The Department of Justice has announced it will discontinue the use of private prisons at a federal level, following a blistering report last week that concluded they were more dangerous for both inmates and guards.*
*Something we've also seen here in NZ, with a major scandal earlier this year where serious violence in a private prison led to the government having to intervene.
DoJ Memo:
"Private prisons served an important role during a difficult period [when the prison population spiked], but time has shown that they compare poorly to our own Bureau facilities. They simply do not provide the same level of correctional services, programs, and resources; they do not save substantially on costs; and as noted in a recent report by the Department's Office of Inspector General, they do not maintain the same level of safety and security. The rehabilitative services that the Bureau provides, such as education programs and job training, have proved difficult to replicate and outsource, and these services are essential to reducing recidivism and improving public safety."
"Private prisons served an important role during a difficult period [when the prison population spiked], but time has shown that they compare poorly to our own Bureau facilities. They simply do not provide the same level of correctional services, programs, and resources; they do not save substantially on costs; and as noted in a recent report by the Department's Office of Inspector General, they do not maintain the same level of safety and security. The rehabilitative services that the Bureau provides, such as education programs and job training, have proved difficult to replicate and outsource, and these services are essential to reducing recidivism and improving public safety."
*Something we've also seen here in NZ, with a major scandal earlier this year where serious violence in a private prison led to the government having to intervene.
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