60http://privateprisonwatch.netTue, 09 Mar 2010 16:58:28 GMTTue, 09 Mar 2010 16:58:28 GMTenPrivate Prison WatchPrivate Prison Cast 1: Waco Kickbacks and Robstown ReleaseAndrew StrongNews about private prison companies. Brought to you by privateprisonwatch.net and texasprisonbidness.org. Music by John Coltrane.News about private prison companies. Brought to you by privateprisonwatch.net and texasprisonbidness.org. Music by John Coltrane.Andrew Strongstrong.ak@gmail.comnohttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/03/05/appraisal-error-costs-ga-county-250k-in-tax-revenue.aspx?ref=rssAndrew StrongCharlton County, Georgia will receive $250,000 less than they anticipated towards their education budget after an appraisal error on a prison owned by Cornell Corporations. Board of Education spokesman Joey Chancey "noted the board would be in much worse financial shape today if they had not made the decision to raise the millage rate two years ago to cover the potential cost of property assessment appeals from a number of the county’s large timber tract owners" (Charlton County Herald). Without having done this, their funding for education would be almost nothing. The jail in discussion had its worth lowered ...economicsGeorgiaCornell Companieshttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/03/05/appraisal-error-costs-ga-county-250k-in-tax-revenue.aspx#Comments943376cf-054d-430e-a4a6-a26802dfbb9fFri, 05 Mar 2010 20:16:00 GMThttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/03/05/more-allegations-of-sexual-abuse-in-washington-dc-prison.aspx?ref=rssAndrew StrongThe Washington D.C.CTF (image via CCA)Earlier this year, Hawai'i inmates were ordered to be removed from a CCA-operated Kentucky facility due to allegations of sexual abuse. The next month, in February, a report of more sexual abuse in a Washington D.C. facility surfaced. You can read the full report here. The article describes the situation surrounding the allegations of two female inmates at the CCA-run Washington D.C. Correctional Treatment Facility. The first inmate was serving a sentence for prostitution and she enrolled in a support class at the facility to help her "turn her life around." The employee in charge ...abuseCCAscandalsWashington D.C.http://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/03/05/more-allegations-of-sexual-abuse-in-washington-dc-prison.aspx#Comments0914d735-ed15-4ea7-9fb2-1b919dc16e5aFri, 05 Mar 2010 18:12:00 GMThttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/03/02/grayson-county-debate-is-over.aspx?ref=rssAndrew StrongFrom Texas Prison Bid'Ness -- After a lawsuit, a review and estimate, a cancelled bond vote, two potential locations, and many other small battles, the Grayson County debate over whether or not to privatize their downtown jail or build another, separate private facility was put to an end by County Judge Drue Bynum on February 24th. Bynum was one of the four who voted affirmatively to hold a bond vote to the public, a bond vote that was very ambiguous and eventually thrown out. A press conference, held by Bynum, yielded this information ("Grayson County Jail bond election cancelled," KXII, ...Texashttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/03/02/grayson-county-debate-is-over.aspx#Comments8a0a67a3-97e0-48d1-b24e-bb48bb8724cbTue, 02 Mar 2010 18:19:00 GMThttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/02/24/waco-sheriff-immune-to-recent-attorney-general-ruling.aspx?ref=rssAndrew StrongIn a recent post about the Texas Attorney General's ruling regarding county Sheriff kickbacks from private companies (including but not limited to private prison companies), I wondered what it would do to the well-known practice of Waco Sheriffs receiving money from private prison companies. Well, I found my answer: nothing. McLennan County Judge Jim Lewis told News Channel 25 the ruling was based on a "fee" opinion and not a "supplement" opinion, and a fee is based on the number of inmates being housed in the jail. "The supplement doesn't matter whether you have one or ...TexasCiviGenicskickbackshttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/02/24/waco-sheriff-immune-to-recent-attorney-general-ruling.aspx#Commentse9102429-8ec0-4936-beeb-c1cbfb0e94c8Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:57:00 GMThttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/02/21/hawaii-inmate-found-dead-in-a-ccaoperated-arizona-jail.aspx?ref=rssAndrew StrongA Hawai'i inmate was found dead with stab woundsin an Arizona prison run by CCA (image via CCA).More bad news surfaced for Hawai'i prisoners housed on the mainland as Bronson Nunuha was found dead in his cell last Thursday the 18th with stab wounds. Nunuha was housed on burglary charges at CCA's Saguaro Correctional Facility in Eloy, Arizona. This was the first death of a Hawai'ian inmate in a private prison on the mainland since 1995 (Honolulu Advertiser).Hawai'i has had some recent problems with sending inmates to the continental United