In August, the Arizona SilverBelt ran a series of debates in the paper over the pro's and con's of a Private Prison in Globe. Jim Moss, businessman and one who is spearheading an organization called "Globe CItizens against a Private Prison", and Bob Zache, representing the local EDC (Economic Development Corporation) who is behind the project.
The SilverBelt provided the question each week and published the response each.
WEEK ONE: The Issue of Jobs. Will the project bring jobs to the area?
8/11 Response from Jim Moss:
The For-Profit Prison Industry is notorious for making false promises about JOBS.
For-Profit Prisons cut corners to protect the ‘bottom-line’. They operate for the benefit of Top Management, then shareholders – period. This means lower wages and employee turnover rates that exceed 50% annually. Not only does this make jobs unattractive, it raises serious public safety concerns. (Ex: Current Deadly Escape from Kingman’s For-Profit Prison)
The Private Prison Industry is not subject to the same disclosure requirements as State-operated Prisons. No transparency = No accountability. Globe residents will have virtually nothing to say about the contract awarded; including number of jobs, level of compensation, working conditions, or safety issues.
What happened to ‘due-diligence’? Google: “for profit prisons”. You will discover countless well-documented horror stories. Rural communities across America, desperate for jobs and economic development, have been tempted by the empty promises of For-Profit Prison salesmen. Unfortunately, many towns have paid a steep price. Will Globe be next?
The number of jobs promised (350), is wildly exaggerated. Reality necessitates that most such jobs would be filled by newcomers or out-of-towners, who may briefly tolerate relatively low wages in a dangerous work environment (For-Profits have a much higher rate of violent incidents and escapes). Promoters claim that 70% of materials, labor, and contracts will be supplied locally. Their track record disproves such contentions. Most contracts go to national suppliers and contractors. Promises, Promises.
Unbiased research demonstrates that economic benefits to rural communities seldom materialize. Actual living-wage jobs that lead to financial stability and home ownership cannot be expected. Importantly, there is also evidence that once a community becomes a ‘Prison Town’, the permanent stigma that follows makes it extremely difficult to attract better-paying, desirable businesses/industries. Few people want to live in a ‘Prison Town’ given a choice.
What brought me back to my Hometown? Good people, good climate, great geography, a rugged, independent spirit --- together create our town’s character. Frankly, it is quite doubtful we would have chosen to live & invest in Downtown Globe with a big For-Profit Prison footprint on our doorstep.
As I sit back and imagine a For-Profit Prison alongside the Fairgrounds --- I shake my head and wonder out loud --- How in the world did it come to pass in America, that incarcerating people for profit, would be marketed as a jobs & economic development plan for rural communities?
Something about that picture is downright disturbing.
WEEK TWO: The Issue of Public Safety
8/18 Response by: Jim Moss
PUBLIC SAFETY IS SACRIFICED FOR PROFITS BY THE PRIVATE PRISON INDUSTRY.
Private Prison operators are more concerned about protecting the ‘bottom line’ than they are about protecting the public. The CEOs of the largest Private Prison corporations make $ Millions. Yet, the workers on the front lines are paid significantly less than their State Prison counterparts. This results in employee turnover rates 3 to 4 times higher. Staff training, preparedness, professionalism --- all suffer in For-Profit Prisons. Private Prison guards are often ill-equipped to handle the explosive situations that inevitably occur inside a prison. A tough work environment becomes even tougher and more dangerous for employees in Private Prisons.
Lax security is a common problem in For-Profit Prisons. Thus, situations like the tragic Kingman incident occur far too often. This escape highlights a related public safety issue. As outsiders attempt to smuggle drugs and contraband to inmates, the prison becomes a magnet for illicit activities in the community. Could Globe serve as a crossroads for lawbreakers associated with inmates?
Since Kingman’s deadly escape has received such high profile media coverage, the For-Profit Prison promoters have stepped –up the PR campaign here in Globe. They are making more empty promises to quell public safety concerns. The same promises were made to the good folks of Kingman, AZ. Rest assured, the For-Profit Prison ‘talking points’ will emphasize that employee & public safety is their highest priority. Talking points don’t keep people safe. Their false promises rival British Petroleum (BP). So does their safety record. Cutting corners to make big profits has dangerous consequences.
· Private Prisons are chronically understaffed. Guard-to-inmate ratio = 1:34 (State Prison= 1:5)
· Private Prisons have 50% higher inmate-on-staff assaults than do State Prisons.
· Private Prisons often contract with ill-equipped & poorly trained vendors to transport inmates.
· Private Prison employee turnover rate of 50%+ results in a high number of inexperienced staff.
Confirm these facts. Google: “public safety and for profit prisons”. To see an eye-opening story about private prisons in AZ, reported just last week, watch the video at: gmteconnect.com posted on 8/13 titled “Rachel Maddow discusses…”
As one conducts due-diligence on this matter, the same question keeps arising --- Why on earth is Globe even considering a big For-Profit prison, in light of the alarming and overwhelming evidence that proves the private prison industry sacrifices public safety in order to make an extra buck?
