A review of for-profit prisons by the Department of Justice’s Inspector General has concluded that the facilities are prone to more problems than their government-run counterparts.
Examining several categories, including instances of contraband, lockdowns, and inmate discipline, the watchdog determined that private prisons ”incurred more safety and security incidents per capita than comparable BOP [Bureau of Prisons] institutions.”
The report also knocked BOP officials for not conducting adequate oversight of for-profit facilities, noting that in just the last few years, “disturbances in several federal contract prisons resulted in extensive property damage, bodily injury, and the death of a Correctional Officer.”
The prisons reviewed by the department were run by three private companies: the Corrections Corporation of America, GEO Group, Inc., and the Management and Training Corporation. Together, the corporations house 22,660 federal inmates—roughly 12 percent of the total federal prison population.
The IG noted that BOP has steadily increased spending on private prisons: from $569 million, in 2011, to $639 million, in 2014.
According to the findings, “contract prisons” documented higher rates of assaults and use of force. They also experienced more lockdowns, inmate disciplinary actions, and more grievances filed by prisoners against staff.
Facilities run by GEO Group had more violent incidents per capita than those run by their competitors. Although, the Corrections Corporation of America did lead the way in one category: inmate fights.
Overall, private prisons reported 28 percent more inmate-on-inmate assaults.
For-profit facilities did report, however, fewer cases of sexual assault and drug-use among its prison population, compared to that documented in BOP facilities.
The Inspector General also reported that the three private prisons it reviewed were all cited for “one or more safety and security deficiencies.” At one site, officials failed to initiate any disciplinary measures in more half of incidents reviewed by on-site monitors. The IG stated that eventually the contractors addressed the deficiencies, and the BOP deemed them to be operating in compliance with their contract
The IG called on the BOP to assemble a working group to study why for-profit prisons had more safety and security incidents than their government counterparts. The watchdog also called on the agency to improve its oversight procedures at contract prisons, including verifying more frequently that inmates are receiving basic medical services.
