Prison Privatization Moves Step Forward
The uncertain future of New Hampshire's state prison system has been weighing heavily on the mind of hundreds of workers, thousands of victims and inmate family members, victims and corrections advocates, and inmates themselves for several months.
In his February 12, 2009 budget address, Governor John Lynch contemplated the possibility of a tri-state prison system. "Before we proceed with any change, we will need a careful and diligent review of a number of areas - including whether it will lower costs; whether it will meet the state's legal requirements; and whether will it provide the programming inmates need to succeed in society after their release. In the end, we may or may not decide this is the right direction for New Hampshire. But it is a direction that we must explore."
Then in his February 15, 2011 budget address, he once again discussed the prison system: "...the cost of our corrections' system is not sustainable. For example, the age of the Concord state prison makes it inefficient to run. That is why we have issued requests for information about new options for our prison system, including potential public-private or multi-state partnerships."
In the two years between, for-profit prison corporations have deployed lobbyists to New Hampshire to build support for a prison system built on corporate profit margins.
Facing legislative leadership that is anti-government and pro-business, the possibility of a privatized prison system gained traction with a committee established to study the concept and a clear message sent to Corrections Commissioner William Wrenn that the bidding process should begin.
Today marks the next step in determining the future of our prison system. SEA members in the Department of Corrections have closely monitored the privatization discussion to date, including utilizing their right to consult with management about the bidding process provided for in Article 2.3 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the State and SEA.
The State has recently issued three Requests for Proposals:
Correction workers know all too well the importance of a well-functioning, safe and secure prison system. The value such a system provides to the state cannot be overstated. That's why we encourage all SEA members to begin thinking about how life in New Hampshire could change if our prison system is not properly operated and maintained.
Over the coming weeks and months, plan to read SEA News releases regarding the bidding process and plan to make your voice heard as to whether you feel the prison system's future is on the right or wrong path. Our members in the Department of Corrections are doing a great job watching over this process. But soon we will all need to get involved if we want to make sure we have the best prison system possible. As individuals, we never know when we could become the victim of a crime, or when someone we love might break the law and face imprisonment. Every day our state prisons touch the lives of thousands of people. We simply must be part of the dialogue that maintains a highly effective, safe and secure prison system.