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The Washington Post

National Security

Justice Department will again use private prisons

By By Matt ZapotoskyMatt Zapotosky   February 23, 2017February 23, 2017

The Justice Department will once again use private prisons to house federal inmates, reversing an Obama-era directive to stopThe Justice Department will once again use private prisons to house federal inmates, reversing an Obama-era directive to stop

using the facilities, which officials had then deemed less safe and less effective than those run by the government.using the facilities, which officials had then deemed less safe and less effective than those run by the government.

In a one-paragraph memo, Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded the previous directive to the Bureau of Prisons to eitherIn a one-paragraph memo, Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded the previous directive to the Bureau of Prisons to either

reduce or decline to renew private-prison contracts as they came due.reduce or decline to renew private-prison contracts as they came due.

“The memorandum changed long-standing policy and practice, and impaired the Bureau’s ability to meet the future needs of the“The memorandum changed long-standing policy and practice, and impaired the Bureau’s ability to meet the future needs of the

federal correctional system,” Sessions wrote. “Therefore, I direct the Bureau to return to its previous approach.”federal correctional system,” Sessions wrote. “Therefore, I direct the Bureau to return to its previous approach.”

The directive marks a significant policy shift from the previous administration, although the practical impact might beThe directive marks a significant policy shift from the previous administration, although the practical impact might be

somewhat muted.somewhat muted.

Most inmates are housed in state prisons, rather than federal ones. Even when the Justice Department announced it would noMost inmates are housed in state prisons, rather than federal ones. Even when the Justice Department announced it would no

longer use private facilities, the action only affected 13 prisons, housing a little more than 22,000 inmates. The original directivelonger use private facilities, the action only affected 13 prisons, housing a little more than 22,000 inmates. The original directive

also did not apply to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Marshals Service detainees, who are technically in thealso did not apply to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Marshals Service detainees, who are technically in the

federal system but not under the purview of the federal Bureau of Prisons.federal system but not under the purview of the federal Bureau of Prisons.

Private-prison operators already stood to benefit substantially from President Trump’s aggressive measures to detain andPrivate-prison operators already stood to benefit substantially from President Trump’s aggressive measures to detain and

deport illegal immigrants.deport illegal immigrants.

As of Thursday afternoon, the Bureau of Prisons had 12 privately run facilities, holding 21,366 inmates. They are run by threeAs of Thursday afternoon, the Bureau of Prisons had 12 privately run facilities, holding 21,366 inmates. They are run by three

private-prison operators: Management and Training Corporation, the GEO Group and CoreCivic, which used to be known asprivate-prison operators: Management and Training Corporation, the GEO Group and CoreCivic, which used to be known as

Corrections Corporation of America.Corrections Corporation of America.

Private prisons have faced significant criticism in recent years from civil liberties advocates and others. Sally Yates, who servedPrivate prisons have faced significant criticism in recent years from civil liberties advocates and others. Sally Yates, who served

as deputy attorney general in the Obama administration, did not mince words in August when she ordered the Department ofas deputy attorney general in the Obama administration, did not mince words in August when she ordered the Department of

Justice — of which the Bureau of Prisons is a part — to Justice — of which the Bureau of Prisons is a part — to end the use of private prisons entirelyend the use of private prisons entirely by phasing them out over time. by phasing them out over time.

“They simply do not provide the same level of correctional services, programs, and resources; they do not save substantially on“They simply do not provide the same level of correctional services, programs, and resources; they do not save substantially on

costs; and as noted in a recent report by the Department’s Office of Inspector General, they do not maintain the same level ofcosts; and as noted in a recent report by the Department’s Office of Inspector General, they do not maintain the same level of

safety and security,” Yates wrote.safety and security,” Yates wrote.

The inspector general’s report concluded, among other things, that privately operated facilities incurred more safety andThe inspector general’s report concluded, among other things, that privately operated facilities incurred more safety and

security incidents than those run by the federal Bureau of Prisons. The private facilities, for example, had higher rates ofsecurity incidents than those run by the federal Bureau of Prisons. The private facilities, for example, had higher rates of

assaults — both by inmates on other inmates and by inmates on staff — and had eight times as many contraband cellphonesassaults — both by inmates on other inmates and by inmates on staff — and had eight times as many contraband cellphones

confiscated each year on average, according to the report.confiscated each year on average, according to the report.

Private-prison operators vigorously disputed that report’s conclusions, and they hailed Thursday’s memo from Sessions asPrivate-prison operators vigorously disputed that report’s conclusions, and they hailed Thursday’s memo from Sessions as

vindication.vindication.

