But the immediate goal is to get Sodexho Alliance to divest its interest in private prisons. Private facilities treat prisoners badly in an effort to cut costs, said Pranis, adding recreational and educational programs are among the first to go. You just can't cut that much fat out of the operations of a prison. Mother Jones magazine recently ran a cover story about CCA, alleging incompetent staff allowed 20 prisoners to escape from its Youngstown, Ohio facility in broad daylight. Staff also left metal objects near prisoners, which were fashioned into weapons, the magazine alleges.
People die in prison, whether public or private.
As of this moment in time, Sodexho Marriott Services remains a separate company. Once the buy out is complete, we will be the North American subsidiary of Sodexho Alliance, which owns shares in Corrections Corporation of America. Still, Pranis' group continues to dispute the company's claim that U.K. Detention Services, another company owned by Sodexho Alliance, doesn't operate private prisons. CCA Australia currently provides only transportation services to prisons in that country. The bottom line - Sodexho doesn't own private prisons.