Private Prison CEO Unconcerned About Hillary Clinton’s Pledge to End His Industry

[DemMomma4Sanders]

Source: The intercept

Private prisons have received a great deal of criticism this election cycle, first with Bernie Sanders campaigning to end for-profit incarceration, followed by Clinton taking up a similar pledge.

After The Intercept revealed that the Clinton campaign had received campaign donations from private prison lobbyists, a number of activist groups confronted Clinton, leading her to announce that she would no longer accept the money and later declaring that “we should end private prisons and private detention centers.”

But Corrections Corporation is apparently not concerned. Asked about prospects under Trump or Clinton, Hininger argued that his company has prospered through political turnover by taking advantage of the government’s quest for lower costs.

Read more: https://theintercept.com/2016/06/27/private-prison-trump-clinton/

[bonemachine]

1. And what do those savings get us?

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/06/cca-private-prisons-corrections-corporation-inmates-investigation-bauer

The main argument in favor of private prisons—that they save taxpayers money—remains controversial. One study estimated that private prisons cost 15 percent less than public ones; another found that public prisons were 14 percent cheaper. After reviewing these competing claims, researchers concluded that the savings "appear minimal." CCA directed me to a 2013 report—funded in part by the company and GEO—that claimed private prisons could save states as much as 59 percent over public prisons without sacrificing quality.

Private prisons' cost savings are "modest," according to one Justice Department study, and are achieved mostly through "moderate reductions in staffing patterns, fringe benefits, and other labor-related costs." Wages and benefits account for 59 percent of CCA's operating expenses. When I start at Winn, nonranking guards make $9 an hour, no matter how long they've worked there. The starting pay for guards at public state prisons comes out to $12.50 an hour. CCA told me that it "set[s] salaries based on the prevailing wages in local markets," adding that "the wages we provided in Winn Parish were competitive for that area."

[Stevepol]

11. Glad you cited this Mother Jones special investigative report.

The whole article I believe can still be read at motherjones.com/prison. Several very interesting videos are included.

It's a pretty chilling expose of private prisons, the Winn facility in particular. Shane Bauer applied to work there and his report makes great reading.

How to they achieve their lower costs?

1. The lowest possible wages
2. Cutting back on guards wherever possible
3. Cutting out all amenities
4. Understaffing, not nearly enough doctors or mental health personnel e.g.
5. Cutting back on job training
6. Refusing to let prisoners leave even after their time is up unless they can dot every i and cross every t, so they can keep getting the state money for as long as possible (the money comes for each body at the prison, so they keep them there as long as possible).
7. Refusing to do any kind of health intervention even when it's absolutely required
8. Making inmates pay for toilet paper and toothpaste, etc.

And that's just a few of the obvious cost cuts to effect "savings" for the state.

[seabeckind]

2. Got him an iron clad contract in a republican state, does he?

Good for him.

Bad for us.

Funny thing about contracts.... sometimes they aren't as iron clad as they seem.

[Auggie]

3. First, "We should" is not a pledge. Second,

how does one regulate state-run private prisons without federal legislation? I wouldn't count on industry-owned Republicans to support an end. No wonder this dude isn't concerned.

[Cooley Hurd]

4. This falls under the "Constructive Criticism" clause...

[Lucky Luciano]

5. If I were Hillary, I would want to vocally hit back at that trash talking prick.

Take an unambiguous stand against this parasite and his ilk.

[840high]

13. Wonder if she will.

[MADem]

6. Some states--like Vermont--make heavy use of private prisons. nt

[Human101948]

8. Must be Bernie's fault...

If he had taken private prison contributions he might have been able to compromise with them.

[840high]

14. Heehee - you made me laugh out loud!!!!

[MADem]

20. No, he is not involved with state government management. nt

[Human101948]

28. It was a snarky response to what seemed like more Bernie bashing...

Certainly not connected in any way to the realities.

[billhicks76]

21. Just Couldn't Help Yourself

You are alienating voters still. Get over yourself.

[MADem]

22. Your accusations are unfounded.

That state is rather well known for exporting their prison population to Michigan--it has been heavily covered in the news.

[billhicks76]

23. Like I Said You're Still Attacking Bernie

Don't you have something better to do now? Like trying to help Hillary win? Or are you trying to divide people still and ensure a loss?

[MADem]

25. Please stop attacking me with false assertions. You are getting personal and rude and

going out of your way to be uncivil.

[billhicks76]

26. Please Stop Baiting People

You are doing exactly what you accuse others of doing. And trying to indirectly attack Bernie is passé now. Time to work for all Democrats now.

[MADem]

27. Take your own advice. nt

[bluestateguy]

7. Likely because states, not the feds, run most prisons and states incarcerate 85%-90% of prisoners.

I think that's why.

[tom_kelly]

10. +1

[bonemachine]

12. Seems likely, but apparently it's against the rules to speculate

n/t

[Stryder]

16. Ya know

It might be helpful to know what's in some of these
"Post Removed." And yes, I've read the new edicts. But it's all
very subjective. As it is I guess I'll just have to tip toe
around and... Ohhh, I see.

