Privatized Federal Prison Halfway House in Kabletown

[John]

I have been in business now for over thirty years and I believe very strongly in our free enterprise system. But there are some things that should not be operated on a for-profit basis, but should instead be provided by government. The Defense of our Nation is an example. Police are an example. And prisons are another.

Unfortunately over the past few years there has been a movement toward privatization of prisons and related services.

This week’s Jefferson County Commission agenda includes a letter from a Company called “Minsec” with a proposal to place a Federal Prison Halfway House at 1716 Kabletown Road, between Ann Lewis Road and Ward Clipp Road. The facility would house 35 male and 15 female inmates. The location is a 10 acre parcel just past Avon Bend.

I agree that drug and alcohol treatment facilities are needed in the Eastern Panhandle, and even that prisoner rehabilitation is a positive goal. But this is a privately operated for profit facility. I do not believe that prisons or halfway houses should be operated as for profit businesses. It creates incentives that are not in the public interest. Many states that have gone in this direction have been running into problems as a result.

And Minsec Corporation does not have a good track record at running these things.

For more information go to Halfway house documents

Check out some of the press from a Minsec facility in Pennsylvania:

"Dangerous inmate excapes from Hazelton secure treatment center"

"Halfway House In Hazleton Once Again On The Radar Of State Lawmakers"

New York Times Series - Article 1

--John

[Willis]

I'll side with you, John. The track records of most of these privately run detention facilities are largely abysmal. Profit driven institutions rarely afford the measure of care and supervision that would benefit their clients (inmates) or the public. Let's all keep a close watch on this proposal.

[John]

Here is a pdf of the letter to the Jefferson County Commission that describes the proposal:

http://maxey4delegate.org/docs/Minsec.pdf

[BigTom]

Here is a pdf of the letter to the Jefferson County Commission that describes the proposal:

http://maxey4delegate.org/docs/Minsec.pdf

What a brilliant idea. Put a privately run, poorly managed halfway house full of convicts in a part of the county with the lowest crime rate.

[Tony]

If this is a debate strictly about for-profit vs. taxpayer funded halfway houses, then I think I'm in favor of for-profit. I'm not sure why you guys are all in favor of raising your taxes to pay for these places.

And John, be careful with those links. One doesn't work at all, another goes to youtube when it doesn't seem it should, and another links to a story about how a resident was shot near the home - not about a resident doing a shooting.

[John]

If this is a debate strictly about for-profit vs. taxpayer funded halfway houses, then I think I'm in favor of for-profit. I'm not sure why you guys are all in favor of raising your taxes to pay for these places.

And John, be careful with those links. One doesn't work at all, another goes to youtube when it doesn't seem it should, and another links to a story about how a resident was shot near the home - not about a resident doing a shooting.

Thanks Tony - I corrected the links.

The proposed Kabletown facility actually will be paid for with your taxes – so you won’t see any savings there. “Community Corrections Centers” are contracted to the private operator by the Federal Bureau of Prisons – who pays them with federal tax dollars.

A bigger problem for us locally is the potential cost to our community. These would be federal inmates – not West Virginia state or Regional Jail prisoners – but there will be additional costs locally that will have to be paid through local taxes.

Inmates will be required to find a job within fifteen days of assignment to Kabletown. This will put them in competition with local residents for scarce jobs.

They will also be responsible for their own health care costs. Other communities have seen increases in unreimbursed emergency room care, ambulance calls, and increased law enforcement costs as a result of hosting private prison facilities.

So I don’t see this as something that will save money –at least not here in Jefferson County.

[Davdu]

And with any for profit business - this endeavour will come with a business plan for growth. More prisoners, ... more facilities, etc. As far as jobs for the community - they'll be low wage, no benefits, temporary McJob type positions except for the ownership folks reaping as much profit as possible.

[LFE]

Its sad that our government is taking the same approach that many businesses are taking.... claiming its cheaper to just pay someone else to run their problems over correcting the real problems that exist. On paper, these types of things look great as they shift capital expenses over to operations, however the total long running cost only seems to work out over a short term period. By the time that it realized, the fat guys already smoked their cigars and leave nothing but ashes to clean up after.

Hummmm, maybe they decided that since we have so many registered sex offenders living around us, that adding federal prisoners to the mix is justifiable. Do your own search on that comment... knowing who your neighbors really are is important!
http://www.familywatchdog.us/

The 2 to 1 male to female ratio also seems odd.
- Maybe its a one shot last test effort to make sure they really can live in our neighborhoods....




