February 29, 2012 by Anonymous
Just a few years ago, as Illinois folks scratched their heads about a privatized Chicago Skyway, for-profit parking meters, parking lots and more, there was real confidence that even though the move towards privatization was strong, prisons and detention centers would be safe because of the Private Correctional Facility Moratorium Act.
February 23, 2012 by Bob Libal
Michigan state lawmakers are debating re-opening GEO Group's prison in Baldwin. This despite the fact that Michigan has a declining prison population and does not need additional prison capacity. According to a report by the Sentencing Project, Michigan saw a 12% decline in its prison population from 2006-2009 (one of the report's authors, Judy Greene, tells us that the decline is now 14%). Read more about Michigan May Re-open Troubled GEO Prison
February 17, 2012 by Anonymous
On Valentine's Day the Florida state Senate killed Senate Bill 2038: Privatization of Correctional Facilities, which would have instigated the largest mass privatization of prisons in the nation's history. Private corrections corporations gave Florida lawmakers almost $900,000 in the last campaign cycle. Florida lawmakers pulled out all the stops - trying to bypass both public and media scrutiny - to get it passed. In an extraordinary move, nine Republicans broke ranks, defied their leadership and joined with their Democratic colleagues to stop the bill.
SB 2038 was fast tracked through the Senate. Despite powerful testimony against the bill in the Rules Committee, it was rushed through to the Budget Committee - circumventing the committees that would ask the hard questions about this legislation. Senate President Mike Haridopolos thought he had the votes he needed. But a second reading saw a handful from his own party questioning the bill. And it all fell apart.
Read more about Bi-partisan support kills prison privatization sweetheart deal in FloridaFebruary 9, 2012 by Anonymous
During the temporary postponement of SB 2038 Privatization of Correctional Facilities we see a once smug Senate President, Haridopolos, scrambling for support. After trying to fast-track a vote on what would become the largest prison privatization move in the nation, its supporters are scrounging for the 21 senate votes it needs to deliver to the multi-million-dollar private prison corporations what they had promised.
The senate president fired Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, from his chairmanship of the budget panel in charge of prisons because Fasano dared to suggest an amendment that would require real study and real thought. Oh, and he publicly stated that privatizing was a payback to GEO Group and Corrections Corporation of America. And, he called Haridopolos a bully.
Read more about Florida’s Ongoing Privatization Saga - Call in the Clergy?February 1, 2012 by Bob Libal
However, this week, several state Senators (including many members of Haridopolos's Republican party) have bucked the idea of what would be the largest prison privatization in U.S. history. They've objected to the proposal saying that prison privatization doesn't save money, can be dangerous for those incarcerated and working in prisons, and is ultimately is a payoff to for-profit prison companies who have made huge donations to politicians in Florida.
Read more about Humpday Hall of Shame: Mike Haridopolos, Part 2February 1, 2012 by Bob Libal
Grassroots Leadership is proud to welcome Laura Price as our Women's Campaign Intern!
Laura Price is currently a junior at Davidson College majoring in Postcolonial Studies through the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies. She spent the past four months studying Arabic and Political Science in Rabat, Morocco. After graduation, Laura hopes to pursue a career in law.
Read more about Grassroots Leadership Welcomes Laura Price as Women's Campaign Intern
January 18, 2012 by Anonymous
Welcome to the Humpday Hall of Shame – every Wednesday we highlight the private prison industry’s influence on public policy through campaign contributions, lobbying, and the revolving door of public and private corrections.
What does almost $900,000 in political contributions buy in the Florida State legislature?
For private prison companies the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) and The GEO Group, it may buy them the conversion of twenty-nine state correctional facilities to private prisons. Nearly 4,000 state employees and 16,000 inmates will be affected if SB7172 is passed.
Governor Scott’s inaugural fund received $25,000 from Florida-based The GEO Group and $5,000 from the Corrections Corporation of America. In 2010, The GEO Group and its staff made more than $700,000 in political contributions in the Sunshine State. CCA contributed $138,994. CCA and GEO are the world’s largest private incarceration corporations.
Read more about Humpday Hall of Shame: Is Corruption Clouding the Sunshine State?January 4, 2012 by Bob Libal
With the political world buzzing with Iowa caucus results, we thought we'd explore which Republican presidential candidates had received campaign contributions from private prison corporations. See what we found after the jump, via data obtained at TransparancyData.com.
Read more about Which Republican Candidates Do Private Prison Corporations Support?December 28, 2011 by Anonymous
“To ignore evil is to become an accomplice to it.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
We are ending the year by asking for your support.
THE TIME IS NOW!
Read more about Humpday Hall of Shame: Ignoring EvilDecember 21, 2011 by Bob Libal
This week's inductee is the United States Congress. Even as lawmakers have been unable to extend a payroll tax break for working Americans and unemployment insurance for those out of work, they have been able to provide a benefit for one group this holiday season - private prison corporations that benefit from the detention of immigrants.
