NCJ Number
100190
Journal
Prison Journal Volume: 65 Issue: 2 Dated: (Autumn-Winter 1985) Pages: 53-59
Date Published
1985
Length
7 pages
Annotation
The director of the Nation's largest agency that prepares private presentence reports argues that bringing private enterprise and its accompanying values and practices into the corrections system has many advantages.
Abstract
The current trend toward privatization differs from previous trends in two ways. The system is now privatizing essential services like custodial and presentence tasks that have traditionally been performed by the public sector. In addition, many profit-making organizations are now providing these services. The use of the private sector for preparing presentence reports offers the advantages of fewer constraints on the quality of information provided and higher standards because of the full disclosure required of the private reports. It may also promote reform and greater use of alternatives to incarceration. The profit motive is unlikely to reduce concern for quality. Using business practices is actually beneficial. Staff must be totally accountable for their time, must adhere to high quality control standards, and must be concerned with the organization's overall performance. Introducing the private sector into corrections produces some competitive pressure that should benefit the public system. 6 references.