Skip to main content
  • 11k Accesses

Abstract

Over the last 30 years, the private sector has become increasingly involved in the provision of various core criminal justice services in Australia and New Zealand. In both jurisdictions, privatisation has been driven by neoliberal ideologies and the need to reduce state expenditure. This chapter charts the course and context of privatisation in criminal justice in Australia and New Zealand, primarily in prisons, and examines key debates in prison privatization. It assesses the available evidence for these arguments and the implications of private sector involvement in other parts of the criminal justice system.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 259.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Andrew, Jane, and Damien Cahill. 2007. Value for Money? Neo-liberalism and New South Wales Prisons. Accounting & Finance Working Paper 07/16. Wollongong: University of Wollongong.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andrew, Jane, Max Baker, and Philip Roberts. 2016. Prison Privatisation in Australia: The State of the Nation. Sydney: The University of Sydney.

    Google Scholar 

  • Audit Office, N.S.W. 2003. New South Wales Auditor General’s Report 2003. Sydney: Audit Office NSW.

    Google Scholar 

  • Biles, David. 1997. Private Prisons: Welcome or Not? Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences 29: 3–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cavadino, Michael, and James Dignan. 2005. Penal Systems: A Comparative Approach. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corrective Services NSW. 2016. Custodial Corrections: Operations Procedures Manual. http://www.correctiveservices.justice.nsw.gov.au/Pages/CorrectiveServices/related-links/open-access-information/policies-defined-gipa-act/Custodial-Corrections-OPM/operations-procedures-manual-home-page.aspx. Accessed 24 Aug.

  • Curia. 2015. NZ Herald DigiPoll August 2015. Curia, August 26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Curran, Liz. 1999. Unlocking the Doors on Transparency and Accountability. Current Issues in Criminal Justice 11: 135–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dugan, John, Vivienne Roche, and Ian Tucker. 2003. The Prison Discipline Regime Review. Melbourne: Victoria Department of Justice.

    Google Scholar 

  • G4S. 2016. Electronic Monitoring. http://www.nz.g4s.com/what-we-do/care-justice-services/electronic-monitoring/. Accessed 6 Jul.

  • Government of Western Australia. 1994. Agreement on Prison Management with Officers’ Union. Media Statements, May 31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haermeyer, Andre. 2000. Media Release: Government Takes Control of Women’s Prison. Minister for Corrections, October 3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harding, Richard. 1992. Private Prisons in Australia. Canberra: AIC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harding, Richard. 1994. Models of Accountability for the Contract Management of Prisons. In Private Prisons and Police: Recent Australian Trends, ed. Paul Moyle, 63–90. Leichhardt: Pluto Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harding, Richard. 1997. Private Prisons and Public Accountability. Buckingham: Open University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Humpage, Louise. 2015. Policy Change, Public Attitude and Social Citizenship: Does Neoliberalism Matter?. Bristol: Policy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, Grant. 1997. Models for Contracting Out Community Corrections. Paper presented at AIC Conference on Privatisation and Public Policy, June 16–17, Melbourne.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, Kirsty. 2012. Serco Failing to Meet Mt Eden Prison Targets. Stuff, June 12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, Jim. 1988. Final Report of the Commission of Review into Corrective Services in Queensland. Brisbane: Government of Queensland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Logan, Charles. 1990. Private Prisons: Cons and Pros. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Love, Peter E.D., B.M. Wood, D. Picken, and B. Confoy. 2000. The Privatisation of Correctional Facilities in Australia. Facilities 18: 56–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macionis, Stan. 1997. Purchaser and Provider: The Queensland Experience. Paper presented at AIC Conference on Privatisation and Public Policy, June 16–17, Melbourne.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason, Cody. 2013. International Growth Trends in Prison Privatization. Washington, DC: The Sentencing Project.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCarthy, Carole, Robyn Lincoln, and Paul Wilson. 2000. Privatising Community Corrections. Gold Coast: Bond University. ePublications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mills, Alice. 2015. A Gentle Thaw or Continued Deep Freeze? Relationships between Voluntary and Community Organisations and the State in Criminal Justice in New Zealand. Third Sector Review 21: 121–142.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moyle, Paul. 1994. Privatisation of Prisons and Police: Recent Australasian Developments. In Private Prisons and Police: Recent Australian Trends, ed. Paul Moyle, 15–23. Leichhardt: Pluto Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moyle, Paul. 2000. Profiting from Punishment: Private Prisons in Australia: Reform or Regression?. Annandale: Pluto Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Musumeci, Angela. 1997. Models for Contracting Out Community Corrections. Paper presented at AIC Conference on Privatisation and Public Policy, June 16–17, Melbourne.

