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How do local politics affect jail administration? Should political influence be as extensive as it is? Does it help or hinder good corrections?

There are two distinct ways local politics directly influence jail administration.  First, a prison is an employer of the local workforce, especially in the area of guards and administrative personnel.   As a consequence, anyone running for local office must assure voters that the local economy will remain healthy vis a vis the prison system – will it be privatized?  Will the prison budget allow expansion of personnel? etc.  Secondly, prison system policy often affects local production of work opportunities – will the prisoners compete for jobs in manufacturing, in labor union bargaining, etc.?  Many times prisons are actually prohibited from giving prisoners meaningful jobs because they will harm local industries (example:  making license plates, or even self-serving maintenance tasks such as laundry, maintenance, or food services).  In these instances, local political influence definitely hinders the “corrections and rehabilitations” goals of any good prison system.  Finally, local politics must deal with safety and security issues of the local population, in terms of fears and doubts; these assurances must be co-ordinated with prison practices.

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