This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Shefer, G. Articles by Liebling, A. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Prison privatization

In search of a business-like atmosphere?

University of Cambridge, UK

Alison Liebling

University of Cambridge, UK

This article explores one interesting finding emerging from early findings of studies comparing private and public prisons in the UK: the relationship between prisoners and staff. These relationships appear to be better in some private prisons than in the public sector, at least during the early years of privatization. After presenting these findings, the authors provide three possible explanations for the positively evaluated prisoner—staff relationships in many private prisons during these early years: first, an intentional focus on relaxed and less formal regimes; second, the distinct balance of power which is the outcome of more powerless and inexperienced staff working in private prisons; and third, the legacy of a punitive atmosphere which still persists in some public sector prisons. While these findings do not constitute an argument in favour of privatization, they provide an opportunity to be less romantic about public sector values and practices, and more circumspect about the dangers of imprisonment more generally.

Key Words: POA • prison • prison staff • prison staff attitudes • privatization • public sector • staff—prisoner relationships

Criminology and Criminal Justice, Vol. 8, No. 3, 261-278 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1748895808092429


CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?