Private Prisons

Abstract

This is a self-published book written by a former county commissioner in Hamilton County, TN (site of the Silverdale Workhouse in Chattanooga [contracted in 1984?]), during the early days of prison privatization in TN (and the US generally). The book is explicitly opposed to private prisons and "is being written to warn others about the dangers of private prisons (5)." The books lacks academic rigor, does not systematically cite sources, and relies heavily on anecdotes and speculation. The positive qualities of the book are: 1) The author's first-hand experience in county dealings with CCA, and 2) a collection of TN newspaper clippings and editorial cartoons.