The state plans to advertise the sale of five prisons starting April 1 with the hope of entering a contract in July or August and turning over the keys by the end of the year, according to Gary Mohr, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction director.
Marion Juvenile Facility, North Central Correctional Institution in Marion, Grafton Correctional Institution, North Coast Treatment Facility in Grafton, and Lake Erie Correctional Institution in Conneaut will be sold in three deals....
....The sales are expected to net the state $200 million and save annual operating costs of at least 5 percent per year, according to Gov. John Kasich’s administration.....
Although members of the administration are trying to satisfy the many questions the public has about the future of state employees assigned to the Department of Corrections and potential safety problems, it doesn't take much digging to find out that people have serious concerns. Telling us that everything will be fine is not a guarantee. You might want to read about the problems that Arizona has had with their private prisons at TucsonCitizen. A story at KPHO shows Arizona's private prisons costs are higher than the state prisons.
There are some questions we should be asking about this potential prison sale:
- Is the price tag of $200 million a reasonable price for five prisons? Who affixed that number to the prisons?
- What responsibilities will the state maintain if the prisons are sold?
- How much will the state pay the owners of the prisons to house inmates?
- Will Kasich's friend, Don Thibault, have some influence?
Don Thibault's name might sound familiar.
Ohio15th: (1/31/11)
DaytonDailyNews (August 18, 2010) and Plunderbund confirmed that when Kasich had that cushy job at Ohio State ($50,000/year for a couple of hours of work per month for twelve years), the special assistant to Kasich who received $20,000/yr. from OSU was.....
Don Thibaut!
Don Thibaut!
and....
I wrote the following information on Ohio15thblog 8/19/2010:
According to an article at Tobaccodocuments, (scroll down to the end of the page) Thibaut was part of Kasich's staff in 1995. When Kasich served in Congress, Thibaut was his roommate in DC. In 2008, Kasich announced the formation of his PAC (see Dispatch) at a party at Thibaut's home.
According to an article at Tobaccodocuments, (scroll down to the end of the page) Thibaut was part of Kasich's staff in 1995. When Kasich served in Congress, Thibaut was his roommate in DC. In 2008, Kasich announced the formation of his PAC (see Dispatch) at a party at Thibaut's home.
Thibault, according to WCMH, is a lobbyist for Corrections Corporation of America (CCA). Gary Mohr is a former consultant for CCA.