Abstract
Although most prisons in the United States continue to be operated by public agencies, there has been a substantial increase in reliance on private organizations for the operation of corrections facilities in the past decade. Even though state legislators have critical roles in approving or denying proposals to privatize prison operations, little is known why state legislators either favor or oppose the privatization of state prisons. Based on a survey of Florida state legislators in 1998-1999, the authors attempt to identify the factors affecting legislative opinions on this issue. Legislative attitudes are examined from the perspectives of efficiency and effectiveness concerns, personal characteristics and political concerns of the individual legislators, and issues relating to coercive force, liability, and accountability. Based on that empirical evidence, the prospect of an increase in the privatization of prison operations at the state and local levels of government in the United States is addressed.
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