CTU media release

5 August 2009

Private prisons: policy needs rethinking  

There is no evidence either from New Zealand or internationally to support the Government’s belief that private prisons operate better or at lower cost, the CTU told the Law and Order Select Committee today.

“Any apparent cost reductions in private corrections facilities come at the unacceptable cost of reduced working conditions and service,” said CTU President Helen Kelly. “The negative consequences of this fall on the corrections officers, on prisoners and on public safety.”

Appearing before the Law and Order Select Committee today to submit on the Corrections (Contract Management of Prisons) Amendment Bill, the CTU voiced its opposition to the introduction of privately managed prisons in New Zealand.

“We are very concerned that there is no real commitment by the Government to fully understand all the difficult issues around prisons. Instead it seems determined to pursue private prisons purely on ideological grounds. The cost and the consequences of such a change are enormous. The Government needs to rethink its position.” 

“It is the role of the State to run prisons and this duty cannot be delegated to private businesses that have profit motives. No matter how good the contract is, they can’t provide the type of protection, accountability and responsibility that the publicly managed prison service provides now.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media