SPLC: Justice Department made the right decision by ending use of private prisons

The following statement regarding the U.S. Justice Department’s decision to end the use of private prisons is by Lisa Graybill, deputy legal director at the Southern Poverty Law Center:

“The U.S. Justice Department’s decision to end the use of private prisons is a huge step toward ensuring that the United States has a safe and effective criminal justice system, instead of one that only benefits the billion-dollar private prison industry.

“Quite simply, the DOJ concluded what advocates have long known: The private prison industry runs facilities that are unsafe for inmates and staff alike. It offers substandard programs that do not effectively rehabilitate those behind bars. It perpetuates a system that disproportionately affects African Americans and Latinos. And it does not make our communities safer.

“The Department of Homeland Security and state and local governments across the country should follow the Justice Department’s example and stop contracting with private prison companies. It is time to embrace smart justice policies that save taxpayer dollars and truly promote public safety.”