Private prisons

Introduction
Pros
- Pro 1: Privatizing prisons can reduce prison overpopulation, making the facilities safer for inmates and employees.
- Pro 2: Private prisons can transform the broken government-run prison system.
- Pro 3: Private prisons offer innovative programs to lower the rates of re-imprisonment.
Cons
- Con 1: Private prisons exploit employees and prisoners for corporate gain.
- Con 2: Privatizing prisons is costly and leaves the most expensive inmates to public prisons.
- Con 3: All prisons—not just privately operated ones—should be abolished.
Assessment quiz
1-minute survey
Discussion questions
Sources

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images

Empty prison corridor with barred jail cells on the left and solid doors and windows on the right, lit by overhead fluorescent lights.

Life on death row

Private prisons: Media

Should prisons be privatized?

Images

Empty prison corridor with barred jail cells on the left and solid doors and windows on the right, lit by overhead fluorescent lights.

Prison corridor

Should prisons be privatized?

© Image Source/Getty Images

Life on death row

Life on death row

A prison guard escorts a death row inmate at San Quentin State Prison in California.

Eric Risberg—AP/Shutterstock.com

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