prison privatization - 1

[Seul]

1-13-12
ORLANDO SENTINEL - FL
By David Royse
News Service of Florida

Excerpt:
The bill would require the department to privatize all prison facilities, including annexes, prisons, and work release centers in Manatee, Hardee, Indian River, Okeechobee, Highlands, St. Lucie, DeSoto, Sarasota, Charlotte, Glades, Martin, Palm Beach, Hendry, Lee, Collier, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties.

Go to:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/loc ... 2056.story

[Seul]

Florida Prisons IN FOCUS: Closure Plans, Privatization & Criticism

1-16-12
By David Royse/The News Service of Florida
Additional reporting by Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Excerpt:
Nonetheless, the prison privateers use lobbying efforts to increase their prisoner base, which has been dwindling as crime rates go down in America. The bottom line is that the companies are scrambling to fill the cells. They need more criminals.

Go to:
http://www.sunshineslate.com/2012/01/16 ... criticism/

[Seul]

Private Corrections Institute Opposes Prison Privatization Effort

1-17-12
SUNSHINE STATE NEWS - FL
By Jim Turner
Blog

Excerpt:
“While private prison companies will profit from expanded prison privatization contracts, should the Legislature prevail in its mass prison privatization plan the loser will be Florida’s taxpayers, as public funds will be diverted from the state into the coffers of for-profit prison firms with no discernible benefit to the public,” Private Corrections Institute stated in a release.

Go to:
http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/blog/a ... ion-effort

[Seul]

1-24-12
CBS NEWS
By James L. Rosica
Associated Press

Excerpt:
They brought up what Sen. Don Gaetz later derided as a "parade of horribles": Private prison guards don't have to be trained and certified like state corrections officers; they won't assist when a prisoner escapes; and youthful offenders will be mixed with adults and won't get the education they need.

Go to:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162- ... rd-in-fla/

[Seul]

1-26-12
CBS MIAMI/NSF

Excerpt:
A legislative proposal to privatize about 30 prisons in most of the southern part of the state is headed for the Senate floor after a vote in the Budget Committee that angered prison guards who feel they’re not being heard.

Go to:
http://miami.cbslocal.com/2012/01/26/pr ... ate-floor/

[Seul]

Florida Prisons Bill Would Expand Private Management, Netting A Big Win For Political Contributors

2-1-12
HUFFINGTON POST
By Chris Kirkman
Huffington Post

Excerpt:
The action by Florida’s legislature comes after years of sustained lobbying by corporations that operate private prisons, an industry that has been expanding aggressively by offering itself as a solution to state budget shortages. The industry has contributed more than $1.4 million to Florida's Republican Party in recent years and has spent millions lobbying key lawmakers in that state.

Go to:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/0 ... f=business

[Seul]

2-2-12
TALLAHASSEE.COM
By Bill Cotterell
Florida Capital Bureau

Excerpt:
Haridopolos expressed respect and friendship for Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, but said he could no longer chair the Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Budget panel because of his accusation that privatizing prisons is a reward for giant corporations. Fasano said he understood that the leadership couldn't tolerate open rebellion but that it's more important that GOP senators follow their minds on issues of right and wrong, rather than toeing the line on cutting state spending.

Go to:
http://www.tallahassee.com/article/2012 ... ntpage%7Cp

[Seul]

2-5-12
TAMPA BAY TIMES - FL
Jim Flateau, Guest columnist

Excerpt:
Even before the matter of prison privatization, this whole affair raises some fundamental issues that should concern all Floridians: What happened to open government in the "Sunshine" state? Why is this bill not being openly debated like other bills that come before the Legislature? Where is the detailed cost-benefit analysis guaranteeing that taxpayers will see a dollar savings from these contracts with the private sector?

Go to:
http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns ... rs/1214013

[Seul]

Activists Gather 23,000 Signatures to Oppose Prison Privatization

2-3-12
JOBMOUSE
By Anneline Waldman

Excerpt:
Christina Bullins, a Miami probation officer supervisor, started the petition on Sunday using signon.org, according to Teamsters. About 48 hours later, 10,000 people had signed it. As of today, more than 23,170 people have signed the petition.

Go to:
http://thejobmouse.com/2012/02/03/activ ... atization/

[Seul]

Florida prison privatization push stalls despite big spending

2-5-12
THE PALM BEACH POST - FL
By Dara Kam

Excerpt:
The push to privatize one-fifth of the state corrections facilities along with all inmate health care could net prison companies hundreds of millions of dollars in state contracts, and those companies have spent millions in the past year trying to win support for the plan.

Go to:
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state ... 52605.html

[Seul]

Controversial, stalled prison privatization championed by clergy

2-8-12
TALLAHASSEE.COM - FL
By Bill Cotterell
Florida Capital Bureau

Excerpt :
A group of Miami-area ministers told Gov. Rick Scott and legislative leaders today private prisons do a better job than state institutions in helping inmates maintain family ties and progress toward rehabilitation.

Go to:
http://www.tallahassee.com/article/2012 ... nav%7Chead

[Seul]

2-13-12
ORLANDO SENTINEL - FL
By Aaron Deslatte, Tallahassee Bureau Chief

Excerpt:
With the Florida Senate poised today to return to a contentious prison-privatization debate, one critic of the proposal to outsource prisons in 18 southern counties says the Department of Corrections' own data show current private prisons aren't necessarily cheaper than public ones.

Go to:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/pol ... 8543.story

[Seul]

2-14-12
CBS NEWS
James L. Rosica and Gary Fineout
Associated Press

Excerpt :
Earlier in the day, various interest groups also issued dueling press releases. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Florida AFL-CIO labor union oppose prison privatization. The Florida Chamber of Commerce, a business lobby, favors it.

Go to:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162- ... ion-alive/

[Seul]

2-14-12
BUSINESSWEEK
By Michael C. Bender

Excerpt:
The Florida Senate today defeated a plan to move 14,500 inmates into private lockups, the second consecutive year that Republican leaders who support the measure came up short.

Go to:
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-0 ... enate.html

[Seul]

2-20-12
SUN-SENTINEL - FL
Editorial

Excerpt:
Gov. Rick Scott, a longtime proponent of just about all things private sector, has the power to privatize parts of the Florida Department of Corrections on his own. To date, the governor has avoided tipping his hand on how he might proceed. If he's smart, he'd hold off on making any quick decisions in transferring a significant part of the state's penal system to private concerns.

Go to:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinio ... 9293.story