WHEREAS:

The incarceration of prisoners in the United States continues to accelerate, leading to great overcrowding. Now 35 states are operating beyond their rated capacity, and some are at 170 percent of capacity; and

WHEREAS:

Private profit-making corporations have intensified their efforts to exploit this situation by proposing that the contracting out of correctional facilities is less costly and can relieve the overcrowding problems; and

WHEREAS:

The Reagan Administration has endorsed the privatization of correctional facilities. The President's Commission on Privatization recently recommended the contracting out of federal prisons as a solution to the overcrowding problems; and

WHEREAS:

Higher costs, poorer services, a loss of accountability and increased corruption have plagued the private sector delivery of public services; and

WHEREAS:

The limited experience of private firms operating prisons shows that contracting out facilities is more expensive and leads to reduced salaries and benefits for corrections personnel; and

WHEREAS:

A number of organizations including the National Sheriffs Association, the ACLU, the National Association of Criminal Justice Planners, and the John Howard Association share AFSCME's concern about prison privatization and have gone on record opposing this concept; and

WHEREAS:

The move to contract out correctional facilities raises serious legal questions, creates an inherent conflict of interest, and threatens the professionalism of the corrections occupation.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME continue to oppose the contracting out of correctional facilities and to work to ensure that governments at all levels not abdicate their responsibility for the incarceration and rehabilitation of prisoners; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME work with other local and national organizations interested in preserving the integrity of our criminal justice system to prevent private corporations from operating correctional institutions.

SUBMITTED BY:

Peter Fears, Delegate
AFSCME Local 3183, Council 97
Phoenix, Arizona