Ends Federal Contracts With Private Prisons
HR1206-117 · Introduced Feb 22, 2021
Why it matters
Private prison companies would lose federal contracts over time. Prisoners would get help with jobs, records, and benefits before leaving, and information about any money they still owe.
What it does
- Phases out Bureau of Prisons contracts with private companies for prisons and halfway houses
- Phases out U.S. Marshals Service contracts with private companies for correctional facilities
- Requires Justice Department guidelines for reintegration programs at halfway houses
- Requires prisons to counsel prisoners on expungement, jobs, education, treatment, and public assistance
- Requires prisons to tell prisoners about fines and restitution they still owe after release
In committee
Next: a committee vote
- Introduceddone
- Committeecurrent step
- Housenot yet
- Senatenot yet
- Presidentnot yet
About this bill
Would phase out federal prison contracts with private companies and require reentry counseling and release information for prisoners. The bill sets up a framework but does not list a fixed end date.
End For-Profit Prisons Act of 2021
Perspectives
💬 The case for
Some prisoner advocacy groups would likely say private prisons profit from incarceration. They would say reentry help reduces repeat crime.
💬 The case against
Some private prison companies would likely say they save taxpayers money and run facilities safely. They may also worry that ending contracts disrupts prison space.
Sponsored by
Sponsor details for this federal bill are at the source link.
News
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