[kghose]

If the privatization plan had no incentive for increasing occupancy, then this problem would not occur. Regardless of whether things are government run or privately run the key is oversight by independent bodies that have as little incentive to be biased in one way or the other.

[jlarocco]

Privatized prisons will always have an incentive to increase occupancy because they will always benefit by having more prisons and providing more jobs.

The problem with having an independent body provide oversight is that in the worst case it's just another level of corruption. Even in the best case they have an incentive to keep the prison system larger because it means more work (aka money) investigating and auditing.

I'm not a big fan of the government, but I think prisons are one thing the government should do itself.

[noloqy]

True - you would have to set rules in place that would prevent any kind of incentive for increased occupancy, and then create government bodies that enforce these rules. Also, you would have to set rules in place for many kinds of standards for living conditions for inmates, and set up bodies that enforce those as well.

The thing is that when commercial incentives come into play, companies will go out of their way to find ways to increase profits. Privatization essentially starts a race to the bottom; a race that can only be slowed down by regulatory institutions. In the end, the company always wins and society loses. Banks have showed us that.

[aswanson]

The privatization is just getting started. Look at this insanity: http://www.mockprisonriot.org/exhibitors/Pages/default.aspx