An Assessment of the Risks and Benefits of Prison Privatization

Prepared for the Citizens' Advisory Board of the New Hampshire State Prison for Women by:

Elaine Rizzo, Ph.D., Professor of Criminal Justice, Saint Anselm College

Margaret Hayes, Ph.D., RN, Associate Professor of Nursing, Science and Health, Regis College

January 30, 2012

Since the opening of the first private prison in 1984, the industry has expanded rapidly throughout both state and federal corrections.  Currently, the two largest corporations are Correctional Corporation of America (CCA), established 1984, and GEO [formerly Wackenhut Corrections Corporation], respectively. CCA & GEO reported combined revenues in excess of $2.9 Billion in 2010, suggesting that the privatization of prisons is an economically lucrative corporate venture.

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