U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Private Versus Public Sector Operation: A Comparison of the Environmental Quality in Juvenile Correctional Facilities, Final Report
NCJ Number
              194119

Author(s)
          Gaylene S. Armstrong Ph.D.;
                        Doris L. MacKenzie Ph.D.
Date Published

2000
Length
              186 pages
Annotation
              This study assessed the implications of privatization in juvenile corrections through an analysis of the environmental quality of conditions of confinement in both public and private juvenile correctional facilities.
Abstract
              For this study, "privatization" referred to the "process wherein the State continues to fund the costs of incarceration of delinquents but the private sector provides the custodial and programmatic managerial services." The research analyzed data collected from 48 juvenile correctional facilities throughout the United States (16 privately operated facilities and 32 publicly operated facilities). Data pertained to the quality of conditions of confinement as perceived by juvenile delinquents (n=4,590), correctional staff (n=1,362), and facility administrators (n=48). This report first provides a historical synopsis of the role of the private sector within the adult correctional system. This synopsis is contrasted with the historical role of the private sector in the juvenile correctional system. The report then profiles the debates and issues surrounding correctional-facility privatization as argued by supporters and opponents. The final section of the literature review discusses the measurement structure the researchers used to examine the quality of the juvenile correction environment. The five research questions explored in the current research focused on differences in the demographic composition and risk levels of the juvenile populations in private and public facilities, differences in staff characteristics, resident and staff perceptions of conditions of confinement, the adjustment of residents in the two types of facilities, and the work experiences of the correctional staff. The study found no significant differences in the demographics and risk factors of the juveniles in the two types of facilities. Private facilities employed staff that were significantly younger, had less prior experience in correctional facilities, and had been employed for a shorter time. Compared to public facilities, private facilities were significantly smaller, newer, and had a more intensive admission process for residents. There were no statistically significant differences in the quality of the perceived conditions of confinement between the two types of facilities. Juveniles in private facilities experienced a statistically significant increase in their level of anxiety and a decrease in the level of social bonds, but the differences were still small. The operating sector did not significantly impact any of the four measures of staff work experiences. 19 tables, 2 figures, and 91 references
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        99-IJ-CX-0061


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Report (Study/Research)
    
  
  
Date Published: January 1, 2000
    
          Downloads
        
                      PDF

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Adjustment to prison
        Comparative Analysis
        Evaluation
        Juvenile correctional facilities
        Juvenile inmate attitudes



  
Similar Publications
        
                      Arrested Development: Does the Grade Level at Which Juveniles Experience Arrest Matter
                  Forensics: Evidence Examination via Raman Spectroscopy
                  Financial Behaviors, Couple-Level Conflict, and Adolescent Relationship Abuse: Longitudinal Results From a Nationally Representative Sample
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov