March 15, 2013 09:32 AM UTC

CoSprings Gazette OUR VIEW: Prison space should match our needs

• 0 Comments
• by: For People Over For-Profits

The Colorado Springs Gazette editorial board makes the well-reasoned case why for-profit prisons are a bad economic and social model for Colorado – and why we should get rid of them.

"…not all profit is virtuous. Just as profit motive can provide a surplus of cars, it can provide surpluses we do not want.

Private prisons run on a profit motive that creates a perverse incentive for governments to supply prisoners.

…The logical response to less need for prison space should be fewer prisons.

To a private prison operator, fewer prisoners means cause for panic. That’s why CCA pays lobbyists to keep prisoners coming. CCA lobbyist Mike Feeley helped broker the multimillion-dollar deal to keep the company’s prisons on life support.

… we must reduce our prison space, as quickly and painlessly as possible, to match demand."