Crime

Increasing The Private-Sector Role In Crime-Fighting

 A significant increase in private-sector involvement is critical to reducing crime rates and the societal costs involved in lawlessness, according to a study from the Independent Institute.

Analyst Bruce L. Benson examines the costs and benefits of contracting out policing, prison management and other criminal justice functions to private sector specialists in "Privatization in Criminal Justice."

  • Over the past several decades, privatization in law enforcement has grown to such an extent that virtually every function -- including police, security, jails, prisons and court-related services -- is being contracted out somewhere in the U.S.

  • Contracting out reduces taxpayer costs, achieves greater system flexibility and enhances the quality of law-enforcement services, proponents claim.

  • From 1964 to 1991, employment by private firms specializing in protective and detective services increased by nearly 750 percent, and the number of firms offering such services grew by 543 percent.

  • A 1991 National Institute of Justice report put the ratio of privately employed "police" in the U.S. at 2.5 to 1 for every public police officer.
Benson makes the point that privatization is already under way to a large degree and says further moves in that direction should be encouraged.  He recommends removing legal barriers to cost-effective applications of privatization throughout the entire criminal justice system.

Source: Bruce L. Benson (Florida State University), "Privatization in Criminal Justice," Independent Policy Report, Independent Institute, 100 Swan Way, Oakland, Calif. 94621, (510) 632-1366; 1996. 

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