Care and Punishment. - book reviews

National Review, Oct 13, 1989 by Herbert A. Kenny

Care and Punishment

IN THE average prison, health care is poor indeed. Physicians are regarded by the inmates as a part of the system and, hence, as enemies. The best solution for the future would appear to be privatization, and not just on health care, but also of the prisons themselves, or so say the authors of this interesting study, Dr. Prout, of the Harvard Medical School, and his collaborator, Mr. Ross. Among the many fascinating chapters in their book, each deserving a book in itself, none has more impact than the one on privatization. As the authors write, ". .. for a variety of economic and political reasons, a growing number of for-profit companies are offering health services [to prisons] just as any other service industry would compete in the marketplace." A recent survey has shown that, at present, only 22 per cent of state correctional agencies in the United States would consider an outside contractor for the management of an entire correctional facility, while fully 74 per cent will not. Still, a few prisons are already being operated privately, and many large corporations are seeking entry into the field. The authors' data on the health of prisoners and on the inadequate care in the prison system make clear that privatization is certainly the best solution for the prisoners themselves. After all, as a population, they have little or no impact on the legislators on whom they currently depend.