Prison Privatization, Essay Example

I began my prewriting by reflecting on which among the topics I found most interesting. I ended up tentatively deciding on prison privatization and began looking for information about the topic on the internet. I read about the history of private prisons in the United States (Flynn & Zhan, 2011), and found the website of the Corrections Corporation of America which contained the history of the facility as well as its current mission and vision (CCA, 2008). I used brainstorming to generate ideas about private prisons and noticed that there were information both favoring the development of these prisons and information against such development. It was from there that I was able to narrow down the information and draw out my thesis statement. Then, I used clustering to organize my ideas that were related to the thesis statement better. This enabled me to separate the basic information about prisons to the arguments for and against it, thereby enabling me to form my supporting ideas.

Topic

Criminal Justice: prison privatization

Narrowed Issue/problem

Evaluation of the overall impact of prison privatization in the United States.

Thesis Statement (Specific Argument Claim)

The rise of private prisons in the United States has generated greater good than harm.

Outline with three or more supporting arguments (main points) listing specific details under each point

• Private prisons have helped solve the problem of overcrowding in United States prisons

1. During the 1980’s prisons in the U.S. were overcrowding
2. This presented various dangers, such as increased risk of riots and escape
3. The establishment of the first private prisons eased the burden of state facilities

• Private prisons have created economic opportunity for some impoverished areas

1. Some cities have spare land but no means to develop them
2. Establishment of private prisons in such areas increases commerce and industry
3. Case: Venus, Texas

• Private prisons have greater incentive to conduct research for more effective reformation

1. Privatization means competition
2. Competition means that different companies will find different ways of making their service more reasonable
3. One such way is developing stronger systems for reforming inmates

References

CCA. (2008). A Quarter Century of Service to America. Retrieved February 8, 2011 from: http://www.correctionscorp.com/about/cca-history/

Flynn, E., and Zhan, M. (2011). Development of Prisons and Jails in the United States. Retrieved February 8, 2011 from: http://law.jrank.org/pages/18929/Prisons-Jails.html#ixzz1DPJruUBA