Privatization push confirmed at Harris County jail

On Sunday, Grits broke the news that Corrections Corporation of America had submitted a bid to manage the Harris County Jail, citing information given to investors about a county-issued RFP which hadn't been reported in the local media. Last night, the local Fox TV affiliate confirmed it:

FOX 26 News obtained this news letter from Corrections Corporation of America, a private prison operation firm:

"We are also very excited about the opportunities that are before the industry and for which we feel well positioned. We're awaiting a decision from Arizona on its 5,000 bed request for proposal as well as a managed-only opportunity for approximately 9,000 beds in Harris County, Texas.”

County officials confirm private talks are underway to consider privatizing the county jail.

That's virtually the same wording cited in the Grits post from a Zacks.com analyst.

No one from the county would speak to the Fox reporter on the record. Commissioner Steve Radack "said the process is confidential and he won't know the full details until his staff finishes reviewing the proposal." Which ignores the larger questions: Why is the process "confidential" (read: secret) in the first place? Why are privatization schemes being hatched in private instead of in public discussions? Why do CCA investors know more about privatization plans for the Harris County Jail than local media and the taxpayers? The Harris County Jail is bigger than the prison systems in half the states; should something this big really be done in a back-room deal before the public even knows it's happening?

UPDATE: Here's a copy of the RFP issued by Harris County for privatizing jail services, obtained by your correspondent this a.m. under the Public Information Act.