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Private Prison Research in Queensland, Australia

NCJ Number
154596
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 35 Issue: 1 Dated: (Winter 1995) Pages: 34-62
Author(s)
P Moyle
Date Published
1995
Length
29 pages
Annotation
This paper identifies the legislative and policy basis for the Queensland Government's introduction of Borallon Correctional Centre including the contractual and regulatory arrangements between the Queensland Corrective Services Commission (QCSC) and Correctives Corporation of Australia (CCA).
Abstract
In July 1991, field research was conducted at Borallon Correctional Centre using a semistructured interview research methodology to collect data from 56 people from three organizations. The findings of this case study suggested that, in the area of industrial and work issues, employees of CCA and Wormald were in a weak bargaining position with little input into decisionmaking. It was also found that the profit motive dominated policy formulation in the area of training and programs. Staff-inmate relations were positive with few reported violent incidents, and communications were open. The issue for private contract management is whether it will provide the impetus and/or mechanism for progressive correctional reform. The paper, unfortunately, leaves the issue open. Poor monitoring by the QCSC means there is a dearth of detailed information tender evaluations, tender documents, contracted arrangements, and financial and policy information held by QCSC and CCA. Only when these data are available will it be possible to undertake a comprehensive evaluation of the privatization initiative. Footnotes, references