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Texas Towns Saddled with Empty, Expensive Privatized Prisons and Jails
by Matt Clarke
In July 2011, anyone with at least $5 million to spare was invited to bid on a 373-bed, state-of-the-art, turn-key minimum-security prison on 30 acres of land in the cotton-farming town of Littlefield, Texas.
The tiny town, with a population of 6,500, agreed to build what was …
In July 2011, anyone with at least $5 million to spare was invited to bid on a 373-bed, state-of-the-art, turn-key minimum-security prison on 30 acres of land in the cotton-farming town of Littlefield, Texas.
The tiny town, with a population of 6,500, agreed to build what was …
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More from this issue:
- Florida Provides Lesson in How Not to Privatize State Prisons, by David Reutter
- Israeli Study Shows Parole Decisions May be Affected by Whether Board Members are Hungry
- Alaska Medical Care Reimbursement Statute Extends to Former Prisoners; State Refuses to Pay Part of Medical Malpractice Judgment, by Mark Wilson
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- Prisoners Contribute to Flood Control Efforts in Louisiana
- Business is Booming for Prison Profiteers, by James Kilgore
- Colorado CCA Prison Uprising: New Details of Unheeded Warnings Emerge in Epic Lawsuit, by Alan Prendergast
- PLN Settles Censorship Suit Against South Carolina Jail; County Agrees to Pay $599,900 and Change Policies
- New York City Jail Considered Serving Spoiled Meat, by David Reutter
- Doctors Propose Changes to Fix Flaws in Compassionate Release Programs, by Michael Brodheim
- Alaskan Private Prison Promoter Arrested in Mexico, Extradited to U.S. on Child Sexual Abuse Charges
- California Governor Cozies up to Prison Guards and Crime Victim Advocates
- GEO Group Ends Florida PAC
- Some States Resist Implementing Adam Walsh Act Requirements
- Fight Brewing Between County Jails and Private Prisons in Kentucky
- Oregon Discontinues Failed Prisoner Deportation Program
- Rikers Island Guards File Suit Alleging Cancer-Causing Toxin Exposure, by Mark Wilson
- Private Equity Firms Profit Handsomely from Prison Phone Services
- Mother Questions Her Son’s “Natural” Death in Colorado CCA Prison, by Alan Prendergast
- Head of Missouri Jail Sentenced for Beating, Arranging Attacks on Prisoners
- CDCR Pays $12,000 to Settle California Prisoner’s Pro Se Caging Suit
- Settlement in New York City Jail Mental Health Services Case Still Alive
- Texas Prisoner on Idaho Presidential Primary Ballot in 2008, by Mark Wilson
- Washington DOC Employee Faces Ethics Complaint for Running Non-Profits on State Time Using State Resources, by Matthew Clarke
- Audit Recommends Cost-Saving Measures for Minnesota Sex Offender Program
- BOP Settles Prisoner Rape Suit for $625,000, by Brandon Sample
- Videotaped Assault at Idaho CCA Prison Sparks FBI Investigation, by Mark Wilson
- Texas Towns Saddled with Empty, Expensive Privatized Prisons and Jails, by Matthew Clarke
- Homeless New Mexico Sex Offender Arrested for Moving Out of Dumpster
- Massachusetts: Guards Suspended, Accused of Threatening to Kill Escaped Prisoner in Scheme to Generate Overtime
- FBI Looks into Relationship between GEO Group and Former Florida House Speaker, by David Reutter
- Federal Probation Officer Sexually Abused Clients, Sentenced to Ten Years, by Mark Wilson
- Prison Phone Rates Under Scrutiny by Louisiana Regulatory Agency
- New Mexico Continues to Let Understaffed Private Prisons Slide on Most Contract Violations, by Matthew Clarke
- Agreement Between Florida DOC and DOT Steals 1,000 Freeworld Jobs, by David Reutter
- Washington Prisoner Killed During Prison Industries Escape Attempt
- Oregon’s Attorney General Accused of Botched, Abusive Prosecutions, by Mark Wilson
