Remember Mark Ciavarella, the judge from Pennsylvania who received millions of dollars in bribes from a private prison operator to sentence undeserving children to that private prison? His conviction resulted in the dismissal of over 4,000 convictions of juveniles, as the court saw the obvious corruption and conflict of interest in his decisions.
Well thankfully that slimy piece of shit just got 28 years in prison.
I hate anyone who makes a profit by incarcerating human beings.
Showing posts with label greed. Show all posts
Showing posts with label greed. Show all posts
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Friday, July 1, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
I Guess 3 Escapes and 2 Murders Don't Warrant Improving Security
A recent report by the Arizona Republic, which reviewed audits, correspondence, and interviews from the Department of Corrections reveals that many of the security lapses that led to the escape of 3 murderers from the MTC facility in Kingman last year have not been resolved. In fact, 14 prisons, a mixture of private and state-run ones, suffer from the security flaws that allowed these prisoners to escape and elude the law for weeks, while killing a vacationing elderly couple in the process.
Among the failures in security are "faulty alarm systems, holes under fences big enough to crawl through, and broken perimeter lights and cameras." The report also found a systemic ignorance of proper security protocols at nearly all the facilities studied.
The amount and extent of these security failures is just staggering, but they come as no surprise to anyone familiar with the industry and its all-consuming drive for profit. By cutting corners in these areas, the private companies that run these prisons put their staff, their prisoners, and the general public at great risk. They continuously fail to live up to contractual obligations because executives at these companies are greedy, despicable people who not only profit from incarcerating people, but do so in such an unscrupulous manner.
The first report to come out on this is linked in the title; another, appearing in the Tuscon Citizen, can be found here.
Among the failures in security are "faulty alarm systems, holes under fences big enough to crawl through, and broken perimeter lights and cameras." The report also found a systemic ignorance of proper security protocols at nearly all the facilities studied.
The amount and extent of these security failures is just staggering, but they come as no surprise to anyone familiar with the industry and its all-consuming drive for profit. By cutting corners in these areas, the private companies that run these prisons put their staff, their prisoners, and the general public at great risk. They continuously fail to live up to contractual obligations because executives at these companies are greedy, despicable people who not only profit from incarcerating people, but do so in such an unscrupulous manner.
The first report to come out on this is linked in the title; another, appearing in the Tuscon Citizen, can be found here.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Excellent Report
In a fantastic new report titled "Gaming the System," Paul Ashton at the Justice Policy Institute delves into the seedy world of private prisons and how they have manipulated political systems to ensure a steady flow of prisoners for decades. The natural result of these actions has been a dramatic increase in our incarcerated population that correlates with the advent of modern private prisons.
The report shows that "As revenues of private prison companies have grown over the past decade, the companies have had more resources with which to build political power, and they have used this power to promote policies that lead to higher rates of incarceration."
The report shows that "As revenues of private prison companies have grown over the past decade, the companies have had more resources with which to build political power, and they have used this power to promote policies that lead to higher rates of incarceration."
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Seeking New Opportunities
GEO just submitted an unsolicited proposal to the state of Virginia to take over thier sex-offender monitoring center. Under the proposal, the state could privatize hundreds of beds for sexually violent criminals, who can be held indefinitely.
This opens a whole new scary front in privatization. If the state does indeed decide to privatize these services (and my gut tells me a flood of cash from GEO and its subsidiary, GEOCare might find its way to Virginia's legislator's pockets in the near future), the ramifications are terrifying.
GEO makes more money the longer it incarcerates people. It currently has no motivation to rehabilitate offenders of any type, and the distinct lack of programming and vocational instruction available in private prisons is testimony to the fact that they don't want to improve public safety or people's lives; they just want to maximize profit at literally any cost, including the welfare of society at large. But to turn over the keys to literally indefinite detention of sex offenders would be the equivalent of the state handing GEO a blank check. GEO would undoubtedly seek to maximize the stays of all its residents, because they don't earn money for helping them stay out of prison.
I think this is an effing horrible proposal.
This opens a whole new scary front in privatization. If the state does indeed decide to privatize these services (and my gut tells me a flood of cash from GEO and its subsidiary, GEOCare might find its way to Virginia's legislator's pockets in the near future), the ramifications are terrifying.
