Bodies in Beds

Sound Bite

Can privatization really help solve America's prison problems? A mental health professional tells a compelling story of suicidal inmates and mistreated inmates, with staff working overtime without compensation while frustration grows.

About the Book

Mental health workers in privatized prisons struggle to meet the needs of inmates, to help them recognize and overcome behaviors that landed them in trouble, and to help them cope with the stress of incarceration without acting out again. Due to the corporate focus on profit, rather than a successful outcome, staff are stretched beyond any limit.

A preoccupation with the bottom line, compounded by a bureaucratic need for paperwork, also creates unsafe conditions as there is simply not enough manpower to go around.Most important, by cutting corners, cheating the personnel, and ignoring prisoners' health care needs, these corporations create a revolving door - offenders returning to prison - at a tremendous cost to taxpayers, to society, and to the incarcerated people themselves.

Introduction

A Compelling Critique: In writing Bodies in Beds: Why Business Should Stay Out of Prisons, Sue Binder has outlined a keen critique of the privatized prisons in the United States. The author shines a light on how the drive for profit has undermined the essential function of prisons: rehabilitation and the well-being of inmates.

With a focus on privatized prisons’ failure to provide adequate mental health care and the ongoing issues surrounding the prison-industrial complex, this book serves as both a personal account and an in-depth exploration of a system that prioritizes profit over people.

The Privatization Problem—Profit Over People: At the heart of Bodies in Beds is the argument that privatized prisons have failed to offer the necessary support systems for inmates, especially in the realm of mental health care. Sue Binder details how corporate greed has taken precedence over the rehabilitation and humane treatment of inmates, resulting in overcrowded facilities, neglected mental health issues, and a lack of proper resources.

Mental Health in Crisis—Inmates Suffer: Binder emphasizes the dire consequences of neglecting mental health care in the prison system. The lack of adequate support leaves inmates without the resources to understand and change their behavior. Instead of receiving help to reintegrate into society, many prisoners are released without addressing their underlying mental health issues, setting them up for failure and recidivism.

Impact on Taxpayers and Society: Binder examines how privatized prisons affect inmates, taxpayers, and society. The book highlights how private prison corporations create a revolving door of incarceration that benefits their bottom line but costs taxpayers billions. Binder argues that while privatized prisons profit from repeat offenders, taxpayers foot the bill for their mismanagement.

Behind the Scenes: In addition to her research, Binder shares personal experiences from her time working in a privatized prison, offering firsthand accounts of challenges faced by correctional staff who are often overworked and underpaid.

Solutions and Reform: Bodies in Beds also outlines suggestions for reforming the prison system. Binder advocates for a system that focuses on rehabilitation, mental health care, and proper training for staff, reducing recidivism and easing the strain on the justice system.

Immigration and Lobbying: The book also examines how private prison companies have influenced immigration policies to ensure a steady stream of detainees, turning human lives into commodities for profit.

How We Can Do Better: Binder concludes by urging policymakers, prison administrators, and the public to recognize the failings of privatized prisons. A public prison system could re-center its focus on rehabilitation, mental health care, and dignity. This is essential reading for anyone interested in criminal justice reform, Bodies in Beds provides powerful insights into the urgent need to keep business out of prisons while offering a clear path toward a more just system.