AFSC Calls for an Investigation into the Politics of Prison Privatization
by cell-out-arizona on Nov. 11, 2010, under AFSC, Arizona, Corrections Corporation of America, Lobbyists, private prison, Privatization, SB 1070
Matthew Lowen/AFSC
The American Friends Service Committee and Beau Hodai (author of the groundbreaking article from In These Times on private prisons & Arizona) met on the lawn of the state house in Phoenix on Monday to hold a press conference calling for an end to for-profit prison influence peddling in Arizona.
Beau Hodai shared his expertise on the ties between Arizona goverment, ALEC, and private prison cororations like CCA, and AFSC made the following recommendations:
- Permanently cancel the RFP for 5,000 new private beds
- Impose an immediate moratorium on new prison construction
- Pass state legislation that enacts strict oversight and reporting requirements for all private prisons located in or contracted with the state of Arizona
In addition the group called upon the Secretary of State and the Attorney General to investigate:
- Campaign contributions to Arizona candidates, elected officials, and ballot proposition campaigns from the for-profit prison industry
- Expense reimbursement policies of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and for-profit prison corporations to Arizona legislators, pursuant to ARS 41-1232.03; ‘Expenditure reporting; public bodies and public lobbyists; gifts’
- ALEC’s status as a non-profit organization
- The role of lobbyists or other for-profit prison industry representatives in the creation of specific legislation in Arizona, including ALEC’s model legislation
AFSC is currently in the process of scheduling meetings with the Secretary of State and Attorney General to discuss the investigation.
All three Phoenix TV news affiliates were present as well as KJZZ, and the Arizona Republic. Additional coverage can be found at the Blog For Arizona.
