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Researcher Says Race is Behind Push for Private Prisons April 8, 2011 | WMFE - Both chambers of the Florida legislature passed versions of the state budget Thursday and both of the spending plans include proposals to turn over many of the state's prisons to private corporations. The Senate's plan, for example, would privatize correctional facilities in 18 South Florida counties. Budget writers say the move could save the state as much as $60 million dollars over the next two years but the idea has many critics. One of them is Dr. Michael Hallett, Chairman of the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. 90.7's Tom Parkinson asked him to explain how he thinks race fits in to the push to privatize prisons.
Dr. Michael Hallett is also author of the book: Private Prisons in America: A Critical Race Perspective. It’s published by the University of Illinois Press. The audit Dr. Hallett mentioned that found the state was overpaying private prison corporations was done in 2005 by the Florida Department of Management Services. Follow this link to see that report: http://www.privateci.org/private_pics/Final%20Report.pdf
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