Privatization of Prison Systems

question 43

Multiple Choice

Privatization of prison systems

• A)has been proposed to enhance capacity, but no private firms have been willing to step forward and take on such an immense, complex, and dangerous job.
• B)has not yet been tried; no state has yet experimented with privatized prisons.
• C)raises a number of constitutional questions about delegation of such authority, and the majority of studies indicate that operating cost savings have been marginal or nonexistent.
• D)has been inconclusive because experiments in Pennsylvania, Florida, Louisiana, and Tennessee have found that privatization of correctional facilities actually increases the costs of housing inmates by 37 percent.

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Definitions:

Public Opinion Surveys

Research methods used to collect the views and preferences of the public on various issues, often through questionnaires.

Completed Sentence

Refers to the condition where an individual has served the full term of imprisonment or punishment as dictated by a legal sentence.

Medium-Security Prisons

Correctional facilities that provide a balance between maximum-security prisons and minimum-security prisons, housing inmates deemed a moderate risk.

Serving Sentences

Refers to the period of time individuals are required to spend in prison or under legal punishment as a consequence of their conviction for committing a crime.