Prison Privatization: An Empirical Literature Review and Path Forward

Abstract

A substantial body of literature has been devoted to examine the efficacy of prison privatization. Unfortunately, the empirical findings to date are equivocal regarding whether prison privatization fulfills its promises and our expectations of cost efficiency, prison quality, postrelease success, nonprofit prison privatization, system-wide improvement in corrections, local economic development, and determinants of privatizing prisons. Such inconclusive evidence may result from the shortcomings of past research, and thus there is a continuing need for more work using a wide range of data sources and research designs. This article conducts a review of empirical research, discusses conceptual and methodological problems in the literature, and offers guidance for future research. It may not only stimulate additional research but also inform public policy decision-making on prison privatization.

Private Versus Public Incarceration: Incarcerated Individuals’ Experiences and Perceptions of Environmental Quality

“…Since that time, few additional studies have been conducted” (Gaes, 2019, p. 274). Published in the same year was a review of the prison privatization literature by Kim (2022). His interpretation of the literature largely paralleled the one advanced by Gaes.…”

“…As mentioned above, most of the studies on private prison quality are from over 20 years ago and from the first years that contemporary prisons were operated by private corrections agencies. This prior work has also used diverse conceptualizations of quality (Kim, 2022; Makarios & Maahs, 2012; Perrone & Pratt, 2003), making it difficult to discern how to situate each study within the broader literature. In addition, many studies have employed a case study approach (Kim, 2022; Makarios & Maahs, 2012; Perrone & Pratt, 2003).…”

“…This prior work has also used diverse conceptualizations of quality (Kim, 2022; Makarios & Maahs, 2012; Perrone & Pratt, 2003), making it difficult to discern how to situate each study within the broader literature. In addition, many studies have employed a case study approach (Kim, 2022; Makarios & Maahs, 2012; Perrone & Pratt, 2003). This approach provides beneficial evaluations for the specific facilities or jurisdictions in which they focus; however, they do not provide a generalizable understanding of private prisons.…”

Toward a political sociology of privatized punishment: Contestation, state structures, and stratification

“…1 Other reviews of private prison research organize the literature differently, tending to focus on work from a single discipline (e.g., Kim, 2019). 2 Our decision to focus on these three themes and to include only select lines of research may leave some readers wanting more.…”

“… 1 1 Other reviews of private prison research organize the literature differently, tending to focus on work from a single discipline (e.g., Kim, 2019). …”