GEO makes more money the longer it incarcerates people. It currently has no motivation to rehabilitate offenders of any type, and the distinct lack of programming and vocational instruction available in private prisons is testimony to the fact that they don't want to improve public safety or people's lives; they just want to maximize profit at literally any cost, including the welfare of society at large. But to turn over the keys to literally indefinite detention of sex offenders would be the equivalent of the state handing GEO a blank check. GEO would undoubtedly seek to maximize the stays of all its residents, because they don't earn money for helping them stay out of prison.
I think this is an effing horrible proposal.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
What a Million Bucks Can Buy
A new report from the Institute on Money in State Politics finds that private prison interests spent $1 million to influence Florida's government this past year. This figure only includes campaign and party contributions, and does not include the tens of thousands also spent lobbying the government during the same timeframe. This all came leading up to the Governor's proposal, and Legislature's decision, to privatize the correctional services of 18 counties, the largest single-instance privatization of prisons probably ever.
The GEO Group alone spent more than $820,000 in campaign contributions in the last year. So exactly what did all this money buy for them? “I think the Florida opportunity is several hundreds of millions,” said Brian Evans, GEO Group’s chief financial officer, adding that it will be among “the largest opportunities we’ve ever seen in the history of our industry.”
I am just really sad to see how influential money can be in our government. Unlimited private campaign contributions and our corporate welfare state are simply unacceptable. Florida's government doesn't give a shit about anything or anyone that doesn't feed its insatiable greed.
The GEO Group alone spent more than $820,000 in campaign contributions in the last year. So exactly what did all this money buy for them? “I think the Florida opportunity is several hundreds of millions,” said Brian Evans, GEO Group’s chief financial officer, adding that it will be among “the largest opportunities we’ve ever seen in the history of our industry.”
I am just really sad to see how influential money can be in our government. Unlimited private campaign contributions and our corporate welfare state are simply unacceptable. Florida's government doesn't give a shit about anything or anyone that doesn't feed its insatiable greed.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Message to Florida's Governor
I'll keep it brief here with just an excerpt from a message the Florida Police Benevolent Association (the CO union in Florida) has asked state legislators to send to Governor Scott in response to his proposal to privatize much of the state prison system:
"Please veto the budget because it allows the additional privatization of state corrections institutions. This will not save the taxpayers of Florida a dime and it will risk public safety. If you allow this, you are hurting public safety while sending a very bad message — big corporate dollars and influence are more important than the government protecting the public or spending taxpayers' money wisely.
"Further, leave payouts to state correctional officers will cost the state approximately $32 million, thus erasing the supposed $11 million savings expected this year from privatization. Therefore, it will cost the taxpayers $21 million this year so big corporations doing business with the state can make a profit."
"Please veto the budget because it allows the additional privatization of state corrections institutions. This will not save the taxpayers of Florida a dime and it will risk public safety. If you allow this, you are hurting public safety while sending a very bad message — big corporate dollars and influence are more important than the government protecting the public or spending taxpayers' money wisely.
"Further, leave payouts to state correctional officers will cost the state approximately $32 million, thus erasing the supposed $11 million savings expected this year from privatization. Therefore, it will cost the taxpayers $21 million this year so big corporations doing business with the state can make a profit."
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
"Profitization, not Privatization"
Don't just take it from me - those are the words used by an Ohio state representative, Matt Lundy, to describe Governor Kasich's plan to sell off several state prisons to private operators to generate a one-time cash influx of possibly $200 million. Lundy also called the idea "insane."
John MacDonald, a police officer, went even further; he calls the plan a "swindle of taxpayers." Of course this is all being done under the guise of saving money but it's really just another example of Republicans looking to privatize government services to benefit their friends and donors. The DOC spokesman claims that the 5% cost-savings promised by the industry are "indisputable," a claim that certainly is not.
Thankfully, though, the state is on the verge of passing some reforms to their criminal sanctions which will allow prisoners to leave prison earlier and divert low-level nonviolent offenders from incarceration. So not all is lost.
