Florida Judge Limits Privatization of Prison Health Care

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A judge in Florida blocked efforts by the state’s Department of Corrections to privatize the delivery of health care in its prisons in an early December ruling. Although the judge’s decision did not rule out ever aspect of the plan, it dealt a significant blow to the proposal. Leon County Circuit Judge John Cooper ruled that health care services could not be privatized in any of the regions north of Palm Beach County because the state legislature hasn’t provided specific funds for outsourcing in those regions.

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Prison Privatization Proposal Seems Doomed in New Hampshire

CONCORD, N.H. — A long-discussed proposal to privatize prisons in New Hampshire appears to be on its last legs due to changes in the state’s political landscape after November’s election. The state issued a request for proposals asking companies to submit plans to build and operate a correctional facility for men, a structure for women or deliver a design that could hold both men and women on one campus. Four companies responded with proposals, although none of the bids were for a stand-alone women facility.

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Fla. Prison Privatization Questioned

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. A small group of politically influential companies could be awarded a contract worth millions of dollars in a legislative effort to privatize Floridasprisonhealthcare services, according to reports.
 
The new budget plan to which House and Senate negotiators recently agreed allows one vendor to bid on boththe healthcare andprison privatization services of 18 South Florida counties.

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