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| Prison privatization under fire |
| By tallahassee.com - Bill Cotterell |
| Published: 10/03/2011 |
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The biggest privatization move in Florida history began when a nationally known government cost-cutter told the Senate's budget committee chief that, for the right kind of inmates, turning prisons over to for-profit corporations could save a lot of money. Now, the state's plan to privatize 29 prison facilities in 18 counties is the hottest political, management and legal issue of Gov. Rick Scott's young administration. And he didn't even ask for it. The Department of Corrections was scheduled to open bids this week to operate prisons in its vast Region IV — everything south of Hillsborough, Polk, Osceola and Brevard counties — but a circuit court judge last week stopped the move. The state has not decided whether to appeal Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford's findings that the Legislature illegally slipped the privatization mandate into proviso language of the budget. The Florida Police Benevolent Association sued to stop the privatization. The union, which vigorously fought the business-minded Scott in last year's campaign, frankly admits it's looking out for the jobs of nearly 4,000 prison officers in the region — as well as jobs statewide, if privatizing ultimately succeeds in saving the legally required 7 percent of operating costs. Read More. |
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