Legislation & Politics

AFSCME Urges End to Prison Privatization

May 1, 2007

 

Dear Representative:

On behalf of the 1.4 million members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and over 60,000 state and local corrections personnel that we represent, I am writing to urge you to become a cosponsor of H.R. 1890, the Public Safety Act.  This legislation ensures that core correctional services related to the operation of correctional facilities and the incarceration of inmates are not provided by non-governmental private entities.

Incarcerating criminals is one of the most fundamental government responsibilities.  Granting this authority to non-governmental entities raises a number of troubling issues.  For example, allowing private entities the authority to use force, especially deadly force, brings up troubling constitutional and civil rights concerns.  Furthermore, a private entity paid on a per diem basis should not be in a position to make recommendations to parole boards or make decisions that would lengthen the prisoner’s sentence that would increase their profits. 

Additionally, there have been persistent problems with inadequate training of guards, abusive treatment of prisoners and careless security.  The many documented escapes of rapists and murderers and rioting in private prisons jeopardize the safety of those not only inside the facility, but in neighboring communities as well.  Just this week, in a riot at a private prison in Indiana, inmates at the New Castle facility injured two guards and seven inmates and caused extensive damage to the facility.  This disturbance is the latest example of riots led by prisoners shipped to other states for incarceration.  The entire law enforcement community of New Castle and other emergency personnel were needed to quell the riot and to protect the community.  Corrections staff cited insufficient staffing as contributing to the uprising.

The claim that the private prison industry provides the same quality services for less money is simply wrong.  The corporate giants in the corrections field increase the costs per inmate once they secure the contract and the state loses the ability to perform the work and valuable oversight of the facilities.  To stay in business, private prisons continue to put profit over prison and community safety by hiring fewer staff and cutting back on training and services.  These dangerous practices endanger the local communities as they did in the New Castle facility.

Please add your support for safe, humane and cost-effective incarceration of inmates by signing on to H.R. 1890, the Public Safety Act.  For additional information, or to become a cosponsor, please contact Jake Kuhns with Representative Tim Holden at 5-5546 or contact Jayne Clancy, AFSCME Public Safety Officer Representative at 202-429-5094.  Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Charles M. Loveless
Director of Legislation

Print Version
 

Raymond Summers
Council 31, Illinois

Raymond Summers

"I'm not a Democrat or a Republican, but I am a proud city employee. I support candidates who are on our side. And after they win, I make sure they vote for legislation that supports public services."