    Google Scholar 

  • NZ Department of Corrections. 2016a. Redevelopment of Auckland Prison’s Maximum Security Facility. http://www.corrections.govt.nz/news/redevelopment_of_auckland_prisons_maximum_security_facility.html. Accessed 7 Jul.

  • NZ Department of Corrections. 2016b. Contract Management. http://www.corrections.govt.nz/news/auckland_south_corrections_facility_new_mens_prison/contract_management.html. Accessed 7 Jul.

  • NZ Department of Corrections. 2016c. Prisons Operations Manual. http://www.corrections.govt.nz/resources/policy_and_legislation/Prison-Operations-Manual.html. Accessed 24 Aug.

  • NZ Department of Corrections. 2016d. Prison Operations. http://www.corrections.govt.nz/news/auckland_south_corrections_facility_new_mens_prison/prison_operations.html. Accessed 7 Jul.

  • NZPA. 2008. Chubb Sells Prison Escort, Home Detention Work. Stuff, November 7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newbold, Greg. 2016. Crime, Law and Justice in New Zealand. New York, NY: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services. 2010. Thematic Review of Court Security and Custodial Services in Western Australia. Perth: Western Australian Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peach, Frank. 1999. Corrections in the Balance: A Review of Corrective Services in Queensland. Brisbane: Queensland Corrective Services Review.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pihama, Leonie. 2011. Prison Privatisation in Aotearoa. Kaupapa Māori, April 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Queensland, Ombudsman. 2009. Justice on the Inside: A Review of the Queensland Corrective Services’ Management of Breaches of Discipline by Prisoners. Brisbane: Queensland Ombudsman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Radio NZ. 2009. Private Prisons Liked by Maori Party. Radio New Zealand, March 11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Radzinowicz, Leon. 1988. Letters to Editor. The Times, September 22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roth, Lenny. 2004. Privatisation of Prisons. Sydney: NSW Parliamentary Library Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • Russell, Stuart. 1997. Private Prisons for Private Profit. Alternative Law Journal 2: 7–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rynne, John, Richard Harding, and Richard Wortley. 2008. Market Testing and Prison Riots: How Public Sector Commercialization Contributed to a Prison Riot. Criminology and Public Policy 7: 117–142.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sachdeva, Sam. 2015. Secro Could Re-Pitch for Mt Eden Contract in 2017—John Key. Stuff, December 9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarre, Rick, and Tim Prenzler. 2012. Issues in Courtroom Security: A Key Role for the Private Sector in Australia and New Zealand. Security Journal 25: 25–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, Nick. 1998. Over $1 Million Savings in Auckland Prisoner Escort Contract. Beehive.govt.nz, June 17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision. 2015. Report on Government Services 2015: Volume C: Justice. Canberra: Productivity Commission.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swain, Paul. 2004. Response to Stephen Franks Article, Dominion Post. Beehive.govt.nz, February 27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Western Australia Department of Corrective Services. 2016. Operational Instruction 2: Prison Charges. Perth: Government of Western Australia.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alice Mills .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Mills, A. (2017). Privatisation of Criminal Justice. In: Deckert, A., Sarre, R. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Australian and New Zealand Criminology, Crime and Justice. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55747-2_31

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55747-2_31

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-55746-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-55747-2

  • eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics