Examples of How the Private Prison Industry
Has Failed to Save Money
- Report from the AZ-DOC showing that private prisons can cost more than government-operated ones: http://www.azcorrections.gov/ARS41_1609_01_Biennial_Comparison_Report122111_e_v.pdf
- Article about report from AZ-DOC, summarizing it pretty well: http://www.azjournal.com/2012/01/04/corrections-evaluates-both-private-and-public-prisons/
- Article on the report from AFSC showing Arizona spent $10 million more on private prisons in just 3 years than it would have cost the state to operate: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2012/02/15/20120215arizona-private-prisons-slammed-by-report.html
- Article detailing how state Rep. Paula Dockery showed private prisons don’t save money in Florida: http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/2012/02/dockery-says-doc-records-show-private-prisons-arent-cheaper.html
- Article discussing how a sheriff in Hernando County, FL saved taxpayers more than $1 million in his first year after assuming operation of his jail from CCA (even after hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of maintenance that CCA had neglected for 2 decades): http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/hernando-countys-takeover-of-jail-brings-year-of-sweeping-changes/1188387
- Article that mentions how CCA and the GEO Group conned Florida for $13 million with unfilled job positions and inflated rates: http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/blog/anti-prison-privatization-group-opposes-floridas-prison-privatization-effort
- Article discussing a report from Ohio showing the state will likely pay more for the prison it sold to CCA, and that it actually saved money by turning a private treatment center public: http://www.ocsea.org/news/story.asp?sid=985
- Article quoting the warden of a county jail in Kentucky who says the county can save money by de-privatizing (no specific stats cited): http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/dec/17/no-headline---ron_colujmn_for_1218/
- Article quoting the sheriff of San Bernadino County as saying private prisons are too costly and therefore not in consideration (no specific stats): http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/adelanto-31534-ends-prison.html
- Article discussing the report, Banking on Bondage, mentioning AZ Auditor General saying state-run prisons cost less to maintain: http://presstv.com/usdetail/208406.html
- Prison experts in KY saying private prisons can cost up to $10 more per prisoner per day: http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/oct/18/jailers-plan-to-campaign-across-state/
- Report from the HI State Auditor saying private prisons intentionally skew cost-comparisons: http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/544504/State-auditor-blasts-private-prison-oversight.html?nav=5031
- NY Times article on private prison costs: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/19/us/19prisons.html
- Article discussing how hospitals in Florida run by the GEO Group cost more than state hospitals: http://www.bakercountypress.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1081:hospital-privatization-in-senate-bill&catid=59:news&Itemid=57
- Article about a study in Florida showing private prisons don’t actually save money: http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2010/04/05/daily58.html
- County jails in Tennessee (home of CCA) cost far less than CCA facilities: http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/sep/25/jailer-ron-herrington/
- Tulsa, OK saves nearly $15 million in 5 years after taking back its facility from a private company: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=16&articleid=20100920_16_A1_CUTLIN9494&allcom=1
- Study from 2010 by AZ-DOC showing private prisons don’t save money: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/08/22/20100822arizona-private-prisons.html
- KY-DOC spokeswoman says private prisons aren’t cheaper than state prisons: http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100705/NEWS01/7050312/Behind-the-Bars-Experts-question-benefits-of-private-prisons
- KY pulls inmates out of private prison to save money: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9GGH0AG0.htm
- Bay County, Florida saved $1.3 million per year over what CCA would have charged: http://www.wjhg.com/news/headlines/87402237.html
- OK finds private prisons cost more, regardless of security level: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=16&articleid=20091021_16_A11_OKLAHO205716&rss_lnk=11
- A great 5-page breakdown from the Private Corrections Institute that discusses how the industry often fails to save money, and why: http://privateci.org/private_pics/PCI%20policy%20brief%20on%20private%20prison%20costs%202012.pdf