At this point in the social life of society, many problems require attention and the spread of awareness. This will help shape the importance of solving them and implementing change in the most expeditious way possible. One of the areas in which today’s social issues are found in the prison sphere. For example, most of the nation’s prisons are overcrowded in the United States, which requires finding alternative approaches. One of the proposed solutions to this problematic situation has been privatizing prisons. One of their significant advantages is the reduction of costs for the government. However, there are several disadvantages, such as a lack of transparency. Thus, this paper explores the social issue of prison privatization from an economic, environmental, political, and social perspective.
First of all, it is necessary to gain an understanding of the phenomenon under study. Research states that “private companies manage 8.4% of the U.S. prison population and 5.4% of the prison population” (Gaes, 2019, p. 269). It is worth noting that the central part of society that is affected by this problem is the adult population, politicians, and figures in the economic and social sphere. This is due to the multifaceted nature and scale of the parties involved in this process. Moreover, the population is impacted because of the decreased level of safety and security for the population. The leading proponents of this initiative are private organizations that profit from this activity. On the other hand, opponents of the issue, such as various trade unions and social welfare organizations, emphasize the inefficiency, danger, and corruption of private prisons.
Thus, from an economic point of view, private prisons have both advantages and disadvantages. For example, they significantly reduce state expenditures but promote corruption and lack transparency. From a political point of view, this social problem also requires consideration. The liberal party is opposed to this initiative because it deprives people of liberty. On the other hand, neoliberals support this phenomenon because they favor privatization by the state. For me, the main goal is the preservation and preservation of human life; thus, I believe that private prisons do not provide people with proper security and safety, which threatens their welfare. It is worth noting that the environmental factor did not affect the formation of my opinion about the problem under study. However, I can say that the privatization of prisons has a direct link to social welfare and the role of government. This is supported by the fact that discontent in society and problems related to the wrong attitude toward social problems have led to the inefficiency of private prisons from an economic and social point of view.
In addition, the stance that social work has historically taken on the social welfare issue is of particular importance. Thus, the initiative was, at first, positively received because it reduced the state’s financial costs. However, according to the SW Code of Ethics, social workers have to care about the welfare of people, which is under question in private prisons. Because of this factor and my values, I adhere to a democratic political philosophy, which adheres to society’s opinion. The main area of contradictions may be the inconsistency of views in society and may cause problems in translating the values into practice.
In conclusion, since their introduction, private prisons have had their advantages. The main one is the reduction of costs for the government. However, with respect to social welfare and well-being, this approach has several disadvantages, including a lack of transparency and security. Thus, for the direction to be taken, the field must move on the basis of indigenous values. This aspect implies consideration of human characteristics and standards of ethics.
Reference
Gaes, G. G. (2019). Current status of prison privatization research on American prisons and jails. Criminology & Public Policy, 18(2), 269-293. Web.