GMTnewsnviews Editorial regarding this week's debate
Week Three: Economic Effect on the Local Economies
8/25 Response By: Jim Moss
RESEARCH CONFIRMS THAT PRISONS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE A DRAG ON LOCAL ECONOMIES.
The economic ‘turnover effect’? Seriously?
Exhibit A: Florence, Arizona. Not even a grocery store! Wal-Mart actually opted to locate in Coolidge instead! If the prison economic ‘multiplier effect’ translated into a multi-million dollar windfall --- why isn’t Florence, AZ a shining example of a rejuvenated, dynamic center of economic activity? Ghost Town is not the ‘turnover effect’ our community desires.
The Private Prison Industry pays ‘so-called’ economic experts to publish reports that are pure fantasy. Prison profiteers will make any false promise to entice city & county officials to allow a foot in the door. Their claim about an economic ‘multiplier effect’ for prison towns is one of their biggest whoppers! Been to Florence or Eloy lately?
A 2007 joint-study conducted by Washington State University and Ohio State University concludes: “Prisons may stigmatize host communities. Whatever (limited) gains are experienced as a result of the multiplier effect of prison jobs is always counterbalanced by the loss of businesses and people who leave or choose not to locate in a ‘prison town’. Policy-makers in counties with sluggish growth in educational attainment are more likely to view prisons as an economic development tool…….the counties that are most likely to be harmed by prisons are more likely to divert scarce resources toward capturing prisons. Given mounting evidence that prisons have not and are not likely to make a positive contribution to local employment growth, future research should examine these explanations to sort out why prisons appear to be doing more harm than good.”
The sad fact is Arizona has led a national trend toward mass incarceration. America has the highest lock-up rate of any nation on earth. The Private Prison Industry continues to fuel this dead-end public policy. Fiscally, it is wasteful and irresponsible. Socially, it is indefensible. Want to know the REAL ‘multiplier effect’? For every dollar we spend unnecessarily on prisons, is a dollar we do not spend on elementary & secondary education, or college education, or tourism, or valuable local projects. Prison construction in 2010 is money down a rat hole.
This empty promise about an economic ‘turnover effect’ is a distraction from more important considerations. We should not be bamboozled by ‘dollar turnover’ talk.
The FIRST, and most important question: What kind of economic development is compatible with the character and values of our community?
WEEK FOUR: The trickle effect of adding a 1000 bed prison to the community of Globe.
9/01 THE IMPACT OF A BIG PRISON ON A RURAL TOWN IS NEGATIVE AND PERMANENT.
During the past several weeks, my wife & I have spoken to hundreds of Globe-Miami residents about this Private Prison proposal. We have listened. And, we have learned that the overwhelming majority of residents do NOT want another prison in our community. Why? Folks say, “We don’t want to live in a ‘Prison Town’.”
Citizens of Globe-Miami understand that once we gain the reputation of ‘Prison Town’, there is no turning back. But, it is more than just a negative stigma that becomes permanent. The consequences of ‘selling out’ to the Private Prison Industry are painfully real. The prison promoter’s empty promises about jobs and economic benefit may fade from memory, but left in their wake would be a costly set of problems. These detrimental costs would be economic, social, and environmental.
Economic:
· Revenue Bond financing for a ‘Spec’ prison is risky business.
· Taxpayer money inevitably subsidizes private prisons.
· ‘Prison Towns’ discourage good businesses and families from locating/staying.
· Scarce resources diverted to prisons, starve positive programs & projects.
· Budgets for law enforcement and juvenile courts would require more taxpayer dollars.
Social:
· ‘Prison Towns’ cause a strain on social service funds & case loads.
· Juvenile delinquency would most likely increase sharply.
· Prisons become a ‘magnet’ for illegal activity within the host community.
· Public Safety is sacrificed for profit in the Private Prison Industry.
· Extremely high worker turnover negatively impacts community cohesiveness.
Environmental:
· A big prison could seriously impact long-term water supply.
· Sewer/waste management becomes a major issue at every prison project.
· Light pollution. Take a look at a big prison on a dark night.
· Imagine the negativity of a big prison alongside the County Fairgrounds.
By choosing to pursue the promised ‘easy money’ in a big Private Prison deal --- some elected officials have chosen to disregard the negative and permanent impacts of big prisons on rural towns. Common sense and careful deliberation dictate that there would be a high price to pay. Prisons bring problems, not solutions. Conduct your own independent research. See: “for profit prisons”.
When you bring your family to the Gila County Fair in a couple of weeks, just imagine a huge maximum security prison next door. Together, WE CAN stop Globe from becoming Arizona’s next Prison Town.