John MacDonald, a police officer, went even further; he calls the plan a "swindle of taxpayers." Of course this is all being done under the guise of saving money but it's really just another example of Republicans looking to privatize government services to benefit their friends and donors. The DOC spokesman claims that the 5% cost-savings promised by the industry are "indisputable," a claim that certainly is not.
Thankfully, though, the state is on the verge of passing some reforms to their criminal sanctions which will allow prisoners to leave prison earlier and divert low-level nonviolent offenders from incarceration. So not all is lost.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Contributions Paid Off
The Republican governor of Tennessee, Bill Haslam, recently released his budget which includes severe cuts to higher education and a state healthcare system. However, his budget found room to continue to pay $30 million per year to CCA to operate one prison.
But this should come as no surprise. Damon Hininger remarked during a conference call with investors last year that CCA's future operation of the prison was far from certain. So CCA got their checkbooks out. They donated $2,000 to Haslam's campaign directly (in addition to the oodles they gave the Republican Governor's association, which he undoubtedly got a cut from). CCA then upped the ante by donating another $7,500 to inauguration day fesitivities for Haslam.
Then the governor decided not to cut their budget at all, while sacrificing higher education and healthcare. He also is going to release thousands of prisoners early, which means the corrections budget clearly was in need of a cut. What a huge surprise!
I think it's pretty clear at this point that Republicans care only for corporations, and couldn't give a hoot about American citizens. This is just yet another example of corporate interests and profitability taking precedent over important social welfare programs. Republicans literally want to destroy the middle class as we know it and return the workers of this country to indentured servitude. They defund and dismantle democratic party contributors (unions), they take money from education and social welfare programs, making people sicker and dumber (thereby less likely and able to revolt), and they continue to peddle out taxpayer dollars to corporations with little accountability. Republicans are absolutely nothing but a party designed to promote and legalize corporate interests.
This massive push in public discourse for more privatization and less government is nothing less than an assault on the very values that made this country great, perpetrated by corporations who stand to profit from such a perception.
But this should come as no surprise. Damon Hininger remarked during a conference call with investors last year that CCA's future operation of the prison was far from certain. So CCA got their checkbooks out. They donated $2,000 to Haslam's campaign directly (in addition to the oodles they gave the Republican Governor's association, which he undoubtedly got a cut from). CCA then upped the ante by donating another $7,500 to inauguration day fesitivities for Haslam.
Then the governor decided not to cut their budget at all, while sacrificing higher education and healthcare. He also is going to release thousands of prisoners early, which means the corrections budget clearly was in need of a cut. What a huge surprise!
I think it's pretty clear at this point that Republicans care only for corporations, and couldn't give a hoot about American citizens. This is just yet another example of corporate interests and profitability taking precedent over important social welfare programs. Republicans literally want to destroy the middle class as we know it and return the workers of this country to indentured servitude. They defund and dismantle democratic party contributors (unions), they take money from education and social welfare programs, making people sicker and dumber (thereby less likely and able to revolt), and they continue to peddle out taxpayer dollars to corporations with little accountability. Republicans are absolutely nothing but a party designed to promote and legalize corporate interests.
This massive push in public discourse for more privatization and less government is nothing less than an assault on the very values that made this country great, perpetrated by corporations who stand to profit from such a perception.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Conservative Economics Don't Help in Economic Crises
So I suppose I'm branching out a bit here and going beyond my traditional scope of prison privatization. But the recent budget proposal introduced by Ohio Governor John Kasich is a massive conservative failure that I think warrants attention.
Ohio is facing an $8 billion budget shortfall. Now, most economists will tell you that there are two ways to make up for such a shortfall; raise taxes and/or reduce spending. Liberals tend to favor the former, conservatives the latter. We already have historically low tax rates on the wealthy in this country, but apparently that's not enough for Governor Kasich.
He wants to cut taxes even further, which will result in an even greater financial shortfall by reducing state revenues (to the tune of an extra $420 frigging million). To make up for this and the budget crunch, he is now looking to privatize even more of the state's prison system, which should come as no surprise considering he hired a former CCA employee to be his secretary of corrections. He also wants to sell off parts of state parks to oil companies and cut medicaid.
