The Possibility of Running Prison Industries as Profit-Making Ventures - Essay Example

Many studies suggest that the privatization of correctional facilities ensures significant cost savings (Calabrese, 1993; Morris, 1999; Segal & Moore, 2002). However, on-ground evidence suggests that correctional companies are not earning a sufficient amount of profit from their investment in the correctional industry. Rather, they incur more cost than earning a sufficient amount of profit. The fundamental cause is that the ever-increasing costs of maintaining such correctional facilities have brought down the profit of such companies. And this ever-growing cost is simultaneously visible in both private and public-run correctional facilities. Additionally, in some states, there are more facilities and fewer inmates. As a result, this increases the cost of maintaining such facilities. Furthermore, certain studies suggest that more legislation is required to bring many types of offenses under the cover of the constitution. On many such issues, the process of legislation is very slow. Fundamentally, this issue has been politicized and the political parties move in a way to satisfy their political interests rather than taking such steps necessary to get approved the necessary legislation.

Aggregately, these factors diminish the chances of profitability in the correctional industry. However certain measures may be suggested to improve the possibility of profitability in the industry. All the necessary steps and processes must be followed and implemented with a minimum consumption of time. The process of legislation is of prime importance over this issue. The framing of certain offenses and crimes and their sentencing would bring more criminals into jails, detention centers, and prisons. Additionally, depoliticizing the prison privatization issue must be pursued by all the relevant parties. Instead of behaving in a way to serve their political, personal, or party interests, politicians must ensure that national interests are served by codifying the relevant crime and offense-related issues.

By not doing so, it would be obvious that more taxpayers’ money would be consumed in the case of public sector-run prisons and more cost would be paid by the correctional companies in the case of privately run prisons. Additionally, at the operational level, both public and private sector corporations must find the relevant avenues where cost savings might be achieved such as if more beds are provided than the number of inmates and they are maintained well for a considerable period, they must be removed and be brought back in case of need. Aggregately, legislation of offenses and crimes and cost savings avenues are those two areas that would increase the profitability of the prison industries. Read More