotional and mental problems. These partnerships will stimulate new forms of oversight responsibility by both government and private agencies. Figure, appendix, references, case cited