Jonathan Burns, a CoreCivic spokesman, said the announcement “validates our position that the department’s previousJonathan Burns, a CoreCivic spokesman, said the announcement “validates our position that the department’s previous

direction was not reflective of the high quality services we have provided to the federal government for decades.” Pablo Paez, adirection was not reflective of the high quality services we have provided to the federal government for decades.” Pablo Paez, a

spokesman for the GEO Group, said the company believed the Justice Department’s earlier decision was “based on aspokesman for the GEO Group, said the company believed the Justice Department’s earlier decision was “based on a

misrepresentation,” and it welcomed the reinstatement of “long-standing practice and policy at the Federal level.”misrepresentation,” and it welcomed the reinstatement of “long-standing practice and policy at the Federal level.”

Issa Arnita, a spokesman for Management and Training Corp., said the new directive empowers the Bureau of Prisons “toIssa Arnita, a spokesman for Management and Training Corp., said the new directive empowers the Bureau of Prisons “to

manage its facilities in a way that provides the greatest value to taxpayers and the inmates in their care.”manage its facilities in a way that provides the greatest value to taxpayers and the inmates in their care.”

The private-prison industry is a formidable one, generating billions of dollars of revenue each year and giving significantThe private-prison industry is a formidable one, generating billions of dollars of revenue each year and giving significant

amounts to politicians. The GEO Group and CoreCivic, for example, donated $250,000 to amounts to politicians. The GEO Group and CoreCivic, for example, donated $250,000 to support Trump’s inaugural festivitiessupport Trump’s inaugural festivities,,

spokesmen for the companies said. Management and Training Corp. did not, a spokesman said. Separately, the GEO Group,spokesmen for the companies said. Management and Training Corp. did not, a spokesman said. Separately, the GEO Group,

gave $275,00 to the pro-Trump super PAC Rebuilding America Now, according to FEC filings. One $100,000 donation came agave $275,00 to the pro-Trump super PAC Rebuilding America Now, according to FEC filings. One $100,000 donation came a

day after the Justice Department announced it would no longer use the facilities.day after the Justice Department announced it would no longer use the facilities.

The Justice Department had believed dwindling prison populations would make it possible for the Bureau of Prisons to end itsThe Justice Department had believed dwindling prison populations would make it possible for the Bureau of Prisons to end its

use of contract facilities, and a Justice Department spokesman said in October that still appeared to be the case. Other agencies,use of contract facilities, and a Justice Department spokesman said in October that still appeared to be the case. Other agencies,

though, did not see it that way, even during the Obama administration.though, did not see it that way, even during the Obama administration.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement, for example, inked a contract in October to use a New Mexico facility that the JusticeImmigration and Customs Enforcement, for example, inked a contract in October to use a New Mexico facility that the Justice

Department had moved Bureau of Prisons inmates out of. The facility has a history of questionable deaths and substandardDepartment had moved Bureau of Prisons inmates out of. The facility has a history of questionable deaths and substandard

medical care.medical care.

A government panel A government panel recommended in Decemberrecommended in December that the Department of Homeland Security continue with its use of private that the Department of Homeland Security continue with its use of private

immigrant-detention facilities — saying they were the only realistic way to handle the volatile flows at the border. But theimmigrant-detention facilities — saying they were the only realistic way to handle the volatile flows at the border. But the

panel’s report was the subject of a contentious debate, and more than two-thirds of a broader government group objected to itspanel’s report was the subject of a contentious debate, and more than two-thirds of a broader government group objected to its

conclusion.conclusion.

David C. Fathi, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s National Prison Project, said that putting people into for-profitDavid C. Fathi, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s National Prison Project, said that putting people into for-profit

prisons was “a recipe for abuse and neglect,” and the new Justice Department directive seemed to foreshadow the worrisomeprisons was “a recipe for abuse and neglect,” and the new Justice Department directive seemed to foreshadow the worrisome

possibility that “the United States may be headed for a new federal prison boom.” If Sessions believes the Bureau of Prisonspossibility that “the United States may be headed for a new federal prison boom.” If Sessions believes the Bureau of Prisons

could not meet its needs without using for-profit facilities, he said, “you’ve got to wonder what they’ve got up their sleeve.”could not meet its needs without using for-profit facilities, he said, “you’ve got to wonder what they’ve got up their sleeve.”

Matea Gold contributed to this report.Matea Gold contributed to this report.

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Matt Zapotosky covers the Justice Department for The Washington Post's national security team. He has previously worked covering the federal courthouse in Alexandria and local law enforcement in Prince George's County and Southern Maryland.  Follow @mattzap

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