These are all foolish proposals which will cost the state MORE in the long term. These aren't budget solutions, they're stopgap measures designed very specifically to continue America's trend of corporate welfare while screwing over the majority of the citizenry. Ohioans will lose their state parks to oil and gas interests. Ohio's prisoners will be subject to cruel conditions and lose out on valuable programming and rehabilitation services, which will likely increase recidivism. Kasich also wants to privatize the state lottery, despite the fact that their neighbor, Illinois, did so only to see the private company who overtook it be ambushed with lawsuits. For christ's sake, the man wants to privatize the state turnpike system and defund unions. If this isn't an attack on Ohio's middle and working classes, I don't know what is.
Where will this insanity end? Let's cut the crap. Eliminating social services and privatizing government operations is not efficient, and it does not serve the interests of the American public. Private companies are no more efficient, accountable, or transparent than the government, period. In fact, many who study corporate practices and policies realize that corporations care only about the bottom line, and nothing else. Privatization serves the interests of the wealthy, not the people. It does not make government more efficient.
Business interests do not align with the interests of the middle class or the poor. Any members of the middle class who think privatization will help them are either willfully deceived, or just plain ignorant. Business owners have absolutely nothing in common with the interests of working Americans. I am both angered and saddened at the recent wave of pro-privatization rhetoric sweeping the nation, and I hope for the sake of this country that we wake up and realize that a corporate welfare state is not a healthy one.
Ohio is facing an $8 billion budget shortfall. Now, most economists will tell you that there are two ways to make up for such a shortfall; raise taxes and/or reduce spending. Liberals tend to favor the former, conservatives the latter. We already have historically low tax rates on the wealthy in this country, but apparently that's not enough for Governor Kasich.
He wants to cut taxes even further, which will result in an even greater financial shortfall by reducing state revenues (to the tune of an extra $420 frigging million). To make up for this and the budget crunch, he is now looking to privatize even more of the state's prison system, which should come as no surprise considering he hired a former CCA employee to be his secretary of corrections. He also wants to sell off parts of state parks to oil companies and cut medicaid.
These are all foolish proposals which will cost the state MORE in the long term. These aren't budget solutions, they're stopgap measures designed very specifically to continue America's trend of corporate welfare while screwing over the majority of the citizenry. Ohioans will lose their state parks to oil and gas interests. Ohio's prisoners will be subject to cruel conditions and lose out on valuable programming and rehabilitation services, which will likely increase recidivism. Kasich also wants to privatize the state lottery, despite the fact that their neighbor, Illinois, did so only to see the private company who overtook it be ambushed with lawsuits. For christ's sake, the man wants to privatize the state turnpike system and defund unions. If this isn't an attack on Ohio's middle and working classes, I don't know what is.
Where will this insanity end? Let's cut the crap. Eliminating social services and privatizing government operations is not efficient, and it does not serve the interests of the American public. Private companies are no more efficient, accountable, or transparent than the government, period. In fact, many who study corporate practices and policies realize that corporations care only about the bottom line, and nothing else. Privatization serves the interests of the wealthy, not the people. It does not make government more efficient.
Business interests do not align with the interests of the middle class or the poor. Any members of the middle class who think privatization will help them are either willfully deceived, or just plain ignorant. Business owners have absolutely nothing in common with the interests of working Americans. I am both angered and saddened at the recent wave of pro-privatization rhetoric sweeping the nation, and I hope for the sake of this country that we wake up and realize that a corporate welfare state is not a healthy one.
Labels:
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Wednesday, March 9, 2011
What a Swell Guy
Mark Ciavarella, the former judge from Luzerne County, PA who was convicted of sending undeserving children into prison for kickbacks from a private prison builder, is back in the news. Now, he has submitted a motion to the court seeking to toss out his conviction and get a new trial. I'm not in the least bit surprised that this happened, considering Mr. Ciavarella has a bit of a history with manipulating the law to his benefit. Hopefully, he will fail miserably in this attempt to overturn the convictions. If not, I might just lose all faith in our criminal justice system.
Staying True to His Word, Unfortunately
John Kasich, the new governor of Ohio, has made it clear he intends to privatize more of his state's prison system. Kasich claims to be doing this in order to save money, but a simple review of research on private prisons will uncover numerous reports that dispute the claims of cost-savings by the industry. Anyway, he seemed to be taking one step closer to expanding the reach of private prisons when he hired a former CCA consultant and employee as his secretary of corrections.
