The Real Cost of Prisons Weblog

If his resume looks as if he's committed to finding alternatives to incarceration, that's a correct assumption.

"That makes sense to the taxpayer," Smith said in a telephone interview. "We have way too many people in jail for way too long."

During comments at the public hearing on the development agreement for the federal detention center at the Nye County Commission meeting Sept. 16, Smith said the new president inaugurated Jan. 20, 2009, could change the country's immigration policy. The CCA facility would house prisoners awaiting a hearing in federal court and illegal immigrants awaiting deportation.

"There will be an enormous surplus of beds which the (private prison) industry tends to ignore," Smith predicted.

Smith said he has dealt with CCA, the nation's largest private prison operator, for 12 years and warned, "A deal is never a deal."

"If you look at a town like Shelby, Mont., you'll find out how many times a deal gets negotiated in CCA's favor," he said at the public hearing.

Smith said CCA uses a central purchasing system, which means they don't spend as much money in town.

Smith and CCA Vice-President of Marketing and Communications Louise Grant exchanged words at the conclusion of the public hearing. Grant said the Private Corrections Institute was founded by the Florida Police Benevolent Association, a union representing prison workers.

"They're completely opposed to privatization because unions are (opposed)," Grant said. She charged the organization receives funding from the American Federation of State, Federal, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

"They are paid or they volunteered to come into communities specifically to go against privatization. That's their sole purpose," Grant said.

Smith, who is from Love City, Kan., denied Grant's accusations. He said the Private Corrections Institute was formed by several people active in the area of private prisons. He downplayed executive director Ken Kopczynski's role with the Florida Police Benevolent Association, though his resume on the institute's Web site states Kopczynski has been a legislative and political affairs assistant for the FPBA since 1993, the largest collective bargaining agent for law enforcement, correctional and probation officers in Florida.

"I can assure you that we won't be there," Grant said in a telephone interview Tuesday. "We have stated publicly what the agenda of the Private Corrections Institute is, and certainly our relationship is with the county and we are continuing to very proactively work on the development agreement. That's where our focus is today."

Grant said the company has held numerous public hearings, spoke at length at two recent town hall type meetings, posted information on its Web site and had community officials visit their facilities in other communities.

Smith will provide extensive data regarding the harmful consequences for host communities of detention centers, the advertisement states. He will discuss media, political and legal strategies to keep Pahrump from being victimized by CCA.

http://www.pahrumpvalleytimes.com/2008/Oct-15-Wed-2008/news/24520518.html