[bonemachine]

17. It was a prediction

that once the election is over, we will see that these campaign promises are worth just exactly the same as what campaign promises always are.

[Stryder]

18. OK, That's helpful.

No pointing out the blindingly obvious.
Got it.
Thanks.

[Gene Debs]

19. Some will see. Some will refuse to see.

[Stevepol]

15. Here's just one story from the Winn facility investigated by Shane Bauer in Mother Jones

One day, I meet a man with no legs in a wheelchair. His name is Robert Scott. (He consented to having his real name used.) He's been at Winn 12 years. "I was walking when I got here," he tells me. "I was walking, had all my fingers." I notice he is wearing fingerless gloves with nothing poking out of them. "They took my legs off in January and my fingers in June. Gangrene don't play. I kept going to the infirmary, saying, 'My feet hurt. My feet hurt.' They said, 'Ain't nothin' wrong wicha. I don't see nothin' wrong wicha.' They didn't believe me, or they talk bad to me—'I can't believe you comin' up here!'"

His medical records show that in the space of four months he made at least nine requests to see a doctor. He complained of sore spots on his feet, swelling, oozing pus, and pain so severe he couldn't sleep. When he visited the infirmary, medical staff offered him sole pads, corn removal strips, and Motrin. He says he once showed his swollen foot, dripping with pus, to the warden. On one of these occasions, Scott alleges in a federal lawsuit against CCA, a nurse told him, "Ain't nothing wrong with you. If you make another medical emergency you will receive a disciplinary write-up for malingering." He filed a written request to be taken to a hospital for a second opinion, but it was denied.

Eventually, numbness spread to his hands, but the infirmary refused to treat him. His fingertips and toes turned black and wept pus. Inmates began to fear his condition was contagious. When Scott's sleeplessness kept another inmate awake, the inmate threatened to kill him if he was not moved to another tier. A resulting altercation drew the attention of staff, who finally sent him to the local hospital.

"But when I got my legs cut off they didn't come back and say, 'Robert, I'm sorry.' I done taked my lickin'. Part of being locked up." He is now suing CCA for neglect, claiming that inmates are denied medical care because the company operates the prison "on a 'skeleton crew' for profitable gain."

From motherjones.com/prison

the article by Shane Bauer in the current issue of Mother Jones

[DiverDave]

30. Clinton received 133k

From for profit prison companies

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/9191868.html

Of course they ain't worried, they have bought and paid for help.

I'll vote for her, but I will never trust her.
I'll bet anyone a hundred bucks she will continue the neoliberal agenda.
Same old, same old...I weep for my kids and the world they are getting

Now, delete this, ban me...prove you don't care about our country

[LanternWaste]

31. You seem to overstate your relevance

"ban me...prove you don't care about our country"

You seem to overstate your relevance in addition to a lack of knowledge in regards to what proof actually is.

[DiverDave]

33. so I don't count

Good to know, now you have anything useful to add? I gave my opinion and a link, which, of course, you discounted.
Facts are a bitch, ain't they?
Oh, and you should be happy I am even voting for your status quo candidate.
But disdain is the go-to response to anything but worshipful respect, no?

[harun]

37. You count, the silent majority knows you are right.

[alarimer]

32. This is an important issue.

And a major story line on the new season of Orange is the New Black. Privatizing prisons results in overcrowding, poorer food, poorer quality personnel because of low wages (which aren't high to begin with).

We need to get rid of all private prisons. The federal government has limited authority over states, so that will be harder.

[Hekate]

24. As long as she has to deal with a GOP Congress, it will be as difficult as Obama's time

He sounds like he's counting on voters to send the GOP back to Washington.

[Sunlei]

29. They made 20/30 year contracts with States. SC could find private prisons unconstitutional ?

Each prisoner could sue for millions in damages, make 'for profit' prisons go bankrupt. Drag in any Corps who use the 25 cents an hour workers?

[PersonNumber503602]

34. That would be wonderful if they did. Private prisons existing are shameful.

Last edited Wed Jun 29, 2016, 01:38 AM - Edit history (1)

They are even more shameful when we take into account how much sway money has in our political process. "Here's a few million dollars in donations to ensure you don't enact any laws or programs that would decrease crime and reduce incarcerations"

[MindPilot]

38. And the fact that most of the contracts have a 90%-95% fulfillment rate.

Both state and federal governments have to produce enough convicted criminals to keep those private prisons full. The government is contractually obligated and financially incentivized to create crime.

"Shameful" doesn't begin to describe it.

[MindPilot]

36. Of course not; he knows she won't do anything.

Wasn't even on her radar until "...a number of activist groups confronted" her. And it will be off her radar as soon as the next contribution check clears.

Some of you more astute progressives may have noticed that Bernie didn't need to be confronted by numerous activists; he already knew it was a problem.