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Yes, they really do cost less. In California, for example, state run prisons cost almost 3x per inmate than private prisons do. California recently banned priva
by xyzzyz 5y ago
Yes, they really do cost less. In California, for example, state run prisons cost almost 3x per inmate than private prisons do. California recently banned private prisons, which will cost its budget $100M.
But, then again, California is not the best example here, as California cost per prisoner is way, way above national average (despite being below national average 30 years ago). California has pumped its cost per prisoner through the roof, which is then used to justify reduction of prison population, as too expensive. Either way, California is not known to care much for its fiduciary duty to its taxpayers.
In Arizona, private prisons are still cheaper, though the disparity there is only 1.25x, not 3x. Also, state prisons in Arizona are cheaper than private prisons in California. State prisons in California are 5x more expensive than private prisons in Arizona. If California contracted Arizona private prisons and shipped its prisoners there, it could save >$10B annually, more than 5% of its entire budget, which could then be used on schools, infrastructure, and public safety. Of course, this 80% reduction in prison spending will never happen, prisons being expensive is too politically convenient.
- gusgus01 5y agoThat comparison is incredibly hard to make. The following article discusses it in depth, it actually specifically calls out a few reports about California. https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2016/oct/3/apples-fish-public-and-private-prison-cost-comparisons/ https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2016/oct/3/apples-fish-...
- istjohn 5y agoAlso from that article: Yet a 2010 report by Arizona’s Office of the Auditor General, based on data from the state Department of Corrections, noted that privately-operated prisons were actually more expensive than their public counterparts.
- xyzzyz 5y agoIt may have been true in 2010, but hasn’t been true in 2018. https://corrections.az.gov/sites/default/files/REPORTS/Operating_Per_Capita/adc-percapcostreport_fy2018-final.pdf https://corrections.az.gov/sites/default/files/REPORTS/Opera... Highest cost private prison was cheaper than cheapest state run prison.
- gusgus01 5y agoThat is operating cost, which the article I linked described as one of the ways that comparisons use to skew data.
- xyzzyz 5y agoIt might be hard in Arizona, where the disparity is small. However, it’s really hard to paper over 3x difference in costs with even extreme amounts of sophistry.
- mdavis6890 5y ago"and shipped its prisoners there" >> Well CA should just do that then. No need even to put them in prison. Just release at the border. If they make it back to California, consider it time served and they're free to go!