So it comes as no surprise that a state Senator recently made remarks hinting at the state reopening a former juvenile facility as a private adult prison. In this case, I will refrain from voicing my standard complaints about the industry to highlight an important detail about privatization that is relevant to the current news about collective bargaining in the midwest (Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio, in particular).
Mike Huffman, president of the Mid-Ohio AFL-CIO made some pointed remarks about the private industry, and how they don't hire union employees: "The down side is privatization. ... It'd be nice to have the prison back open just for jobs, but at the same time we're struggling to keep collective bargaining." His point is really that this is yet another move by a state government to disperse power and resources from the government to the private sector, often at the expense of the working class(Private prisons don't hire unionized guards). Unions have historically provided a very important service for labor in this country, and recent attempts to strip unions of collective bargaining rights signify a dangerous trend. Scott Walker, the governor of Wisconsin, even jokingly admitted in a phone call to a man he believed was one of the Koch brothers that he thought Wisconsin was the first battle in a war against collective bargaining.
This tide of anti-government rhetoric sweeping the nation certainly has merit in that it seeks to address the inefficiencies of government. However, the solution is not simply to eliminate government or pare it back to its most basic form. That will only lead to greater ineffectiveness in combating some of the most dangerous elements of our society, namely wall street, big oil, global warming deniers, and home-grown religious fanatics. Yes, governments need to be more efficient and accountable. But the notion that private industry fits either of those definitions, or that it would if just given the chance to regulate itself via the wondrous "free market," is just outright absurd.
Private industry is no more moral, accountable, transparent, or efficient than the government. In fact, a democratic government is theoretically the citizenry's best weapon against corporate excess, which, let's face it, isn't good for the majority of Americans.
Finally, and I'll leave on this little tidbit, regular readers might be interested to know that ALEC is largely behind the attack on collective bargaining. Yes, the super right-wing, corporate-sponsored legislation promoting whore of a nonprofit, ALEC. The attacks on collective bargaining, and governments looking to privatize more services, have nothing to do with fixing budgets. It is all part of a coordinated hoax being perpetrated on this country by some of the wealthiest and most influential leaders of business. It's all about lining their pockets. Nothing more, and nothing less.
So it comes as no surprise that a state Senator recently made remarks hinting at the state reopening a former juvenile facility as a private adult prison. In this case, I will refrain from voicing my standard complaints about the industry to highlight an important detail about privatization that is relevant to the current news about collective bargaining in the midwest (Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio, in particular).
Mike Huffman, president of the Mid-Ohio AFL-CIO made some pointed remarks about the private industry, and how they don't hire union employees: "The down side is privatization. ... It'd be nice to have the prison back open just for jobs, but at the same time we're struggling to keep collective bargaining." His point is really that this is yet another move by a state government to disperse power and resources from the government to the private sector, often at the expense of the working class(Private prisons don't hire unionized guards). Unions have historically provided a very important service for labor in this country, and recent attempts to strip unions of collective bargaining rights signify a dangerous trend. Scott Walker, the governor of Wisconsin, even jokingly admitted in a phone call to a man he believed was one of the Koch brothers that he thought Wisconsin was the first battle in a war against collective bargaining.
This tide of anti-government rhetoric sweeping the nation certainly has merit in that it seeks to address the inefficiencies of government. However, the solution is not simply to eliminate government or pare it back to its most basic form. That will only lead to greater ineffectiveness in combating some of the most dangerous elements of our society, namely wall street, big oil, global warming deniers, and home-grown religious fanatics. Yes, governments need to be more efficient and accountable. But the notion that private industry fits either of those definitions, or that it would if just given the chance to regulate itself via the wondrous "free market," is just outright absurd.
Private industry is no more moral, accountable, transparent, or efficient than the government. In fact, a democratic government is theoretically the citizenry's best weapon against corporate excess, which, let's face it, isn't good for the majority of Americans.