In January, Hawai'ian females housed at a Kentucky CCA ...CCAArizonascandalsHawai'ihttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/02/21/hawaii-inmate-found-dead-in-a-ccaoperated-arizona-jail.aspx#Commentsc573f93a-90f3-4ddb-96a9-13e1a6fe5e55Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:45:00 GMThttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/02/18/hutto_contract_update.aspx?ref=rssAndrew StrongFollowing the August 6th, 2009 announcement that the T. Don Hutto facility will no longer house immigrant families and will instead house female immigrants awaiting decisions on their immigration status, Williamson County, TX has recently renewed their contract with ICE and CCA with some significant improvements in comparison to the old contract. Tricia Rosetty of the Taylor Daily Press covered these contractual amendments in her recent piece, "Wilco, ICE renew agreements": ...TexasCCAICEimmigrant detentionhttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/02/18/hutto_contract_update.aspx#Commentsf2a5891b-f034-400c-b37d-882da88c1c9eThu, 18 Feb 2010 19:43:00 GMThttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/02/17/dan-rather-and-reeves-county-detention-center.aspx?ref=rssAndrew StrongDan Rather reports onGEO's Reeves Facility(image via Getty Images).Yesterday, Dan Rather's HDNet show covered The GEO Group's facility, Reeves County Detention Center. In his report he focused on the death of Jesus Galindo, an immigrant housed at the facility who was denied medication and died because of the negligence, resulting in a lawsuit by the Galindo family against The GEO Group. "The investigation explores how this one case in Texas could break through the walls that have protected the private prison industry from public scrutiny," says PR Newswire. "Was the death of Jesus Galindo due to a lack of medical ...The GEO GroupTexasimmigrant detentionhttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/02/17/dan-rather-and-reeves-county-detention-center.aspx#Commentsa9568251-9928-4f43-8914-ac19bc2f5b36Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:58:00 GMThttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/02/17/texas-attorney-general-determines-sheriff-kickbacks-illegal.aspx?ref=rssAndrew StrongThe Honorable Yvonne Davis, Chairwoman of the Committee on Urban Affairs issued an opinion request that was answered today by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott. The opinion request asked three questions regarding Sheriffs/Commissioners and private organizations. The response that is most applicable to current situations was whether or not it was legal for Texas Sheriffs to receive "administrative fees" from a private organization (including private prison companies). The Attorney General ruled that "Neither the Texas Constitution nor Texas statutes authorize the person holding the office of county sheriff to be paid an administrative fee by a private organization."This is a ...Texaslegislationkickbackshttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/02/17/texas-attorney-general-determines-sheriff-kickbacks-illegal.aspx#Comments1a639934-ef03-4cc7-94f7-459569e90c1bWed, 17 Feb 2010 19:46:00 GMThttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/02/17/texas-20102011-budget-calls-for-private-prison-funding-reduction.aspx?ref=rssAndrew StrongTexas Department ofCriminal Justice seal (image via TDCJ).Following Governor Rick Perry's announcement for all Texas agencies to cut their budget by 5% over the next two years, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) has recently released their plan of action to fulfill this request. TDCJ has proposed a spending cut of $294.3 million and 3,095 jobs. Included in this cut is a $10.7 million and 817 beds for "contract prisons, privately operated site jails, and pre-parole transfer facilities" (item 20). The budget plan also states that it is uncertain of the cost of "replacement contracts for several privately operated ...policyTexashttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/02/17/texas-20102011-budget-calls-for-private-prison-funding-reduction.aspx#Comments26bbaa43-2c32-4041-957f-25f6d9fff0afWed, 17 Feb 2010 17:51:00 GMThttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/02/14/fight-erupts-in-mtcs-arizona-facility.aspx?ref=rssAndrew StrongOutside state resources were called intoassist with the disturbance (image via KOLD). Last Wednesday a fight broke out at MTC's Marana Community Correctional Treatment Facility involving 150 of the 506 inmates housed there. The fight was contained within an hour after outside State resources were called in to quell the problem. The Associated Press reports: A private prison in Arizona is on lockdown after a brawl broke out ...ArizonascandalsMTChttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/02/14/fight-erupts-in-mtcs-arizona-facility.aspx#Comments6aad0a15-d61e-4cf8-9f9c-d2c6e728e035Sun, 14 Feb 2010 18:35:00 GMThttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/02/11/subsidized-private-prisons-in-regards-to-race.aspx?ref=rssAndrew StrongInternational Journal of Public Administration (image via TANDF).Dr. Byron E. Price, the author of "Merchandizing Prisoners", has recently co-authored another work for the February 2010 issue of International Journal of Public Administration alongside Dr. Richard Schwester, titled "Economic Development Subsidies and the Funding of Private Prisons." In it, Price and Schwester investigate the link between private prisons and social control, particularly in regards to the unemployed black male which they compare to Marx's "surplus population:"The relationship between the relative size of a minority population and the exercise of social control is not new (Meyers, 1990). As minority populations increase in ...economicsreport reviewsrace issueshttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/02/11/subsidized-private-prisons-in-regards-to-race.aspx#Commentsd8953b8d-f68c-4c10-9890-fd55e006a280Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:54:00 GMThttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/02/04/geo-group-adds-board-member-with-questionable-ethics.aspx?ref=rssAndrew StrongThe GEO Group's newest board member, Christoper C. Wheeler(image via IWB).Effective from February 1st, Christopher Wheeler will work as a board member for The GEO Group, the second largest prison corporation in America. The announcement to the public came earlier today and went over his history: a Cornell Law graduate who recently retired from his work as a lawyer for Proskauer Rose, LLP. He also works with the Ronald McDonald house, a private school, a university, and multiple hospitals as a volunteer. The GEO Group's CEO, George Zoley, had this to say about the recent hire: "We are fortunate to ...The GEO GroupMiscellaneousscandalshttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/02/04/geo-group-adds-board-member-with-questionable-ethics.aspx#Comments7383168c-9423-4899-a0ec-c00afd87b15cThu, 04 Feb 2010 21:49:00 GMThttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/02/02/72-of-robstown-prison-guards-hold-temporary-license.aspx?ref=rssAndrew StrongThe Coastal Bend Detention Center (LCS Corrections).LCS Corrections' facility, the Coastal Bend Detention Center (CBDC) in Robstown, Texas recently underwent and passed two surprise visits in accordance with their "at-risk" status. The facility recently released an inmate because they mistook the identity of the man, who is still at large.The Caller-Times covered the story of the surprise inspection and fire drill and had this to say:The inspection did not reveal any non-compliance issues. But [state inspector] Johnson noted that of 118 officers, 85 were working with temporary state jailer licenses. All must complete training and pass a state-mandated jailer certification ...TexasLCS Correctionsinspectionshttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/02/02/72-of-robstown-prison-guards-hold-temporary-license.aspx#Comments71d4aacb-d153-4c20-b994-9a1614cada02Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:30:00 GMThttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/01/27/grayson-county-discusses-halemills-proposal.aspx?ref=rssAndrew StrongImage via (Hale-Mills).On Monday the Grayson County Commissioners met for their usual weekly hearing in which they discussed their downtown Sherman jail. Last year the jail was the topic of a heated controversy revolving around whether or not the facility should be privatized. The county eventually dropped the idea of privatization and doing anything to the facility until now. Hale-Mills, a Houston-based construction company that specializes in building jails, is no stranger to constructing facilities surrounded in controversy. Most notably, MTC's tent-based Willacy County Detention Center that has been surrounded in controversy, and Hardin, Montana's never-used Two Rivers Detention Center ...constructionTexashttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/01/27/grayson-county-discusses-halemills-proposal.aspx#Comments378c0d26-a308-4ef3-a20b-e348507226daWed, 27 Jan 2010 15:57:00 GMThttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/01/16/book-review--merchandizing-prisoners-by-byron-price.aspx?ref=rssAndrew StrongPublished in 2006, this terse 154 page tour de force on prison privatization is one of the most comprehensive studies done on the topic that I have encountered. Merchandizing Prisoners by Byron Eugene Price covers the debate behind prison privatization, fairly explaining the arguments of both sides and putting each premise through a grinder and taking a look at the fine details of each point. This work is useful for both the person who has never heard of prison privatization as well as those who have studied the industry for years -- either party is guaranteed to find something they ...historybook reviewsMiscellaneoushttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/01/16/book-review--merchandizing-prisoners-by-byron-price.aspx#Commentsf9e8d4ed-2e7a-4ff8-8f2f-bd8503368d0fMon, 