Privatising corrections: rethinking the issue

Andrew, J., Baker, M., Cooper, C. and Tweedie, J. (2020) Privatising corrections: rethinking the issue. In: Birch, P. and Sicard, L. (eds.) Prisons and Community Corrections: Critical Issues and Emerging Controversies. Series: Routledge innovations in corrections. Routledge: Abingdon, pp. 72-85. ISBN 9780367818715 (doi: 10.4324/9781003010562-6)

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Abstract

Why have private prisons failed to live up to the promises of neoliberalism? Is there a better approach to incarceration? In an attempt to answer these questions, this chapter considers the effect of a neoliberal governance program on Kilmarnock prison in Scotland. We show how a poorly designed contract and its performance measures can work to occlude the realities of prison life, particularly when these ignore the significance of prison staff, both in terms of staff-to-prisoner ratios, but also their safety, wellbeing and ongoing professional development. We find that a prison system, consisting of for-profit actors incentivised solely by performance metrics, is inherently inflexible and unable to respond to the challenges of modern incarceration. Lastly, we provide some suggestions as to the construction of future contracts so that the state (and, by association, the public) is afforded latitude to enforce high-quality outcomes. However, when deciding on the future of correctional services, in the long term, we suggest greater attention be paid to the Nordic justice model.

Item Type:Book Sections
Status:Published
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Tweedie, Dr Jonathan
Authors: Andrew, J., Baker, M., Cooper, C., and Tweedie, J.
Subjects:H Social Sciences > HJ Public Finance
H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform
College/School:College of Social Sciences > Adam Smith Business School > Accounting and Finance
Publisher:Routledge
ISBN:9780367818715
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