Idaho to seize control of corporate-run state prison

[Redfairen]

Idaho's governor says the corrections department will take over operation of the largest privately-run prison in the state after recent problems including understaffing, multiple lawsuits and a criminal investigation into possible contract fraud.

Corrections Corporation of America has contracted with the state to run the prison since it was built in 1997. Taxpayers currently pay CCA $29 million per year to operate the 2,080-bed prison south of Boise.

The prison has been the subject of multiple lawsuits alleging rampant violence, understaffing, gang activity and contract fraud, and some of the lawsuits have resulted in federal court orders to improve conditions.

CCA acknowledged last year that falsified staffing reports were given to the state showing thousands of hours were staffed by CCA workers when the positions were actually vacant.

http://abcnews.go.com/m/story?id=21411794&sid=81

[sharp_stick]

1. I wonder what Republican genius

came up with the idea for private prison contracting? Probably the same, now rich, piece of shit that figured that drug testing all welfare recipients was a good idea...shortly after buying a shitload of stock in testing labs.

[Warren Stupidity]

2. States have signed deals guaranteeing occupancy rates for private prisons.

Think about just how fucked up that is. A guaranteed prison occupancy rate.

The initial consequence was that lower cost public prison "occupants" were shipped off to higher cost private prisons.

As crime rates have been on a long term decline, there is an almost inevitable conflict of interest created.

There are government services that should never be "privatized", perhaps all of them, but almost certainly prison systems are in that category.

[Wounded Bear]

4. Indeed, and where does everyone think...

all of the money backing "Three Strikes" laws comes from. The prison industry and the evil unions (I hate that the corrections officers' unions are in there, but the truth is the truth).

The prison industry is a blight on our society.

[brer cat]

3. I hope this is the first of many states.

For profit prisons are a disgrace.

[frylock]

5. good. we need to eliminate the prison industrial complex.