Money/Financial Interests

Grassroots Protests in Opposition to Private Prisons Sitings

Nicole — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 08:45:49 -0700

Our pal Scott Henson at Grits for Breakfast posted last week a roundup of grassroots campaigns against private prison sitings. According to Scott:

It's surprising how many acrimonious local debates are going on right now in Texas over jail and prison privatization.

Scott also highlights the grassroots strategies employed by a private prison opposition group in Nacogdoches, Citizens Opposed to the Prison Site (COPS). The community organization is calling for citizens to move their money out of local banks and to boycott the businesses of public officials that are supporting the private prison construction.

Scott goes on to offer additional analysis regarding private prison debate in Nueces County and why the construction of a new prison has a complicated history.

The grassroots actions taking place in Nueces and McClennan Counties are some of the most interesting in the state. The opposition of local citizens to private prison construction proves that this issue continues to resonate with folks in all communities throughout the state and that incarceration policy impacts us all.

GEO Group Reports on Expanding Capacity in Texas

Nicole — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 10:51:44 -0700

The GEO Group, Inc. (GEO) held a conference call for investors earlier this month. During the call, GEO reported on policy developments that will impact private prison capacity in Texas and beyond. GEO officials stated that the company's private prison capacity is scheduled to increased by 5,900 beds during 2008, representing a 12% year-to-year increase in bed space. During 2007, the prison profiteer had a capacity of 48,260 and grew to 54,160 beds in 2008.

Several private prison units owned or managed by GEO opened for business in recent weeks, with more prison beds on the way. According George Zoley, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GEO, continued demand from federal clients are driving private prison expansion in Texas and other states. Zoley stated that client demand among the agencies of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), United States Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Prissons (BOP) will lead GEO to open three new major facilities in Texas for an increase of 3,200 beds in the lone star state.

According to Zoley, the desire of federal clients to consolidate prison populations into the same facilities drove the company to construct new prisons that could accommodate customer needs. As a result GEO is bringing online the three new facilities in Texas.

During the call, Zoley mentioned that this would free up approximately 1,000 beds in Texas as the private prison company shifts federal prisoners and detainees to the new facilities it is bring online. Apparently, ICE, USMS, and BOP are coordinating their prison populations so that some of their prisoners can be held in the same facilities.

Investors questioned GEO's decision to construct new private prisons that would result in 1,000 empty beds in Texas. Zoley assured his investors that despite temporary population reductions at certain facilities, new inflows of detainees as a result of current policy will result in normalizing occupancy levels at older prisons once the new private prisons are at capacity.

It is incredibly troubling listening to the exchange between Zoley and GEO investors regarding the profitability of the company's given the empty 1,000 beds that result from new construction and the consolidation of federal prison populations. After all, each bed does represent a human being for a period of time, many of whom have families and ties to their communities. We encourage everyone to listen to the GEO conference call, it is incredible how criminal justice policy can be reduced to dollars and cents for prison privateers.

No New Private Jail in McLennan County; Will County Take Back CEC/CiviGenics Jail?

Bob — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 09:44:43 -0700

The Waco Tribune has the story today (Vote on County-Run Jail Draws Nervous Jailers' Applause, August 6) that the McLennan Couny Commission has wisely chosen not to privatize the existing county jail. According to the article,

The McLennan County Jail on State Highway 6 won’t be privatized — at least for now.

It’s just what jailers and jail employees packing McLennan County commissioners court meetings the past six weeks have been waiting to hear.

For the first time in the six weeks since county officials began debating proposals to privatize the county jail system or parts of it, Sheriff Larry Lynch attended a commissioners’ meeting Tuesday. He didn’t speak at the meeting and wouldn’t discuss the issue later with the Tribune-Herald.

Commissioners, basing their decision on a recommendation from the sheriff in a memo dated Monday, voted Tuesday to keep the overcrowded, 931-bed Highway 6 jail “under the care, custody and control” of the sheriff’s office.

Still, there's the thorny question of what to do with the existing CEC/CiviGenics downtown jail in Waco. As we've reported, the Sheriff's Officers Association and the Waco Tribune editorial board have both advocated a county-take over that troubled facility.

CEC representatives Peter Argeropulos and Mike Wilson detailed the remaining options Tuesday, including the construction and operation of a new jail on 8.9 acres adjacent to the Highway 6 jail and a new contract to operate the downtown McLennan County Detention Center, which CEC, formerly CiviGenics, has leased from the county since 1999.

Last week, Mashek said the county should take back the 329-bed jail downtown when CEC’s contract with the county expires Oct. 1. That would help ease overcrowding at the Highway 6 jail immediately and give the county three to five years to plan for future jail expansion, Mashek said.

Commissioners are expected to address Mashek’s proposal next week, said Lewis, who appears to be leaning toward renewing CEC’s downtown contract and allowing it to finance, build and operate a new jail on Highway 6.

