(no subject)

[theweaselking]

Private prisons in the USA suing states for not having enough prisoners.

Comments

[a-pawson.livejournal.com]

It's hardly surprising. No investor is going to fund in a major construction project if the future income can be cut by circumstances outwith their control. Any public-funded project that requires a large investment, and will have ongoing overheads, will have a similar clause in the contract to mitigate the risk.

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

It's not just "risk mitigation", it's "insurance of profit stream".

(And, I submit a modest proposal: If you don't feel you can make a profit running a for-profit prison without requiring that your customers pay you whether it's a prison or not? You should probably not run a for-profit prison.)

For-profit law enforcement in general is disgusting.

[metahacker.livejournal.com]

Is this happening with hospitals too?

I can see a mutually beneficial arrangement by criminalizing certain medical procedures, ensuring both a hospital stay and a prison stint. Perhaps of some disadvantaged population, say....pregnant women?

[lurkerwithout.livejournal.com]

From what I've heard, non-private prisons aren't much better. The correction officer types apparantly just use their contacts with p.o. to increase the number of violations if it looks like they'll start to be over staffed...

[lafinjack.livejournal.com]

I also saw that on autopope's Tweeter, but was hoping for more sources and less ONTD breathlessness.

[cyprinella]

Something similar is happening in Virginia in the carpool/toll lanes added to the Capitol Beltway. Public-private partnership with a guaranteed toll revenue for the private company not being met by tolls. So the state's on the hook for the (considerable) difference.