Cost-Benefit Analysis - Research Paper Example

with the government departments that commits prisoners and then pay the company a monthly rate per every prisoner confined in the detention center (Logan, 1997). This essay will provide a cost-effective analysis of prison privatization, whereby all its benefits will be identified and added, together with the negatives and the costs. The differences between the two will then be figured out to determine whether the idea is advisable. According to William (1996), the arguments both in favor of the privatization of prisons and against it are based on the issue of money.

While some opponents are of the idea that privatizing prison facilities will reduce the costs of running them at the federal and state levels, its opponents feel that it will lead to a lack of qualified staff or security, poor ground and building maintenance, and the possibility of delays in notifying the community in case of a prison break. One of the most visible benefits of the privatization of prisons is that it solves the problem of overcrowding and space. Should a state transfer some prisoners to a private detention center, it will create room for more prisoners in the state prisons, or the correct amount of space for the prisoners already in the private prison.

This can save funds on supplies bought to support the current prisoner population, and can also reduce potential violence since it eases the living tensions experienced in most prisons. However, should the private company running the private facility go bankrupt, to could lead to its closure, potentially releasing violent prisoners prematurely (William, 1996). Another benefit of prison privatization is that it assists in budget predictions. When a state works with a private facility, it can set the limit on the number of inmates in their own facilities, thus enabling a more accurate prediction of the total cost of supporting an inmate daily.

This can be beneficial during budget analysis and predictions, or when asking for grants from the