Most states have turned to privately-owned prisons in order to cut savings, but a report says that the prisons offer little savings to state governments, and in some cases end up costing taxpayers more than traditional systems.

The New York Times reports Arizona’s private prisons can be costlier than state-run systems, even though the state’s private outfits manage to avoid housing some of the typically more expensive inmates. Regardless, the state is pressing forward with plans to double its privately-imprisoned population, despite a state law that says private prisons must save taxpayers money. Lawmakers in Ohio and Florida are also making moves to greatly increase private inmate numbers.

What do you think the private sector can do to run prisons more effectively than the government?

Private Prisons Found to Offer Little in Savings [The New York Times]

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