US Department of Justice to phase out use of private prisons

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**MrDwhitey**

There's a short documentary on a two judges who sent kids to private youth centers for obscene amounts of time for things like "a schoolyard fight" or "Posting mean things on myspace". He got kickbacks or something from the owners.

Screwing up so many kids lives, and when one was finally prosecuted his only worry was how his own kids might see him negatively.

Kids for Cash that was it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kids_for_cash_scandal

**skyth**

There was a judge in PA that did it as well (Might be the same one you are talking about).

**Ouze**

I really don't support the death penalty, but there is a part of me that would totally make an exception for the Kids for Cash judge - so many lives ruined :(

**MrDwhitey**

I recall they initially had a plea deal which was relatively light.

One of the conditions of it though was they accept responsibility for their actions.

Both promptly went and said they did nothing wrong once they were out of court. I'm glad the Judge removed the plea deal and brought them back in.

They're abject filth. Utter, disgusting filth.

**d-usa**

I think that you are talking about a very different case there.

**Prestor Jon**

The article in the OP states the the Feds started using private prisons a decade ago because federal prisons were full and they needed housing for 20-30,000 federal inmates. The main reason the Feds can stop contracting with private prisons once current contracts expires is due to changes in the federal sentencing guidelines and changes in prosecution of low leve drug crimes reducing the federal prison population. Has there been any new legislation or permanent policy changes that will ensure that the current lower number of federal inmates won't grow again and lead us back to private prisons to house them?

**Ouze**

Prestor Jon wrote:
Has there been any new legislation or permanent policy changes that will ensure that the current lower number of federal inmates won't grow again and lead us back to private prisons to house them?

Since 46% of federal prisoners are drug offenders, the Fair Sentencing Act would meet that criteria.

**reds8n**

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-37162373

Ramen noodles have overtaken tobacco to become the most valuable commodity in US prisons, a new study says.
The research said the shift was a response to a decline in the quantity and quality of food on offer.
"Because it is cheap, tasty, and rich in calories, ramen has become so valuable that it is used to exchange for other goods," said study author Michael Gibson-Light.
US prison data shows spending has not kept pace with the number of inmates.
How the US will end its 30-year history with private prisons
Mr Gibson-Light said staff and inmates at the prison he visited said the amount of food being provided had decreased steadily over decades and warned the shift could have serious implications.
"Prisoners are so unhappy with the quality and quantity of prison food that they receive that they have begun relying on ramen noodles - a cheap, durable food product - as a form of money in the underground economy," he said.
"The form of money is not something that changes often or easily, even in the prison underground economy; it takes a major issue or shock to initiate such a change," he added.
Barter economy
The noodles are exchanged for goods including other food items, clothing, hygiene products and even services such as laundry and bunk cleaning, Mr Gibson-Light said.
Others use them as bargaining chips in gambling when playing card games or participating in football pools.
They are also replacing other traditional forms of prison currency, such as stamps and envelopes, the study found.
The shift was taking place across different groups within prisons and was not a response to bans on tobacco products within the prison system, Mr Gibson-Light said.
He called for more research into what the reduction in food could mean for the care of prisoners.
US states spent about $48.5bn (£37bn) on prisoners in 2010, 5.6% less than in 2009, according to the US Bureau of Prisons.

**Easy E**

I fear we are getting....

Soft on crime!

Where does Chongara gets the skulls?

**jreilly89**

Good. Don't think it will fix everything, but hopefully the end of a scummy/shady area of money and justice.

**Tannhauser42**

Ouze wrote:
Prestor Jon wrote:
Has there been any new legislation or permanent policy changes that will ensure that the current lower number of federal inmates won't grow again and lead us back to private prisons to house them?

Since 46% of federal prisoners are drug offenders, the Fair Sentencing Act would meet that criteria.

All it will take, though, is some other tragedy that will result in politicians using the rallying cries of "think of the children" and/or "we need to be tough on crime". That's how the crack cocaine sentencing disparity started, and it can happen again with something else that becomes equally politically expedient.

**Co'tor Shas**

Easy E wrote:
I fear we are getting.... Soft on crime!

Where does Chongara gets the skulls?

Click "More smilies" underneath the orkmoricons.

**Monkey Tamer**

I can't find the article, but was written like 10+ years ago about these for-profit-prison-systems and it was there that solidify my opposition.

Basically, it was an investigative report showing that these companies anonymously contributed to orgranizations/lobbying firms to ensure that the state's mandatory sentencing laws are strengthened.

Because... if you were a company who's entire business relies on the number of inmates, you'd want mandatory sentencing laws to be codified.

This is why I doubt we've heard the last of this. Money talks. Those companies will lobby and eventually be back in business.