Finally, and I'll leave on this little tidbit, regular readers might be interested to know that ALEC is largely behind the attack on collective bargaining. Yes, the super right-wing, corporate-sponsored legislation promoting whore of a nonprofit, ALEC. The attacks on collective bargaining, and governments looking to privatize more services, have nothing to do with fixing budgets. It is all part of a coordinated hoax being perpetrated on this country by some of the wealthiest and most influential leaders of business. It's all about lining their pockets. Nothing more, and nothing less.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Why I Hate Mark Ciavarella Today
Ciavarella, the judge who sent thousands of undeserving youth into prison for minor crimes in a scheme that netted him more than $2 million in kickbacks, just recently testified at his trial. In his testimony, he claims the payments were a "finder's fee" for helping steer business to the builder of the juvenile detention center (nevermind the fact that as a judge, he's not supposed to be accepting money other than his salary, period).
His testimony is a study in nuanced language and how legal experts try to manipulate the semantics of laws to get themselves out of hot water. It's basically a lot of hogwash, with Ciavarella trying to justify years of clearly unjustifiable acts.
But what really got me was a paraphrase from his testimony, where he remarked that he was simply "trying to do right by the county's troubled youth."
Eff you you asshole. You knew exactly what you were doing, and to try to hide behind some bogus claim that you did this in the interest of the youth is disingenuous at best. You are a prime example of the corruptibility inherent in profit-driven enterprise. You are a disgusting excuse for a human being. I hate you so much, Mark Ciavarella.
His testimony is a study in nuanced language and how legal experts try to manipulate the semantics of laws to get themselves out of hot water. It's basically a lot of hogwash, with Ciavarella trying to justify years of clearly unjustifiable acts.
But what really got me was a paraphrase from his testimony, where he remarked that he was simply "trying to do right by the county's troubled youth."
Eff you you asshole. You knew exactly what you were doing, and to try to hide behind some bogus claim that you did this in the interest of the youth is disingenuous at best. You are a prime example of the corruptibility inherent in profit-driven enterprise. You are a disgusting excuse for a human being. I hate you so much, Mark Ciavarella.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
The Story that Just Keeps Getting Worse
The builder of the two private juvenile centers Judge Ciavarella was sending kids to without justification in Luzerne County, PA just testified that he didn't think the money he paid to Ciavarella was a kickback or bribe. No, according to Mr. Mericle, it was a "finder's fee" for Ciavarella steering him to a developer that got the project off the ground.
I'm not going to put much faith in Mr. Mericle's testimony, however, considering he lied to federal investigators and then a grand jury about the payments and his relationship with Ciavarella. He has had a long history with Ciavarella, which apparently has included him giving the judge $5,000 in cash every Christmas. Yeah, I'm certain that the guy who lied to a federal grand jury and gives out $5,000 in cash every year to his "friend" is a reputable and trustworthy witness.
When can we just throw this scumbag behind bars?
I'm not going to put much faith in Mr. Mericle's testimony, however, considering he lied to federal investigators and then a grand jury about the payments and his relationship with Ciavarella. He has had a long history with Ciavarella, which apparently has included him giving the judge $5,000 in cash every Christmas. Yeah, I'm certain that the guy who lied to a federal grand jury and gives out $5,000 in cash every year to his "friend" is a reputable and trustworthy witness.
When can we just throw this scumbag behind bars?
Friday, January 28, 2011
Why I Hate Wackenhut/GEO Group Today
The GEO Group is a spin-off company from the former Wackenhut group. Wackenhut split about a decade ago into a security services division and a corrections division (The GEO Group). George Wackenhut used to be an FBI agent and became famous as one of the early purveyors of secret dossiers on American citizens during the Red Scare. Wackenhut's security division provides sub-standard security services for government buildings, metro systems, and the like. The GEO Group is, as I maybe mentioned once or twice on here, an abusive, negligent, despicable organization that profits from the incarceration and suffering of human beings.
Which makes me all the more angry to read the story in this link. The Wackenhut estate is up for sale in Florida. Its price has been cut in half, to nearly 20 million dollars. 20 EFFING MILLION. That means the estate used to be valued at $40 million. A $40 million home, one of multiple homes the family owned, for a guy who is arguably one of the biggest aholes to ever grace this planet. Lord I really completely hate the GEO Group and the conservative, anti-American (yeah, I said it. Collecting secret dossiers on citizens, then running your own private security and incarceration business is anti-American.) jerk who founded it.
