Private prison business eyes big Florida prize

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

Private prison business eyes big Florida prize
By Tom Brown Tom Brown – 12 mins ago

MIAMI (Reuters) – Florida has opened the doors to one of the biggest prison privatization programs in U.S. history, as the cash-strapped state looks to cut the cost of keeping more than 100,000 people behind bars.

The privatization plan, touted by the industry as "an important milestone" for the private prison business, was approved by the Republican-dominated Florida legislature as part of a budget deal hammered out last week.

Private prison operators have already made big inroads in states like Texas and New Mexico. But Florida has the third largest state prison system in the United States, and no other state has sought to privatize so many lock-ups at any one time.

The move has drawn sharp criticism from law enforcement groups and even some leading Republicans, who say it endangers public safety in a state still trying to shake off a history of prison abuse and corruption, as depicted in the popular 1967 Hollywood film "Cool Hand Luke" set in Florida starring Paul Newman.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110512/us_nm/us_usa_prisons_florida

[russspeakeasy]

1. Sounds great...Our public prisons aren't quite corrupt enough.

I hope they build a few extra cells for our governor and his
buddies. 

[Uncle Joe]

2. The morally bankrupt for profit prison business is set to become a 21st century version of slavery.

Logic, common sense and basic decency should be strong arguments as to why that industry should be outlawed.

Thanks for the thread, Judi Lynn.

[SemperEadem]

3. he's getting ready to starting locking up the poor

That is going to be "21 century public housing".

Floridians have stepped closer this week to having the rights of the citizenry stripped even further, even the ones who voted him into power.

Now do they understand what "voting against your own best interests" means? If you're not a corporation, you're being stripped.

[logosoco]

4. Prisons are one of those things that should not be privitized...

obviously the only reason one would want to get into the "prison business" is to make a profit. If there are profits to be had in this field (and I don't see how that can happen anyway) the money should go back to the tax payers and a victim resititution fund.

[iscooterliberally]

5. Privatized Prisons should not be allowed in the land of the free.

Only the state should be able to own operate and maintain a prison in this country. Having private companies run them for profit should be illegal. If the state can't handle the prison population, perhaps our laws are all wrong and we are incarcerating the wrong people. We really need to legalize drugs in the country and get all the pot smokers out. Prisons should be reserved for those who commit acts of violence, and those who steal. I honestly don't think slavery has ever left us.

[armodem08]

10. Agreed. And it's worse than health insurance for sure.

Having a financial interest in someone's freedom is so much worse than having a financial interest in their medical decisions.

[florida08]

6. brownshirts inc

[Roland99]

7. Bail Bondsmen were set to reap some profits, too. >>>>>

Florida to curb pre-trial options, proposed law is a gift to bail bonds industry
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=145x13527


oh, looks like this died over the weekend!
05/07/2011 House • Indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration
• Died on Calendar

[Keith Bee]

8. Hey, they're just trying to keep up with Texas!

K&R ;P

[mountainlion55]

9. Check out

the connections of the Mcullum family in Florida and private prisons. Bill Mcullum has been pushing private prison business for his family since Ronnny Rayguns was in office. Right up there with the Kochs as ass bags.

[LetTimmySmoke]

11. In 2040, we are going to look upon this and the rest of the War on Drugs with disgust

Like the way we look upon the Japanese internment camps today.