Privatization and the Culture of Control: The Effects of Private Prison Incarceration on Recidivism

• In Event: Predictors of Sentencing Decisions and the Effects of In-Prison Experiences

Abstract

Government agencies at the state- and federal-levels continue to use private companies to operate and manage prisons. Scholars have argued that this form of privatization is a part of a contemporary culture of control and may adversely impact individuals and society. Even so, there exists little empirical research that suggests private prisons operate less effectively than public prisons. Alternatively, no systematic empirical research exists that suggests public prisons operate less effectively than private prisons. In this presentation, I describe the results of a study that examines the individual-level effects of private prison incarceration on recidivism. I conclude the presentation by highlighting implications for theory, research, and policy.

Author

• Andrea Montes Lindsey, Florida State University