Comparing the Rates of Misconduct Between Private and Public Prisons in Texas
Author(s)
El Sayed, SA
Morris, RG
DeShay, RA
Piquero, AR
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2020
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Mass incarceration has led to an increased reliance on private prisons. Yet, there is little evidence regarding the extent to which public safety and misconduct patterns differ across private versus public prisons. Combining data from prisoners in the State of Texas within a counterfactual research design, the current study examines differences in the likelihood of engaging in misconduct among comparable male inmates sentenced to a private over a public prison unit. Findings indicate there are no significant differences in the amount of misconduct committed by inmates in either public or private institutions—with the exception ...
View more >Mass incarceration has led to an increased reliance on private prisons. Yet, there is little evidence regarding the extent to which public safety and misconduct patterns differ across private versus public prisons. Combining data from prisoners in the State of Texas within a counterfactual research design, the current study examines differences in the likelihood of engaging in misconduct among comparable male inmates sentenced to a private over a public prison unit. Findings indicate there are no significant differences in the amount of misconduct committed by inmates in either public or private institutions—with the exception of physical violence. Inmates assigned to private facilities were 10% less likely to engage in institutional violence compared with similarly situated inmates assigned to public facilities.
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View more >Mass incarceration has led to an increased reliance on private prisons. Yet, there is little evidence regarding the extent to which public safety and misconduct patterns differ across private versus public prisons. Combining data from prisoners in the State of Texas within a counterfactual research design, the current study examines differences in the likelihood of engaging in misconduct among comparable male inmates sentenced to a private over a public prison unit. Findings indicate there are no significant differences in the amount of misconduct committed by inmates in either public or private institutions—with the exception of physical violence. Inmates assigned to private facilities were 10% less likely to engage in institutional violence compared with similarly situated inmates assigned to public facilities.
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Journal Title
Crime and Delinquency
Note
This publication has been entered into Griffith Research Online as an Advanced Online Version
Subject
Criminology