Private prisons in the United States are facilities operated by private companies under contracts with federal or state governments to house inmates. As of 2022, 27 states and the federal government utilized private prisons, collectively housing approximately 90,873 inmates, representing 8% of the total U.S. prison population.
Here is a list of notable private prisons across various states:
Arizona:
- Arizona State Prison – Kingman: Operated by a private company under contract with the Arizona Department of Corrections.
- Central Arizona Correctional Facility: A medium-security prison managed by a private entity.
California:
- California City Correctional Center: Managed by a private company under contract with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Colorado:
- Bent County Correctional Facility: A private prison operated under contract with the Colorado Department of Corrections.
- Crowley County Correctional Facility: Managed by a private company, housing medium-security inmates.
Florida:
- Bay Correctional Facility: Operated by a private company under contract with the Florida Department of Corrections.
- Graceville Correctional Facility: A private prison housing medium-security inmates.
Georgia:
- Coffee Correctional Facility: Managed by a private company under contract with the Georgia Department of Corrections.
- Wheeler Correctional Facility: A private prison housing medium-security inmates.
Mississippi:
- East Mississippi Correctional Facility: Operated by a private company, specializing in housing inmates with mental health needs.
- Wilkinson County Correctional Center: A private prison managing medium-security inmates.
Montana:
- Crossroads Correctional Facility: Managed by a private company under contract with the Montana Department of Corrections.
New Mexico:
- Lea County Correctional Facility: A private prison housing medium-security inmates.
- Otero County Prison Facility: Operated by a private company under contract with the New Mexico Corrections Department.
Ohio:
- Lake Erie Correctional Institution: Managed by a private company under contract with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
Oklahoma:
- Davis Correctional Facility: A private prison housing medium-security inmates.
- Lawton Correctional Facility: Operated by a private company under contract with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
Tennessee:
- Hardeman County Correctional Facility: Managed by a private company under contract with the Tennessee Department of Correction.
- South Central Correctional Facility: A private prison housing medium-security inmates.
Texas:
- Reeves County Detention Complex: One of the largest private prisons, operated by a private company under contract with the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
- Willacy County Correctional Center: Managed by a private company, previously housing federal inmates.
Federal Facilities:
- Adams County Correctional Center (Mississippi): A private prison under contract with the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
- Big Spring Correctional Center (Texas): Managed by a private company, housing federal inmates.
Please note that the utilization of private prisons varies by state, and some states do not use private prisons at all. Additionally, policies and contracts can change over time, affecting the operation and management of these facilities.
For the most current information, it’s advisable to consult official state department of corrections websites or reputable sources such as The Sentencing Project.