Post by Admin on Jul 16, 2011 16:58:07 GMT
What is the real idea behind this?
Is it a easy way to make money for government's and politicians and the elite few?
I cannot see how privatizing the prison system can be beneficial to anyone. Don't get me wrong I believe there has to be punishment but surely doing this is just a way to make money. If we look at the USA prison system it is clear to see privatizing prison does not work it only imprisoned more people.
Story from Guardian UK.
Ken Clarke's decision to award the security firm G4S the contract to run the 1,400-place Birmingham prison, announced in the House of Commons, has reignited the debate about the role of the private sector in our prisons. The UK already has the most privatised prison system in Europe. In England and Wales, nearly 10,000 prisoners (11.6% of the total prisoner population) are held in private prisons. This is a higher proportion than in the US, where the figure is around 9%. The privatisation of HMP Birmingham and the new private Featherstone 2 will take the total number of private prisons in England and Wales from 11 to 13, holding up to 14% of the total prison population.
No one is going to argue with an aim to reduce unacceptably high rates of reoffending, but will a move to privatise more prisons achieve this? By unleashing the forces of competition the government hopes to bring about a more efficient and effective justice. Good relations between prisoners and staff, staff and managers are critical to the health of any prison system. It would be a poor outcome if tensions led to a breakdown in these relations and a deterioration in conditions.
Since the first private jail was ushered in in 1992 by Ken Clarke, then as home secretary, the results have been mixed – some private prisons have proved innovative and successful while others have been criticised for their high staff turnover, tendency to cut corners and weaknesses in security.
Full story at
www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/01/privatisation-prisons
Is it a easy way to make money for government's and politicians and the elite few?
I cannot see how privatizing the prison system can be beneficial to anyone. Don't get me wrong I believe there has to be punishment but surely doing this is just a way to make money. If we look at the USA prison system it is clear to see privatizing prison does not work it only imprisoned more people.
Story from Guardian UK.
Ken Clarke's decision to award the security firm G4S the contract to run the 1,400-place Birmingham prison, announced in the House of Commons, has reignited the debate about the role of the private sector in our prisons. The UK already has the most privatised prison system in Europe. In England and Wales, nearly 10,000 prisoners (11.6% of the total prisoner population) are held in private prisons. This is a higher proportion than in the US, where the figure is around 9%. The privatisation of HMP Birmingham and the new private Featherstone 2 will take the total number of private prisons in England and Wales from 11 to 13, holding up to 14% of the total prison population.
No one is going to argue with an aim to reduce unacceptably high rates of reoffending, but will a move to privatise more prisons achieve this? By unleashing the forces of competition the government hopes to bring about a more efficient and effective justice. Good relations between prisoners and staff, staff and managers are critical to the health of any prison system. It would be a poor outcome if tensions led to a breakdown in these relations and a deterioration in conditions.
Since the first private jail was ushered in in 1992 by Ken Clarke, then as home secretary, the results have been mixed – some private prisons have proved innovative and successful while others have been criticised for their high staff turnover, tendency to cut corners and weaknesses in security.
Full story at
www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/01/privatisation-prisons