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| N.H. officials mull private prison bids |
| By concordmonitor.com - Annmarie Timmins |
| Published: 04/09/2012 |
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Some have doubts over cost savings With four companies interested in the job, state officials are again deciding whether putting the state's prisons in private hands is a way to cut corrections costs. The idea may have more political support now than it did last time, in 2004, but serious doubts about cost savings and inmate security are as strong as ever. "I don't think anything has changed," said Diana Lacey, president of the state employees union, which fought privatization eight years ago and opposes it now. "In fact, if anything, what we have seen is the for-profit industry grow and gain influence with state and federal legislators." Three of the four companies that recently submitted bids to take over the state's prisons have two or more lobbyists in the state. And their 2011 profit margins - one bidder saw a $167 million profit, the other a $77 million profit - illustrates Lacey's main concern about privatization. A private company, Lacey said, needs to keep inmate beds full and security, salary and program costs down to make money. Meanwhile, the state's goal is to rehabilitate inmates and keep them out of prison. "Those are totally conflicting viewpoints," she said. Still, privatizing prisons is a conversation state leaders say is worth having, even if the state ultimately decides to retain management of its prisons and inmates. Read More. |
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