Private prison operator risks alienating Mahoning Valley

Just days after we stuck our necks way out for Corrections Corporation of America, which has lost an important contract to house federal prisoners in its Youngstown facility, we were surprised by the Nashville-based company’s refusal to make public important pertinent information.

We had harshly criticized the U.S. Bureau of Prisons for not telling the community why officials in Washington decided that the 1,400 inmates would be moved out of the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center in Youngstown by May. We argued that the federal government has a responsibility to the residents of the Mahoning Valley to explain why the prison’s financial stability is being threatened.

Prior to the decision being announced last month, CCA had sought the support of the region in urging the Bureau of Prisons to renew its contract. Government officials, including Youngstown Mayor John A. McNally, members of city council, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th, and business and community leaders, launched an aggressive campaign on behalf of the private prison.

We joined in that effort, publishing several editorials not only touting the facility in Youngstown and the importance of CCA as a corporate partner, but noting that there were no complaints, at least publicly, about the way the federal prisoners were being treated.

However, when the decision came down, the community was not given the courtesy of an explanation.

However, on Tuesday, CCA officials were given the rationale for the decision by bureau officials. Much to our disappointment and chagrin, the company has refused to share that information with the public.

“For competitive reasons and out of respect for the longstanding relationship with our government partners, we do not publicly share feedback received regarding this process,” Steven Owen, CCA’s senior director of public affairs, told Vindicator Reporter Peter Milliken.

We find that explanation to be unacceptable, and, therefore, renew our call to Congressman Ryan to use his membership on the powerful House Appropriations Committee to force the bureau’s hand.

Given that the Valley pulled out all the stops in lobbying for a renewal of the contract, we have the right to know whether the decision was prompted by CCA being unable to compete cost-wise with a private prison in Pennsylvania, or if political pressure was brought to bear on the Bureau of Prisons to end the contract with CCA.

We believe that most of the people of this region have no qualms about supporting the private prison operator, but they aren’t prepared to do so blindly.

Prison lockdown

Just five months ago, CCA was publicly criticized by government and community leaders and this newspaper for shrouding in secrecy an inmate disturbance and subsequent prison lockdown. Company officials didn’t even give the police department a heads-up, which, not surprisingly, went over like a lead balloon.

Faced with mounting criticism after the situation was normalized, CCA offered a public mea culpa and promised to be more open about the goings-on in the Youngstown facility.

Although they have shared with the mayor information pertaining to the loss of the federal contract — the company doesn’t intend to fight the decision — they remain tight-lipped with the press.

Mayor McNally refused to reveal to The Vindicator what he had been told, but that really isn’t his responsibility.

We urge CCA to rethink its policy of “no comment.” It isn’t a good public-relations strategy.