The rest of the article introduces us to some of those pushing the construction of a new private jail in McLennan County - prison bond financier Municipal Capital Markets Group, who was last seen pushing a new family detention center in Raymondville, and Herb Bristow, the McLennan County Attorney who also advises many other counties on jail issues. Here, Bristow, who seems to always be advocating a new private jail, again sings the praises of the private prison company proposal,

Bristow, who also represents other Texas counties and advises them on jail issues, called CEC’s proposal a “very thorough, well-thought-out offer.”

“It is an opportunity for the county to have a facility built at no cost to the taxpayers,” Bristow said. “That is the bottom line. Economics, at the end of the day, will dictate the course of action.”

Of course, Bristow leaves out the important question about whether the county needs new jail capacity. As Scott over at Grits for Breakfast has pointed out and the Texas Commission on Jail Standards has apparently agreed McLennan County isn't in a major capacity crisis. Common sense solultions to jail overcrowding make more sense, both economically and as criminal justice policy, than building a new private jail in McLennan County. We'll keep you posted.

McLennan County Opposition to Jail Privatization Plan

Bob — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 09:46:17 -0700

On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to attend and provide testimony to the McLennan County Commissioners Court along with members of the McLennan County Sheriff Officer's Association and the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas about a proposed jail privatization plan.

The meeting, for the third week in a row, was packed with Sheriff's Officers opposing the proposal. The front page of Tuesday's Waco Tribune blared "Jailers to Sheriff: No Privatization," a sentiment that pretty accurately described the mood of the meeting.

The agenda started with public comment which included members of the Waco Police Department, other law enforcement agencies, and members of the public denouncing the privatization plan on the grounds of public safety, job security for those that work at the jail facilities, and the rights of those incarcerated at the jail.

At the beginning on the meeting's formal agenda, a county clerk reported that despite sending a request for proposal nearly a dozen private prison corporations, the county only recieved one proposal - from CEC/CiviGenics which already has a jail contract with the county. I found it odd that the big private prison corporations like CCA and GEO wouldn't submit a bid for this contract, but the single bid might have something to do with CEC/CiviGenics close relationship with the McLennan County Sheriff.

At the end of the meeting I testified along with Ken Witt and Rick White from the Sheriff Officers Association and members of the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas. The testimony largely focused on public safety and human rights violations of inmates that tend to occur in private jail facilities.

For more media coverage on the McLennan County jail fight, see these press sources:

Waco Trib: Sheriff Association Calls on Sheriff to Oppose Privatization Plan

Waco Trib: McLennan County Recieves Single Bid for County Jail Proposal

KWTX: McLennan Receives 1 Bid for County Jail

The issue is scheduled to be on this coming Tuesday's county agenda. We'll keep you posted on developments from McLennan County as they come. read more »

Texas Increases Private Prison Population

Nicole — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:26:27 -0700

The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) released its latest numbers in June regarding the national rate of incarceration and provided state level data as well. According to the BJS the total number of prisoners in custody during 2007 numbered 2.3 million.

As usual, Texas ranks high among the number of prisoners incarceated in state custody. Prisoners in Texas comprised nearly 173,000 of the total number of people in federal and state custody. Additionally, 18,720 of Texas prisoners were detained in private facilities (see chart below); a total 0f 10.8% of prisoners in the state. During 2006, Texas imprisoned about 18,220 prisoners in private facilities for percen-change of plus 2.74% in a single year.

Last year, lawmakers passed reforms meant to reduce the state's reliance on incarceration. Those policies have been lauded by the recent Pew Report and other states as a model. Time will tell if Texas is able to minimize it's overal prison population, and the number of people in private lockups as well.

Largest 20 State Private Prison Populations 2007

State	Number of Private Prisoners	% of all State Prisoners
New Mexico	2,835	43.4%
Montana	1,273	36.7%
Hawaii	2,044	33.8%
Wyoming	677	32%
Alaska	1,503	28.3%
Idaho	1,932	26.1%
Vermont	559	25.8%
Oklahoma	5,950	23.2%
Colorado	5,021	22.2%
Mississippi	4,779	22%
Tennessee	5,180	19.6%
Arizona	6,275	16.9%
Minnesota	1,144	11.6%
Kentucky	2,424	11.2%
Texas	18,720	10.8%
New Jersey	4,892	9.2%
Louisiana	3,114	8.4%
Florida	6,420	6.8%
Washington	1,036	5.9%
Indiana	1,142	4.3%

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics read more »

Potter County Sheriff Bribed by Jail Commissary Manager

Nicole — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:12:38 -0700

Our pal Scott Henson at Grits for Breakfast recently posted on another jail commissary scandal - this time in Potter County. According to Grits,

An all-woman jury yesterday in Amarillo brought back a guilty verdict against Potter County Sheriff Mike Shumate for taking bribes from the Dallas-based commissary manager, Mid-America Services. The "bribes" the state was able to prove were mostly meals, though quite a few of them...

Texas Prison Bid'ness and Grits have covered several private commissary contracts in the past year. According to Scott:

Commissary contracts have been a big source of alleged corruption in Texas Sheriff's Departments in the past year. In Bexar and Kleberg Counties, a Louisiana based company called "Premier" allegedly bribed the Bexar County Sheriff with swank golfing trips and gave the Kleberg Sheriff private consulting contracts after he left office.

