With new bills, Florida Republicans are rushing to privatize the state’s correctional institutions—turning jails, prisons, and even mental health facilities over to international prison-for-profit firms. However, per the Palm Beach Post, instead of having several hearings in a variety of committees, the bills are being fast tracked, bypassing the normal policy review process. Additionally, Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos wants prison privatization to occur without public input, in secret.
Some of the biggest prison privatization firms that stand to benefit include: Corrections Corporation of America, Geo Group, Cornell Companies, Inc., and Serco.
The Private Corrections Institute, an anti-privatization advocacy group, cites the National Institute on Money in State Politics in noting that the private prison firms have donated large sums to Florida Republicans:
In 2010 Geo Group, its executives, and its political action committees gave over $705,000 to political candidates and parties in Florida, while CCA donated $138,994—primarily to Republican causes. Further, both CCA and GEO made contributions to Gov. Scott’s inaugural fund in the amounts of $5,000 and $25,000, respectively. Since 2004, GEO has given $1.8 million to Florida political candidates, parties and committees. Also, based on Senate records, GEO paid its Florida lobbyists between $220,000 and $360,000 to influence state officials since October, 2010.
The Public Campaign Action Fund noted donations to specific Florida politicians including Senator Mike Haridopolos (President of the Florida Senate), former Governor Charlie Crist, US Senator Marco Rubio, and former House member Ron Klein. In 2011 alone, Haridopolos received $24,500 from executives at GEO Group, including George Zoley, CEO of Geo Group and a member of the Board of Trustees at Florida Atlantic University. Serco, based in the United Kingdom, has also been a big spender, donating $353,775 to federal candidates since 2005, especially Republican Senator Mitch McConnell.
Blogger Jim Turner notes here that privatized facilities slated for privatization are located across Florida in the following counties: Manatee, Hardee, Indian River, Okeechobee, Highlands, St. Lucie, DeSoto, Sarasota, Charlotte, Glades, Martin, Palm Beach, Hendry, Lee, Collier, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties.
Advocates of prison privatization say that privatization leads to lower construction costs, lower convict recidivism, and fewer long term costs associated with public employees such as health plans and retirement costs.
Opponents of privatization argue that the promises of lower costs to states are an illusion. Instead, they argue, prisons for profit will lead to a judicial system focused on arresting people for low-level, non-violent offenses: these are the inmates that go to the privatized facilities. The state is left with a concentration of the most violent offenders in the public prisons. With the private facilities taking only the “best” criminals, their statistics are naturally skewed as some of the offenders shouldn’t be incarcerated in the first place. Public facilities holding a concentration of the most violent offenders naturally see more recidivism, more costs, greater violence, and so forth. Furthermore, the massive amount of political donations and spending by prison for profit firms has corrupted the review process and skewed real analysis of costs and benefits of privatization.
Just how much money and power do prison-for-profit firms already have?
In 2009, when most American businesses were struggling to survive, Boca Raton based GEO Group grew by 10%, adding 7,600 prison beds. The firm is highly diversified, running prisons in South Africa, Australia, and elsewhere. Additionally, the GEO Group buys smaller firms with businesses in electronic ankle bracelets, detention of illegal immigrants, and psychiatric services. In other words, the international firm is at once: the jailer, probation officer, psychiatrist, and border patrol.
Prison for profit is a very profitable industry. GEO Group CEO George Zoley makes $3,484,807 annually. GEO Group General Counsel John Bulfin earned approximately $837,000 in 2010.
Do you feel that the Florida Legislature should slow down in its rush to turn over Florida’s law enforcement agencies to international prison for profit firms?
Use the phone list below to make your voice heard regarding Prison Privatization bills such as SB 2036, SPB 7172 and SPB 7170.
Senate Rules Committee Members
John Thrasher SD 8 (850) 487-5030
JD Alexander SD 17 (850) 487-5044
Anitere Flores SD 38 (850) 487-5130
Don Gaetz SD 4 (850) 487-5009
Andy Gardiner SD 9 (850) 487-5047
Dennis Jones SD 13 (850) 487-5065
Joe Negron SD 28 (850) 487-5088
Garrett Richter SD 37 (850) 487-5124
Stephan Wise SD 5 (850) 487-5027
Larcenia Bullard SD 39 (850) 487-5127
Gwen Margolis SD 35 (850) 487-5121
Gary Siplin SD 19 (850) 487-5190
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