Privatization of Prisons

It is not ethical to privatize prisons, and this is consequently because it is only the state which has the right to punish the wrong doers (Weiss, 2015). The state therefore dictates the number of years or the type of punishment which should be administered to a criminal through the court which under the organs of the state. The court provides the required punishment according to the type of crime committed. It is not therefore lawful for a private organization to state the punishments of a crime committed (Burkhardt, 2017).

Privatization of prisons would consequently using prisons as a means of earning profits. If a prison is turned into a business, then the country cannot be able to move forward (Burkhardt, 2017). This is basically because the prison owners would consequently run after money, without thinking about the punishment that one is supposed to go through. Prisons provide education, job training, health care, anger treatment and addiction treatment (Weiss, 2015). If prisons are privatized, then this means that prisoners will not get such support, they will not be rehabilitated in any way while in the prison. They will be required to pay for such services, a move which will make most prisoners to only suffer in the prison.

Prisons were created to offer custody and care for the prisoners, the physical health of the prisoners should therefore come first. If this becomes a business, then it means that rich prisoners would have to enjoy their stay in prisons, while those from poor families will tend to suffer (Burkhardt, 2017). This will consequently lead to social classes in the prisons, a move which will make most criminals to participate in criminal activities while in the prisons, and after being released. There will be no fear of being arrested, hence the rates of crime will escalate in the country (Weiss, 2015).

Reference

Weiss, D. (2015). PRIVATIZATION AND ITS DISCONTENTS: THE TROUBLING RECORD OF PRIVATIZED PRISON HEALTH CARE. University Of Colorado Law Review, 86725.

Burkhardt, B. C. (2017). Who is in private prisons? Demographic profiles of prisoners and workers in American private prisons. International Journal Of Law, Crime And Justice, doi:10.1016/j.ijlcj.2017.04.004