25 Jan 2010 19:58:00 GMThttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/01/22/january_woes_cca.aspx?ref=rssAndrew StrongIt appears that CCA has encountered more January contractual woes with Arizona's announcement to phase out the housing of their out-of-state inmates as of March 9th. This announcement comes during a time of budget crisis within the state. There has been talk of Arizona wanting to lease out nine of their ten prisons to private companies in an attempt to reduce cost. Ending out-of-state prisoner housing is another way to reduce expenditures on their prison system, since as of today there has not been an official bid to buy any of their nine prisons up for auction.This move by Arizona ...ColoradoCCAArizonalegislationOklahomahttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/01/22/january_woes_cca.aspx#Commentsd0fe0ac4-154d-491d-92e9-a68b41e68e91Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:04:00 GMThttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/01/15/hidden-deaths-of-detained-immigrants-the-story-of-boubacar-bah.aspx?ref=rssAndrew StrongOn January 13th, Democracy Now! covered the story unraveled by the New York Times regarding the massive cover-up of 107 immigrant deaths while in ICE custody since 2003. The report claims that "federal officials used their role as overseers to prevent media from reporting deaths and abuses inside the nation’s immigration prisons" (Democracy Now!). The story of Boubacar Bah, an immigrant working in New York to send money to help his family in Guinea, is the highlighted example of one of these 107 deaths. He was held in a CCA facility after returning to America from a visit to his ...immigrationvideosCCAICECornell Companiesimmigrant detentionhttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/01/15/hidden-deaths-of-detained-immigrants-the-story-of-boubacar-bah.aspx#Commentsbdd856f3-de58-4ae2-8143-670e64e128f1Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:53:00 GMThttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/01/13/new_year_new_actions.aspx?ref=rssAndrew StrongWe are about halfway into January of the new year and there have already been a few significant internal actions taken across the board of prison vendors. I will review these moves, both awards and retractions.Corrections Corporation of AmericaThe Bureau of Prisons endorsed CCA to continue operating the Cibola County Corrections Center in Milan, New Mexico. This facility houses 1,204 adult male immigrant offenders. Additionally, CCA's contract to operate the 2,304-bed California City Correctional Center was dropped. These contract moves are in regards to the BOP's "Criminal Alien Requirement 10," which states that both of these facilities shall be operated ...The GEO GroupCCALouisianaNew MexicoCaliforniaimmigrant detentionGeorgiaCornell Companieshttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/01/13/new_year_new_actions.aspx#Commentsdf934c57-97ab-4d97-8682-747553236e43Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:21:00 GMThttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/01/10/kentucky-governor-moves-female-inmates-to-state-prison.aspx?ref=rssAndrew StrongOtter Creek Correctional Center (CCA).Kentucky governor Steve Beshear has ordered a transfer of all female inmates housed in the CCA-operated Otter Creek Correctional Center to a state-run facility by July 2010 in an attempt to protect them from sexual abuse by some prison guards at the facility. Five months ago, Hawai'i female inmates were moved from the exact same facility because of the exact same allegations of rampant sexual abuse by the guards. The Honolulu Advertiser had this to say:"The (Kentucky) governor's actions validate what we were saying all along," Hawai'i Senate Public Safety Committee chairman Will Espero said yesterday. ...abuseCCAHawai'iKentuckyhttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/01/10/kentucky-governor-moves-female-inmates-to-state-prison.aspx#Commentsaced9046-96ad-4020-9b5f-2c41ed6060cbMon, 11 Jan 2010 03:42:00 GMThttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/01/05/family-plans-to-sue-the-geo-group-for-wrongful-death.aspx?ref=rssAndrew StrongProtesters gather with 9 coffins representing the 9 dead at RCDC (TPB).The family of Jesus Galindo plans to file a wrongful death civil suit against The GEO Group for being responsible for the death of Mr. Galindo, who was serving in the notorious Reeves County Detention Center (RCDC) in Pecos, Texas. RCDC has been the home of 9 inmate deaths from 2005-2009, and last month a vigil was held in Pecos on the anniversary of Galindo's death. He was denied medication for his epilepsy while placed in an isolation cell, where he died. After his death on December 12th, 2008, ...The GEO GroupTexasscandalshttp://privateprisonwatch.net/2010/01/05/family-plans-to-sue-the-geo-group-for-wrongful-death.aspx#Commentsa12845e4-1608-4262-b3ab-1650dea2808fTue, 05 Jan 2010 14:20:00 GMT