1:46
Johnny Cash, Live@ S.Quentin - Folsom Prison Blues

Live @ San Quentin Prison

[ministerswife]

I am neither a politician nor a diplomat—only a taxpayer—and what I say here is more than likely “politically incorrect”; but I’m going to say it anyway. So here goes:
I pay my taxes based on an income that the government (state and federal) considers just above the poverty level (just enough above that level to disqualify me for any government "benefits" or "support" such as prisoners now receive, and just enough to help contribute to the support of prisons). For this reason, I am siding somewhat with Tony. I am sick and tired of my tax money supporting rapists, murderers, pedophiles, etc.; especially since it’s all I can do to buy groceries while the government-run prisons (state and federal) feed prisoners three healthy, well-balanced meals a day, and provide other benefits and/or pleasures I have to forsake in order to survive. This said, I have no knowledge whatsoever about nonprofit prison facilities. Therefore I confess, other than my desire to place my taxes in better places, I speak from ignorance

[OzGirl]

OMG is this going to be housed in THAT GIANT LOG CABIN HOUSE!!!!! I did a google maps and it seems like the right location?????

Yeppers I am right....holy cow!

http://www.realtor.com/realestateand...848?source=web

John what is the process to submitt an opinion (oppose) this proposal!

[Willis]

As far as jobs for the community - they'll be low wage, no benefits, temporary McJob type positions

Absolutely! Let's put the lie to the mantra of "This will create jobs". Our area need jobs that provide a living wage, not more of the aptly nicknamed, "McJobs" type of employment. As John points out, there will be costs that we, as locals, will have to bear. I'd urge those who will be evaluating this proposal to "look carefully in the mouth of this gift horse".

[Davdu]

Absolutely! Our area need jobs that provide a living wage, not more of the aptly nicknamed, "McJobs" type of employment.

Yup! I'd like to look in the Help Wanted and see something like ... opening for a Security Specialist III, pays $67,000 with four weeks of leave, full medical and dental, training provided, opportunities for advancement, signing bonus, access to Credit Union, tuition reimbursement, Monday thru Friday, EOE ... send reume to Jefferson County Human Resources for consideration.

[charliepff]

LOL, that sounds like a nice position. Wish I could find something like that. It sounds like all they are doing is creating another hazard building for the fire department and another thing for the Sheriff's Office to deal with.

[John]

Another one?

From Samantha Cronk of the Martinsburg Journal - Saturday August 11:

MARTINSBURG - MinSec, a company based in Pennsylvania, has submitted a proposal with the Federal Bureau of Prisons to build a Residential Re-entry Center, or a halfway house, for federal offenders in Martinsburg.

At Thursday's Berkeley County Council meeting, President Bill Stubblefield presented a letter from Tom Smith, president of MinSec Companies, LLC, stating the company's intentions to transform a warehouse at 54 GM Access Road in Martinsburg into a facility transitioning offenders from prison.

Read the article at http://www.journal-news.net/page/con....html?nav=5006

Montani Semper Liberi?

[Davdu]

Did Tom Smith present a letter (a white paper describing a basic plan) or an actual proposal? And I 'm concerned by the council's concession to defeat - stopping short of saying this is a done deal. Can we get a copy of the RFP put out by the BoP and MinSec's proposal? I think WV and the eastern panhandle is being "pissed-on" by outsiders and we need to be able to control our own destiny ... to provide inputs and influence regarding this plan and to ultimately have the final decision affecting our community!!!

[Willis]

I think WV and the eastern panhandle is being "pissed-on" by outsiders

Over the years our panhandle has absorbed more than its share of that type of piss. I wonder is this proposal has been presented to the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors as a proposal near Middleburg VA? There is certainly plenty of open space in "horse country"

[John]

Did Tom Smith present a letter (a white paper describing a basic plan) or an actual proposal? And I 'm concerned by the council's concession to defeat - stopping short of saying this is a done deal. Can we get a copy of the RFP put out by the BoP and MinSec's proposal? I think WV and the eastern panhandle is being "pissed-on" by outsiders and we need to be able to control our own destiny ... to provide inputs and influence regarding this plan and to ultimately have the final decision affecting our community!!!

Davdu - Copies of the RFP, the Statement of Work, and some other information are posted at
Halfway House Documents

[charliepff]

Over the years our panhandle has absorbed more than its share of that type of piss. I wonder is this proposal has been presented to the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors as a proposal near Middleburg VA? There is certainly plenty of open space in "horse country"

Now come on Willis, you know they would never put something like that in precious Loudoun County. I was shocked to see a rehab place going into Leesburg. Although it seemed that it was kept hush, hush.

[Davdu]

The RFP identified 25 WV counties where they wanted a Halfway House and MinSec has proposals for Kabletown Rd and Berkley Co.??? I feel sorry for the folks wo live on Kabletown Rd ... goodbye property values. I can see home increased burglaries and booming business at Charlie Brown's head shop!!!

[Willis]

The following item is on the County Commission's agenda this Thursday the 16th
New business tentatively scheduled before the lunch break