Which makes me all the more angry to read the story in this link. The Wackenhut estate is up for sale in Florida. Its price has been cut in half, to nearly 20 million dollars. 20 EFFING MILLION. That means the estate used to be valued at $40 million. A $40 million home, one of multiple homes the family owned, for a guy who is arguably one of the biggest aholes to ever grace this planet. Lord I really completely hate the GEO Group and the conservative, anti-American (yeah, I said it. Collecting secret dossiers on citizens, then running your own private security and incarceration business is anti-American.) jerk who founded it.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Nonsense
The GEO Group has managed a few hospitals in Florida for the past couple of years. One of the hospitals managed by the private, greedy, corrupt organization had nearly double the amount of "Harmful patient events" as state-run hospitals. And this was in a study that has been criticized as biased in favor of the GEO Group! Yet the new governor, Rick Scott, has recommended privatizing the remaining state hospitals.
Let me go on record as saying this is a completely stupid and ridiculous idea. For some reason, GEO's track record of horrific negligence and unabashed greed in the private prison industry hasn't deterred this governor's desire to steer even more taxpayer dollars their way. Rick Scott is a corporate shill who is about to screwover Florida taxpayers and any poor folks who happen to need medical attention in his state.
But that's not all! The GEO Group, along with two private healthcare providers, has submitted a proposal to run a mental health facility in North Carolina. They hired a lobbyist who used to work in both the NC Department of Corrections and on the NC Supreme Court to lobby for them. This is a frightening possibility; if GEO gets control of the facility, their doctors will be responsible for making determinations as to whether or not individuals with mental illnesses accused of crimes will be deemed fit to stand trial. Basically, a private company with a financial incentive to incarcerate as many people as possible will have direct control over the interactions mentally ill offenders have with the criminal justice system. Doctors could summarily declare folks unfit to stand trial, thereby ensuring they stay in the GEO-operated mental health facility, bringing them more revenue. It makes me sick to my stomach to even think of this, especially considering the deplorable lack of medical and mental health care prisoners receive in private prisons.
Let me go on record as saying this is a completely stupid and ridiculous idea. For some reason, GEO's track record of horrific negligence and unabashed greed in the private prison industry hasn't deterred this governor's desire to steer even more taxpayer dollars their way. Rick Scott is a corporate shill who is about to screwover Florida taxpayers and any poor folks who happen to need medical attention in his state.
But that's not all! The GEO Group, along with two private healthcare providers, has submitted a proposal to run a mental health facility in North Carolina. They hired a lobbyist who used to work in both the NC Department of Corrections and on the NC Supreme Court to lobby for them. This is a frightening possibility; if GEO gets control of the facility, their doctors will be responsible for making determinations as to whether or not individuals with mental illnesses accused of crimes will be deemed fit to stand trial. Basically, a private company with a financial incentive to incarcerate as many people as possible will have direct control over the interactions mentally ill offenders have with the criminal justice system. Doctors could summarily declare folks unfit to stand trial, thereby ensuring they stay in the GEO-operated mental health facility, bringing them more revenue. It makes me sick to my stomach to even think of this, especially considering the deplorable lack of medical and mental health care prisoners receive in private prisons.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
They Deceive Prisoners and Film Them Without Consent
36 former prisoners of Cornell (which is in the process of being acquired by the GEO Group) have sued the company over a promotional DVD that was made without their consent. While in a halfway house, the prisoners were subjected to filming which they weren't too fond of, even at the time. However, they were repeatedly assured the footage would only be used for purposes of their cases, such as allowing a judge to see their progress.
Of course however the greed of the industry compelled Cornell to turn the footage into a promotional film / fundraising vehicle. The film was shown to companies and local officials where Cornell was attempting to get contracts.
Of course however the greed of the industry compelled Cornell to turn the footage into a promotional film / fundraising vehicle. The film was shown to companies and local officials where Cornell was attempting to get contracts.
Friday, January 7, 2011
What The Eff?
It just blows my mind sometimes how ridiculous the conflicts of interest in politics can be. Governor Brewer in Arizona created a Commission to study ways to reduce the budget, called the Commission on Privatization and Efficiency. Basically, it's a way for conservative Arizona politicians to legitimize their attempts to undermine government agencies and transfer money from the public sector to their private-sector pals.
