The Real Cost of Prisons Weblog

The primary function of government is to protect the lives, liberty and property of its citizens. Public safety depends on a reliable and effective criminal justice system, and central to the administration of justice is a humane, secure and efficient corrections system.

Given Alabama's ongoing General Fund budget instability and growing concerns about the safety and conditions of its prison system, now may be a good time for innovation and looking at best practices working in other states.

As a result of financial constraints and years of mismanagement, Alabama's corrections system is operating at nearly 200 percent capacity. Many of Alabama's prisons are outdated and more often than not one officer has to supervise a prison dorm of 250 to 300 inmates.

Gov. Bob Riley has promised to reform Alabama's prison system over the next four years. Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner Richard Allen has done a remarkable job in asking the right questions regarding what can be done to address the prison overcrowding problem, corrections staff shortages, aging facilities and cost effective solutions for inmate health care.

With the right questions being asked, opportunities to reduce prison overcrowding and save tax money with private contracting are serious options for lawmakers to consider.

The traditional corrections model based on government-run prisons is having difficulty keeping up with the growing needs of public safety. A thoughtful, well-planned privatization program would expand options for state lawmakers, enhance public safety and put the benefits of competition to work for taxpayers.

The study "What to Do about the Prison Problem: The Pros and Cons of Privatized Prisons in Alabama" by Dr. Kirk A. Johnson examines the possibilities of private prison construction that would create more prisoner bed space faster, thereby reliving overcrowding. Johnson projects that privately constructed prisons can be completed in half the time, with costs savings to taxpayers ranging from between 15 and 25 percent.

Numerous states have contracted out prison construction and management. All four states bordering Alabama have contracted with one or more private companies for prison services.

Johnson reviews the cost/benefit analysis of private prisons versus public prisons and provides substantive answers to the common arguments against private prisons.

Private construction would create more prisoner bed space faster, thereby relieving overcrowding. Private construction could replace many aging facilities in Alabama with more efficient, state-of-the-art prisons.

As Alabama's prison population grows by about 100 new inmates a month, Johnson affirms that private prisons construction could be structured in phases, to account for growth over time.

Johnson notes, "A private solution should be seriously considered as the legislature takes up the issue (prison reform) in earnest." API's Legislative Agenda recommends a proposal that would begin the process of implementing private prisons and their management.

Alabama law could be amended (Section 14-1-1.2, Code of Alabama 1975) to authorize a pilot program allowing for the contracting out of state prison services to a private company.

Following successful completion of the pilot program, competitive contracting could be used to expand competition throughout the state and county corrections system.

By tapping into the competitive advantages of private prison management, state and local governments can provide safe incarceration of convicted prisoners without raising taxes.

Michael Ciamarra is vice president of the Alabama Policy Institute. He can be reached at michaelc@alabamapolicy.org.

http://www.al.com/opinion/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1163931488112220.xml&coll=1