Race, Crime, and For-Profit Imprisonment: Social Disorganization as Market Opportunity

• NCJ Number: 196271
• Journal: Punishment & Society Volume: 4 Issue: 3 Dated: July 2002 Pages: 369-393
• Author(s): Michael A. Hallett
• Editor(s): Alison Liebling, Richard Sparks
• Date Published: July 2002
• Length: 25 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This article presents a discussion of the role of racial issues and race relations on the development and operations of private prisons.

Abstract

Using the social disorganization theory, the author explores the effect of race on prison privatization. The principles and underpinnings of the social disorganization theory are explored. The role of societal racist attitudes and images in setting penal policy are discussed. The history of prison privatization in the last century is presented along with statistical information concerning the growth of prisons and imprisonment. Identified reasons for the growth of private prisons include reduction of prison overcrowding; speed of new bed creation; increased operational flexibility; reduction in construction costs; improvement of services; and controlling legal liability. Information regarding racially disproportionate private prison populations is provided. An overview of major private contractors is provided with particular attention to Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) and an exploration of social disorganization as it applies to CCA’s corporate operations. 3 Tables, 4 notes, 42 references, 1 figure