So this commission on privatization was comprised of, among other people:
1) A former Senior Director of State and Customer relations for CCA
2) The outgoing president of the Arizona Senate, who received campaign contributions from both CCA and GEO, and who also happens to be the Arizona Public Sector chair of ALEC. ALEC has a very strong contingent of Arizona legislators, and CCA is a major player in what has been called "Corporate America's Trojan Horse."
3) President of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, of which CCA is a "Board Level" Corporate member
Shockingly, this commission recommended, wait for it, that Arizona PRIVATIZE MORE of its prisons. You know, despite the fact that private prisons in Arizona are unsafe, unsecure, and don't save money.
I apologize, because I'm about to break my tradition of a PG-rated blog,
but this is completely fucking absurd!
It is ludicrous that these asshats are the ones directing policy in Arizona. I hate you, Arizona Commission on Privatization and Efficiency, the hypocrisy in your name and mission, and the ignorant moron of a governor that created you.
It is exactly this sort of absurd conservative political manipulation that has caused our country to lead the world far and away in rates of incarceration. If anyone remains unconvinced that our prison system is simply a cash cow for private corporate interests, his head is clearly buried in the sand. This is little more than corporatocracy masquerading as legitimate government. It is corruption and a conflict of interest to the highest degree. These greedy assholes are the reason our justice system is a joke to the rest of the world.
So this commission on privatization was comprised of, among other people:
1) A former Senior Director of State and Customer relations for CCA
2) The outgoing president of the Arizona Senate, who received campaign contributions from both CCA and GEO, and who also happens to be the Arizona Public Sector chair of ALEC. ALEC has a very strong contingent of Arizona legislators, and CCA is a major player in what has been called "Corporate America's Trojan Horse."
3) President of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, of which CCA is a "Board Level" Corporate member
Shockingly, this commission recommended, wait for it, that Arizona PRIVATIZE MORE of its prisons. You know, despite the fact that private prisons in Arizona are unsafe, unsecure, and don't save money.
I apologize, because I'm about to break my tradition of a PG-rated blog,
but this is completely fucking absurd!
It is ludicrous that these asshats are the ones directing policy in Arizona. I hate you, Arizona Commission on Privatization and Efficiency, the hypocrisy in your name and mission, and the ignorant moron of a governor that created you.
It is exactly this sort of absurd conservative political manipulation that has caused our country to lead the world far and away in rates of incarceration. If anyone remains unconvinced that our prison system is simply a cash cow for private corporate interests, his head is clearly buried in the sand. This is little more than corporatocracy masquerading as legitimate government. It is corruption and a conflict of interest to the highest degree. These greedy assholes are the reason our justice system is a joke to the rest of the world.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
CCA is Unfair to Its Employees
CCA and other private prison companies traditionally don't hire unionized corrections officers, which allows them to pay their employees far less than what state employees earn. This is the biggest area of legitimate cost savings offered by privatization, but it often comes at a price (see: everything I've ever written about the quality of guards at private prisons).
CCA is currently facing a challenge from a union in Arizona that represents about 1/3 of the employees at a CCA facility. These officers want half the raise that was just awarded to ICE officers. CCA is offering them 10 cents more per hour, on a salary that already pales in comparison to what governments pay for similar work.
For a much more in-depth analysis of the contract negotiations, go here.
CCA is currently facing a challenge from a union in Arizona that represents about 1/3 of the employees at a CCA facility. These officers want half the raise that was just awarded to ICE officers. CCA is offering them 10 cents more per hour, on a salary that already pales in comparison to what governments pay for similar work.
For a much more in-depth analysis of the contract negotiations, go here.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Sheisty
CCA is trying to take everything they can grab on their way out of the Hernando County, FL jail, without even waiting to determine whether or not they properly own it. Using some talking points, their PR person denied any wrongdoing, but they're trying to take some major appliances and security implements out of the facility, including an industrial dishwasher, computers, cameras, and even the razor wire around the facility (click here for details on that). And they only want to give the county until Wednesday to contest any decision to take something, despite the fact that the city council has asked them to hold off on removing the items until it can be determined who actually owns them. Quit trying to steal from Hernando County, CCA.
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