It seems that the amount of scandal at the local level is signicant when it comes to private jail contracts. With limited accountability and oversight at the county level, who knows what scandals remain to be covered at the state's many county jails.

Previous Commissary Posts:

Premier Private Commissary Scandal Keeps Growing

Bexar County Sheriff Indicted

Private Commissary Contracts Lead to Corruption in Bexar County

Sheriff's Aide Accused of Taking Bribes from Commissary Contractor

read more »

Harris County Increases Number of Detainees Sent to Louisiana

Nicole — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 06:51:53 -0700

Harris County Commissioners approved ("Harris County rejects leasing Galveston jail," Houston Chronicle, June 3, 2008) earlier this week measures to send up to 1,000 jail detainees to Louisiana through private contracts with three parishes in the state. Over the last year, the county had already relied on sending 730 prisoners across state lines.

As of Tuesday, about 11,000 inmates were being held in Harris County Jail facilities. The jail is certified to hold 9,400 inmates, but the county has the state's permission to temporarily hold 2,000 more on "variance beds," nonstandard metal frame bunks on the floor.

Sending jail detainees out of state will cost local tax payers $15 million a year. In addition to this recently approved measure, Commissioners also considered leasing a vacant jail in nearby Galveston County.

These latest developments emphasize that county officials continue to focus on expanding capacity to deal with chronic overcrowding measures -- rather than looking at other solutions. We have posted previously the litany of recommendations that have been suggested by Scott Henson with Grits for Breakfast and Marc Levin with the Texas Public Policy Foundation.

Voters denied lawmakers the authority to expand the jail during last November's elections. Yet, still officials continue to explore ways to build further jail capacity. According to reports, these discussions will surface again at a meeting later this month and at the budget meeting in September. Voters should watch out for the strong possibilty that jail expansion will once again be on the November ballot.

Related Posts: read more »

Clarksville City Council Considers Private Prison

Nicole — Sat, 31 May 2008 07:31:13 -0700

Clarksville City Council, in Red River County, is considering a private prison facility. According to recent reports in The Paris News city officials are competing for Emerald Correctional Management to build the facility in their backyard.

Clarksville City Council gave its approval to the submission at a May 20 meeting. If approved, the facility will be under private contract for 10 years. After bond retirement, the title reverts to the city.

From reports, it seems that Emerald will target its efforts to federal agencies to imprison undocumented immigrants and be the latest site for expanding national detention capacity.

The facility would house 2,500 [undocumented immigrants] and would be considered a medium/minimum security facility.

Officials mistakenly think that building this prison in their backyard would contribute to economic development and increase jobs in the area.

Folks in Clarksville need to learn from the research that debunks that myth. For example the research published by blog contributor Bob Libal and his colleagues at Grassroots Leadership. They developed the report Considering a Private Jail, Prison, or Detention Center as a resource for public officials considering these decisions. The report debunks the myth that prisons contribute to economic growth.

The research reveals that prisons have not played a prominent role in economic growth in either metropolitan or rural counties. Moreover, new prisons actually impeded private and total economic growth in depressed rural counties. Contrary to the widely held beliefs about this subject, there was no evidence at all that prisons helped to lower unemployment rates, raise median family incomes, or increase earnings.

It will be interesting to track the developments that happen in Clarksville and whether Red River County will be the latest location for a private prison.

GEO Group Convenes First Quarter 2008 Call

Nicole — Tue, 20 May 2008 14:40:52 -0700

Recently, The GEO Group, INC. held a conference call on earnings during the first quarter of 2008. During the call, company officials gave themselves a pat on the back for growing financial interests due in part to an increase in the average per diem rate of incarceration to $59.74 from $53.80 last year.

George Zoley, GEO Chairman & CEO, stated that before the end of 2008, the company will activate 5,300 new beds around the nation, contributing to $92 million in additional operating revenue.

Zoley discussed the company's Texas operations at length. Apparently, the prison profiteers have several projects in the pipeline that will increase Texas private prison beds:

County	Capacity	Facilty Type	Anticipated Customer	Projected Open Date
Montgomery County	1,100	Managed Only	State or Federal Agency	September 2008
Maverick County	654	Managed Only	State or Federal Agency	September 2008
Laredo	1,500	Company Financed	U.S. Marshalls	October 2008

Source: The GEO Group Inc.

These new facilities will increase private prison capacity in Texas to over 3,200.

During the Q&A section of the conference call, a curious listener asked about the Coke County facility. Y'all will remember that last year the facility was the center of controversy and GEO lost the contract with the Texas Youth Commission after horrible conditions were discovered. Zoley stated that the facility is empty, and GEO is searching for new customers to occupy the available beds.

As usual, these conference calls provide a great deal of information and allow us a glimpse into the priorities of private prison profiteers. Advocates in other states may wish to listen to the call or read the transcript (find link below) to learn about GEO prison expansion in their backyard.

Links: read more »

Colbert Satirizes Private Prisons

Bob — Fri, 16 May 2008 11:55:22 -0700

Colbert took on private prisons and Corrections Corporation of America on Thursday night on The Colbert Report. Take a look: