Lake Snell Perry & Associates Private Prisons Survey
Findings from a nationwide survey of 800 likely voters and 200 members of the law enforcement community, including 75 AFSCME members. Survey conducted in August 1999 by Lake Snell Perry & Associates.
- Voters believe that prisons in their states are run fairly well, regardless of partisan affiliation.
Thinking about prisons for a minute, how well would you say prisons are run in your state? Are they run very well, fairly well, not very well, or not well at all?
| |
Democrats |
Independents |
Republicans |
| Well |
58% |
61% |
62% |
| Not well |
29% |
22% |
22% |
| Don't know |
13% |
17% |
16% |
- Voters are closely divided on privatization generally, but a majority oppose privatization of prisons and intense opposition is more than twice as great as intense support.
In general, do you favor or oppose privatization of public services? In general do you favor or oppose the privatization of prisons?
| |
Public services |
Prisons |
| Favor |
37% |
28% |
| Oppose |
42% |
51% |
| Don't know |
22% |
21% |
- Republicans, Democrats, and independents all oppose prison privatization. Women are more opposed than men, particularly independent women, but both groups lean against.
In general, do you favor or oppose the privatization of prisons?
| |
Democrats |
Independents |
Republicans |
| Favor |
26% |
29% |
29% |
| Oppose |
50% |
53% |
50% |
| Don't know |
24% |
18% |
22% |
| |
Men |
Women |
Independent men |
Independent women |
| Favor |
30% |
26% |
39% |
20% |
| Oppose |
48% |
54% |
45% |
61% |
| Don't know |
30% |
26% |
39% |
20% |
- Unlike other areas of public service, people assume prisons do a better job on more dimensions. Public prisons are seen as significantly more accountable and better able to protect public safety than private prisons.
After you hear each word or phrase, please tell me whether it is more likely to describe prisons operated by government agencies or prisons operated by private companies.
| |
Government
agencies |
Private
companies |
| *Be accountable to the public |
59% |
19% |
| Protect public safety |
56% |
16% |
| Provide better security for the public |
55% |
20% |
| Keep prisoners from escaping |
53% |
16% |
* Asked of whole sample. All others asked of only half the sample.
- Public prisons are also seen as better able to provide mental health, alcohol, and drug treatment. They are also seen as more likely to have well trained employees.
After you hear each word or phrase, please tell me whether it is more likely to describe prisons operated by government agencies or prisons operated by private companies.
| |
Government
agencies |
Private
companies |
| Provide full disclosure to the public |
46% |
23% |
| Provide mental health treatment |
46% |
21% |
| Provide good-paying jobs |
46% |
25% |
| Provide alcohol and drug treatment |
43% |
23% |
| Have well-trained employees |
42% |
24% |
| Separate hardened from first time offenders |
42% |
21% |
* Asked of only half the sample.
- Public prisons are also given the advantage over private prisons on inmate rehabilitation and preventing violence.
After you hear each word or phrase, please tell me whether it is more likely to describe prisons operated by government agencies or prisons operated by private companies.
| |
Government
agencies |
Private
companies |
| Rehabilitate inmates |
41% |
24% |
| Prevent inmate violence |
41% |
22% |
| Control gangs in prisons |
41% |
20% |
* Asked of only half the sample.
- Private companies have a down side as well. They are viewed as much more likely to cut corners, and be understaffed, but only slightly more likely to have poor training.
Please tell me whether each one is more likely to describe prisons operated by government agencies or prisons operated by private companies.
| |
Government
agencies |
Private
companies |
| Cut corners |
27% |
46% |
| Be understaffed |
27% |
42% |
| Be poorly trained |
27% |
33% |
| Make mistakes |
23% |
30% |
* Asked of only half the sample.
- By comparison, government is seen as more likely to waste tax dollars and slightly more likely to be corrupt, but in the long run voters do not think it will save them that much money.
Please tell me whether each one is more likely to describe prisons operated by government agencies or prisons operated by private companies.
| |
Government
agencies |
Private
companies |
| Waste taxes |
49% |
20% |
| Be corrupt |
33% |
27% |
| Save tax dollars |
34% |
42% |
* Asked of only half the sample.
- The most commonly shared beliefs among voters are that private companies place profits ahead of safety and that government is better equipped to handle violent prisoners.
Please tell me whether you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with each statement.
| |
Disagree |
Agree |
| Private companies cut corners, placing profits ahead of public safety |
19% |
26% |
| There are some things that private companies are just not qualified to do and running prisons is one of them |
23% |
60% |
| Government is better equipped than private companies to handle violent criminals |
22% |
59% |
* Asked of only half the sample.
- While all voters heard a powerful message in support of privatizing prisons, half heard an opposition message focused on public safety and the other half heard a message focused on accountability.
Supporters of privatization say that state of the art private facilities can do a better job for less money than the older, government run prisons. They point to studies that show that private companies can save taxpayers up to 20 percent of the cost to operate prisons. They force government run facilities to compete and be more cost effective, and unlike government prisons, they even pay property taxes. Private companies are tough on criminals and can also require prisoners to earn their keep rather than become a drain on the taxpayers. Government run facilities face state and federal bureaucracies that limit their ability to pout these inmates to work. We should increase the number of privately run prisons, making sure that these inmates pay for their own mistakes and earn money to compensate victims.
Public safety message
Opponents of privatization say that private prisons put local communities at risk and don't save money in the long run. To boost profits, these companies have shown they are willing to cut corners, threatening public safety. I Houston, one private company imported violent sex offenders from Oregon and housed them in a supposedly low risk minimum security facility, without getting permission from community leaders. They even failed to notify the local police. Two violent sex-offenders escaped and because local law enforcement had not been notified, response was delayed. These private companies sometimes use untrained workers to transport these dangerous criminals across state lines. Most communities don't find out about it unless something goes terribly wrong. We shouldn't put public safety in the hands of big out-of-state corporations who are not accountable to the public and whose top priority is to make money for stock holders and C.E.O.'s.
Accountability message
Opponents of privatization say that even though private companies CLAIM it costs less for them to build and maintain prisons, three independent studies have shown that private prisons haven't saved the taxpayers any real money or improved service. These companies make their profits by cutting corners and hiring untrained workers at lower pay. In fact, because there is little or no supervision by the public, private prisons have dangerously low levels of security. In some cases, because of poor management by these private companies, law enforcement officers have been unable to track and apprehend escaped prisoners. In two states — Texas and New Mexico — private companies started contracts and then, after cost overruns, dumped the problem back on the state. Private prisons put the public at risk. We shouldn't put public safety in the hands of big out-of-state corporations who are not accountable to the public and whose top priority is to make money for stock holders and C.E.O.'s.
- Both messages leave opposition solidly ahead. On the surface it appears that messages focusing on protecting public safety and accountability are equally powerful against the best pro-privatization arguments.
Overall, would you favor or oppose privatization of prisons?
| |
Public safety |
Accountability |
| Favor |
26% |
28% |
| Oppose |
57% |
57% |
| Don't know |
17% |
16% |
- However, it is clear that among Democrats the public safety argument is far more engaging than accountability. In contrast, Republicans show a much greater response to the accountability aspect.
Public Safety Message
| |
Democrats |
Independents |
Republicans |
| Favor |
20% |
30% |
26% |
| Oppose |
63% |
53% |
55% |
Accountability Message
| |
Democrats |
Independents |
Republicans |
| Favor |
33% |
28% |
22% |
| Oppose |
51% |
56% |
61% |
- Opposition to privatization solidifies and intensifies after voters hear messages on both sides.
In general, do you favor or oppose the privatization of prisons? Overall, would you favor or oppose the privatization of prisons?
| |
InitialITIAL VOTE |
VOTE AFTER MESSAGES* |
| Favor |
28% |
27% |
| Oppose |
51% |
57% |
| Don't know |
21% |
17% |
* Combined split sample.
|
|
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