The latest version of SB72 regarding relocation of the Draper prison contains a stealth provision that would effectively privatize the prison. To deprive a citizen of his/her liberty is the most serious thing any society can do. That's why, in any moral society, the judicial system and the penal system are always left in the hands of "We the People" via our government. In other words, we citizens should take full responsibility for depriving any fellow citizen of his/her liberty. That's why the Framers included Amendments five through eight in the U.S. Constitution, so as to maximize justice and fairness when it comes to incarcerating a fellow citizen.
Private corporations are not interested in justice and fairness. They are interested only in maximizing their profits. To turn prisoners over to a private corporation, as this bill now proposes, is not only contrary to the spirit of the Bill of Rights but is profoundly immoral, because the profit motive that drives these corporations will inevitably induce them to keep people locked up longer than they would be in a publicly-accountable prison.
Thomas Huckin
Salt Lake City
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The funny thing is, private prisons are more expensive for the state than if the state just ran the prison (see Arizona's experience). This is not about saving costs; it's about enriching some legislators' cronies. BAD idea if your More..
A public prison has the financial incentive to rehabilitate and get prisoners OUT asap, and to have as few prisoners as possible.
meanwhile --
What incentive would a private prison have, to get prisoners out, and stay out, when they More..
If prisons end up being privatized, we the people, who are ultimately the employer, should dictate the terms of compensation, not just paying for warehousing criminals, but rewarding the prison operators for outcomes that benefit society, like More..