Contracting pits the profit motive against other, less benign motives that can operate among those whose job it is to punish criminals. Dependence a. Contracting can increase the number of suppliers, thus reducing dependence and vulnerability to strikes, slowdowns, or bad management. Arguments Against Contracting 1. Contracting for imprisonment involves an improper delegation to private hands of coercive power and authority. Contracting may put profit motives ahead of the public interest, inmate interests, or the purposes of imprisonment.
Contracting creates conflicts of interest that can interfere with due process for inmates.
Contracting may face legal obstacles in some jurisdictions. Cost a. Contracting is more expensive because it adds a profit margin to all other costs. Contracting may cost more in the long run if high capital costs inhibit market entry and restrict competition. Contracting costs the government extra for the termination, unemployment, and retraining of displaced government workers. Contracting may have a higher initial marginal cost than would expanding government services.