Privatization of community corrections

• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/1745-9133.12433
• Date: 01 May 2019
• Author: Edward J. Latessa,Lori Brusman Lovins
• Published date: 01 May 2019

DOI: 10.1111/1745-9133.12433

RESEARCH ARTICLE

COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS

Privatization of community corrections

Edward J. Latessa1Lori Brusman Lovins2

1University of Cincinnati

2University of Houston—Downtown

Correspondence

EdwardJ. Latessa, School of Criminal

Justice,University of Cincinnati, P.O. 210389,

Cincinnati,OH 45221-0389.

Email:latessej@ucmail.uc.edu

Research Summary: In this article, we examine the issue

of privatization in the field of community corrections.

Privatization can be found in all elements of community

corrections, including treatment, education, housing, and

supervision services. The private sector is also involved in

the development of technology, like electronic monitoring

devices, and material like assessments and curricula. Ser-

vices are provided by both private for-profit and nonprofit

agencies. Although there are potential harms and benefits

to privatization in community corrections, untangling the

private industry from the provision of supervision and pro-

gramming in the community would be a true challenge.

Policy Implications: Implications for use of the private

industry in community corrections include the need for

oversight and accountability, with the expectation that pri-

vate agencies provide evidence-based services and demon-

strate a reduction of recidivism through those services.

Recognition that the private industry is meeting a need that

might not easily be met bypublic agencies is also impor tant.

Privatization in community corrections has mainly dodged

the public scrutiny seen against privatization of prisons; this

could change depending on how far-reaching privatization

in community corrections becomes.

KEYWORDS

community corrections, community residential correctional programs, day

reporting centers, educational services, for-profit, halfway houses, inter-

mediate sanctions, mental health services, nonprofit, privatization pro-

gram fidelity, work furlough centers, work release centers

Criminology & Public Policy. 2019;18:323–341. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/capp © 2019 American Society of Criminology 323

324 LATESSA ANDLOVINS

1INTRODUCTION

Before we start examining the role of privatization in community corrections, it is important to begin

by defining what is meant by the “private sector.” When most of us think about privatization, we tend

to think of a for-profit company that is individually, family, or publicly owned, with the expressed

purpose of providing goods or services designed to generate a profit. In adult corrections, the largest

companies include Geo Group, CoreCivic (formerly Corrections Corp), and Management and Train-

ing Corporation (MTC). Although these companies often come to mind, another aspect to the private

sector also has a long history in community corrections—the nonprofit, sometimes referred to as a

“nongovernment organization” (NGO). National providers include Volunteers of America, Salvation

Army, and hundreds of smaller regional or local agencies, many of whom have been providing cor-

rectional services for many, many years. For example, even though CoreCivic was founded in 1983,

Volunteers of America dates back to 1896.

Like their for-profit cousin, the nonprofit also provides a wide range of goods and services; because

of its tax status, however,it does not generate profit, and although it is often perceived to have a different

mission than its for-profit counterpart, it does not necessarily mean that a nonprofit is always indepen-

dent. For example, some private for-profits have been known to create nonprofit entities to operate in

certain states. It is also a misconception that nonprofit leadership is not well compensated. Accord-

ing to a news report, one executive of a nonprofit correctional agency received more than $622,000

in compensation in 2013, and another executive for a similar agency received more than $774,000 in

2012 (Tobias, 2015).

The correctional field has experienced several privatization precedents: Health care, education,

mental health, supervision, transportation, and training have been provided by private contractors

for many systems. From the time of John Augustus, most juvenile and adult halfway houses and

other services have been provided by private, nonprofit, or charitable organizations. Overcrowded

jails and prisons contributed to the growth of community corrections, and many entrepreneurs in

the private for-profit and in the private nonprofit sector became involved in the “boom” industry

of community-oriented corrections. Numerous entrepreneurs are now expanding and providing

community services, almost like a franchise. For the purposes of this article, we will consider both the

private for-profit and the private nonprofit because both play a role in the privatization of community

corrections.

2SCOPE OF PRIVATE INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY

CORRECTIONS

The private sectors’ involvement in community corrections is extensive and ranges from diversion

programs designed to divert individuals from more formal involvement in the criminal justice system

to reentry, which today includes a wide array of programs and services, often provided by private

providers (both for-profits and NGOs). As most justice-involved individuals are under probation or

parole supervision, it should not be surprising that the private sector plays a big role. Not only does

private industry provide programs and services to community supervision agencies, but also in some

jurisdictions, it assumes responsibility for direct supervision.

Although formal supervision of most felons is restricted to a government agency, several states

have contracted with private agencies to supervise misdemeanants. For example, the Salvation Army

has been providing misdemeanor probation services in Florida since 1975. Today several states and

jurisdictions contract with both private for-profit and NGOs for misdemeanant probation services,