Prison business

Saint-Julien-sur-Suran, a French small town to the most unknown, it is up to the headlines recently for being chosen by the Minister of Justice as the site of the first privately run prison. It is true that, on the basis of agreements already in place, many companies are operating within the prison system engaged in gainful activity as food services, laundry, sells products in special local, etc. But the real news is that the management of this new prison will be, with a public subsidy, totally privatized. In addition to cells without bars on the windows, this project involves the construction of a small shopping center accessible to all and where they can also be used for prisoners. Hard to understand what and how much freedom will be granted to the business compared to the duty and necessary checks by the state administration. One thing is certain: the project has split in two the French public opinion. On one hand, who understands the prospects for improvement a prison system not only inhumane and violent, but also very expensive to the exchequer. On the other hand, people who, faced with an increasingly aggressive and hungry, are contrary to entrust such a delicate field like justice at the pure and simple business logic.