Sunday, February 24, 2013

Problems at Privatized Prison


Gov. Kasich's big idea to sell off/lease Ohio's assets to private companies has definite consequences for everyone.

HuffingtonPost:

When a private prison corporation paid Ohio $72.7 million in 2011 to purchase one of the state's facilities, the company touted the deal as a "groundbreaking" move that would serve as a model for other states looking to cut costs.

But in the year since Corrections Corporation of America took over the 1,700-bed Lake Erie Correctional Institution, state audits have found patterns of inadequate staffing, delays in medical treatment and "unacceptable living conditions" inside the prison -- including inmates lacking access to running water and toilets. The state docked the company nearly $500,000 in pay because of the violations.

In addition, a major uptick in crime near the private prison has burdened the small town of Conneaut, Ohio, with police there making a series of recent arrests related to attempts to smuggle drugs and alcohol into the facility. Officers responded to 229 calls related to the prison last year, nearly four times as many as the previous five years combined, according to the city's crime data.....

***  Plunderbund has more details about the disasters at the private prison:

...According to the key findings of the latest inspection:
  • Inmate-on-inmate assaults increased by 187.5% from 2010 to 2012
  • Inmate-on-staff assaults increased by 305.9% for the same time period
  • Fights increased by more than 40% from 2011 to 2012
  • Disturbances doubled in comparison to prior years
  • Between 2010 and 2012 total uses of force increased by 24.1% and Use of chemical agents increased by 127.3%.
  • In the prior six months, 6.7% of inmates tested positive which is higher than the DRC average
  • An inmate recently died from a suspected overdose of an illegal substance (heroin)....
All of this is very distressing. Local police have to continue to put their lives on the line every single time they respond to an emergency at the privatized prison. Kasich and his corporate buddies don't care about the locals and their problems, or the financial/safety costs to their community.

When Gov. Kasich presents his plan to privatize the next part of Ohio, residents should speak up and object to his proposal.