This study used inmate survey data to compare one private prison with three public prisons. The inmate data were collected at the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and at a private prison operated in Taft, California. The survey was given in March and April of 2000. Hierarchical linear models were used to generate the prison performance measures. Findings suggest that Taft had problems in maintaining quality in some areas and the BOP comparison prisons had problems as well. The comparison institutions were very similar to Taft with respect to size of the facility, architectural design, security level, activation date, and even costs. Taft performed at an average level in comparison to the BOP prisons, including gang measures and the safety and security concern measures. There were problems with Taft in measures of sanitation in both the dining hall and housing units. There were more serious problems noted for the food service measures. It is argued that private prisons need the same level of monitoring as public prisons to ensure adequate performance. The BOP comparison prisons were generally rated worst in terms of providing an environment in which inmates felt safe from being hit or assaulted. These institutions also rated lowest in terms of inmates believing that there was enough staff during the different shifts to provide for their safety. The most general conclusion that can be made is that on the whole Taft did worse in some areas but not in others. 4 figures, 3 tables, 7 footnotes, 52 references, appendix