Kentucky To Walk Away From Last Private Prison

[A Little Weird]

LOUISVILLE (AP) - Stepping out of the private prison business for the first time in three decades, Kentucky announced Tuesday is not renewing a contract with private prison giant Corrections Corporation of America for an 826-bed facility in the central part of the state.
.......
Kentucky officials estimated that the state can save of $1.5 million to $2.5 million per year by not renewing the contract.
http://www.lex18.com/news/kentucky-to-walk-away-from-last-private-prison/

Great news! Private prisons should be abolished.

I usually post to the Kentucky forum but I thought this might be of more general interest.

[TheDebbieDee]

1. Hopefully, other states will figure out that it's cheaper to house

prisoners themselves and the prison industrial complex will DIE!

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. oh pls. let this be a trend.

[malthaussen]

5. Oh, please, please! n/t

[Egalitarian Thug]

3. K&R If only... n/t

[factsarenotfair]

4. The story behind this move is beautiful.

From the link:
Justice and Public Safety Secretary J. Michael Brown said policy changes enacted in the 2011 legislative session, which included changes in the drug laws, reduced prison time for low-risk, nonviolent drug criminals caught with small amounts of drugs.

Marion Adjustment Center currently houses 794 inmates. Brown and Brislin said inmates currently enrolled in substance abuse programs will either complete the program before being transferred or will be placed in a similar program elsewhere to continue treatment.

"One of the major considerations in making this decision was whether we could continue to meet the treatment needs of inmates struggling with substance abuse issues, and that has been assured," Brown said.

[A Little Weird]

9. I was surprised (and pleased) by that

There's always the "tough on drugs" and "tough on crime" rhetoric getting tossed around but rarely do I hear the more humane plan of treating and rehabilitating people.

Although I don't follow the legislative sessions as closely as I probably should, I just don't remember anything being said about this. There was a lot of coverage about the prisoner abuse scandals a few years back and I think people were fed up with the mismanagement. I'm just happy they did at least one thing right!

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. As Kentucky goes...so goes the nation?

That be great. Yes, this is actually of national importance.

[A Little Weird]

8. Well

Kentucky is rarely a national leader in anything, but I'm hoping this will be an exception!

[kelliekat44]

7. But "gubment" is bad and costly! nt

[Luminous Animal]

10. Very good new. Congratulations Kentucky!

[Matariki]

11. Bravo!

[BehindTheCurtain76]

12. Thank God

Thank God...Republicrats are losing their clients.

[bluestate10]

13. This is what happens when democrats have the Governor's chair, AG spot and Lt.Gov chair.

Fucking sane policies get brought forward. What a revelation to the Nader "there is no difference" crowd.

[alfredo]

14. Yes!

[ReRe]

15. Ahhhhh, more healing GOOD NEWS!!!

K&R

Thank you ALW, for this General Discussion OP! We need to keep it alive so more DUers will see it. Common sense, folks. Common sense. No matter what kind of privatization, the "product" is not always better, more cost effective and efficient. Doesn't matter what it is, Prisons, Education, National effing Security, Health Care, you name it.

STOP ALL PRIVATIZATION IN IT'S TRACKS NOW!

[meow2u3]

16. ALL private prisons nationwide should be shut down

They have no right to exist, since they're just modern-day concentration camps.

[Scurrilous]

17. Good news!

[ljm2002]

18. Wow, Kentucky of all places!

Good for them. I hope it catches on. The fact that prison privatization is allowed at all is an abomination.

K&R

[alp227]

19. Well, Kentucky's governor is a Democrat (Steve Beshear), and Democrats control its Senate

Even with senators Turtle and (Not Ayn) Rand, Kentucky isn't as conservative as you may think even though it went for Romney in 2012. Last time KY's electoral votes went for Democrats was '96 for Bill Clinton; Kentucky went for Clinton both times.

[alp227]

20. Louisville Courier-Journal article

Kentucky ending private prisons

[A Little Weird]

21. I hadn't seen that

I hadn't seen that article, thanks! I'm disappointed to hear about the one in Lee County. It seems a little misleading to say there are no more private prisons if that one is still operating, whether it's housing Kentucky inmates or not. I guess if Kentucky is not sending prisoners to private prisons that's still a step in the right direction.

[MindPilot]

22. Shut 'em all down!! n/t