Mary Ann Reynolds: Still too many private prisons in our state, nation

Re “Justice Department will phase out use of private prisons” (Page 9A, Aug. 19): The impression was given that this was a “’major milestone in the movement away from mass incarceration” – something I was very glad to read.

But on closer reading, I realized this phasing out of private prisons was only for federal prisons. It doesn’t apply to privately operated state prisons or federal detention facilities. This means that public money will continue to be used to operate private corporate-run prisons and federal detention centers, which a recent Justice Department report found provide substandard correctional services, safety protections and resources.

Not until the privatization of all prisons stops, has “a major milestone in the movement away from mass incarceration” been achieved.

This story was originally published August 25, 2016 at 2:16 PM with the headline "Mary Ann Reynolds: Still too many private prisons in our state, nation."