Privatization of Correctional Services: A Select Bibliography

Eric L. Swanick is the New Brunswick Legislative Librarian.

Chan and Matthews have compiled a select bibliography on the
privatization of correctional services. The issue of privatization is
not as clear as its definition in the OED as “the policy or process of
making private as opposed to public.” This point is clarified in the
authors’ preface. The subjects covered include different forms of
privatization in different jurisdictions (e.g., base/purchase
agreements); the contracting out of prison services; the role of
nonprofit/voluntary organizations; and the use of profit-seeking
corporations in the operation of jails. The material gathered is
primarily from Canadian, American, and Australian sources, and deals
principally with those countries.

The bibliography is presented in a clear, consistent style. It would
have been useful, however, to know the pagination for the monographs.
Also, references such as Bulletin (Sydney) may be difficult to identify,
and the nine items entered under “note” would have been better
placed under the title of each reference. Despite the above
qualification, this is a timely bibliography that will be very useful to
those examining the issues surrounding the privatization of correctional
services.