July 29, 2019

The dangers in the privatisation of African prisons

topic:	Humans
located:	South Africa
editor:	Bob Koigi

The correctional reforms being advocated by a host of African countries – with a focus on the privatisation of operations within prisons – has brought into sharp focus the efficacy of a model that has been tried elsewhere and delivered mixed results, predominantly receiving a red card for mismanagement and mishandling of prisoners.

The majority of countries that have enlisted the services of private contractors in construction, management and running of prison facilities have seen the state take back control after reports of prisoners’ mistreatment and poor services emerged.

States privatise prisons for varied reasons, including the need to modernise them, cutting costs and to boost public-private partnerships. But a body of evidence and experiences have now proven that the model hasn’t lived up to its billing as its profit-oriented nature supersedes the welfare of those incarcerated. To boost profits, these companies hire insufficient and low-skilled personnel and in some cost-cutting measures neglect to offer vital services, including healthcare and sufficient security. This commodification of prisoners has meant that the more they are incarcerated the merrier, and the longer they stay in prison the more the profits continue, a move that has seen even petty offenders spend years in such correctional facilities. This is one of the factors that continue to fuel congestion, which is common across African prisons.

African countries looking to go the private way should learn from the South African example – where in 2002, two private firms were given a 25-year concession to build, finance and run two prisons. But in 2013, the government was forced to take back control of the facilities after grave concerns over the deterioration of security and safety. In one of the maximum prisons with 3,000 serious offenders inmates, there were a series of fatal riots, stabbings and go-slows by officers attached to the private company.

In England, the same company came under heavy criticism after a damning report identified widespread sale and abuse of drugs among inmates.

While the running of prisons by governments has equally been flawed and service delivery remains dismal, private prisons have not provided a viable alternative. The transparency and public scrutiny on public government-run correctional centres mean that they are more likely to embrace reforms and stick to the rulebook, unlike their private counterparts.

It is an aspect African governments should call to mind, especially in a continent where the prison privatisation model would be open to corruption.

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