- California Pays $10,000 to Settle Sex Abuse Suit Brought by Transgender Prisoner
- Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Credits Sentence with Time on Appeal Bond
- Ninth Circuit Applies Turner Test to Evaluate First Amendment Interest in Prisoners’ Receipt of Unsolicited Publications, by Michael Brodheim
- Arizona Ranchers Use Prison Labor to Construct Erosion-Prevention Dams
- Former Oregon Prison Official Faces Ethics Probe
- Study Reports on Undiagnosed HIV Infections in New York City Jails, by Matthew Clarke
- Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Rules Against Parole Board on Imposition of Sex Offender Restrictions on Non-Sex Offenders, by Matthew Clarke
- Colorado Prison Murder Prosecutions Include Coerced Witnesses, Withholding of Evidence
- California: Prison Visitor Settles Slip-and-Fall Suit for $175,000
- News in Brief:
More from Matthew Clarke:
- Texas Social Workers Challenge Blanket Denial of State Occupational License Based on Youthful Assault Convictions, Aug. 1, 2025
- After Judge’s Letter, at Least 22 Former FCI Dublin Prisoners Granted Compassionate Release, Aug. 1, 2025
- Nebraska Supreme Court Clarifies Award of Time Served Credit for Non-Citizen Awaiting Extradition, Aug. 1, 2025
- Former Oregon Prison Guard Sergeant Sentenced for Sexually Abusing Imprisoned Women, Aug. 1, 2025
- Nebraska Supreme Court Clarifies Procedure for Crediting Jail Time to Multiple Contemporaneously-Imposed Sentences, Aug. 1, 2025
- Over One-Third of Older Texas Prisoners Suffering Cognitive Impairment, July 15, 2025
- Kansas Supreme Court Revives Prisoner’s Challenge to Loss of Parental Rights, June 1, 2025
- Fifth Circuit Reinstates Baha’i Texas Prisoner’s Dietary Claim, June 1, 2025
- $5.6 Million Settlement for California Prisoner’s Wife Strip-searched During Visit, June 1, 2025
- Academic Study of Prison Guards’ Use of Excessive Force Details Sad State of Civil Rights for Abused Prisoners, June 1, 2025
More from these topics:
- News in Brief, Aug. 1, 2025. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Private Prisons, Misconduct/Corruption, Guard Misconduct, Systemic Medical Neglect, Male Reproductive, Malpractice, Escapes, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Stun Guns/Tasers, Pepper Spray/Tear Gas, Restraints, Excessive Force (Wrongful Death), Juvenile Prisons, Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Bribery/Extortion/Theft.
- Tennessee Legislature Passes Bill to Penalize Private Prisons for High Mortality Rates, Aug. 1, 2025. Private Prisons, Corrections Corporation of America/CoreCivic.
- Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” Gave Massive Handouts to ICE and Private Prison Industry, Aug. 1, 2025. Corrections Corporation of America/CoreCivic, GEO Group/Wackenhut, Immigration.
- Shady Firm Awarded $78 Million Contract for Services at Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz”, Aug. 1, 2025. Private Prisons, Environmental Law, Immigration.
- Ninth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Arizona Challenge to Private Prisons, July 15, 2025. Private Prisons, Eighth Amendment, Thirteenth Amendment, rights, Fourteenth Amendment, rights.
- Trump’s “Border Czar” Was on GEO Group Payroll, July 15, 2025. GEO Group/Wackenhut, Misconduct/Corruption, Detention - Generally.
- Ohio Supreme Court Says Sheriff Must Get and Disclose Records of Private Contractors, July 15, 2025. Private Prisons, Contractor Liability, Public Records Act.
- GEO Group Gets $1 Billion ICE Contract at New Jersey Lockup, April 1, 2025. GEO Group/Wackenhut, Enforcement of Immigration Laws, Detention - Generally.
- Trump Tosses Toothless Biden Private Prison “Ban”, March 1, 2025. Private Prisons.
- El Salvador Offers Prison Space to Private Prison Shill Marco Rubio, March 1, 2025. Private Prisons.

