Governor proposes closing all 9 of California's private prisons

California Gov. Gray Davis has proposed closing all nine of the state's private prisons-shuttering five by June 30 and phasing out the other four as their contracts expire.

With an inmate population now 6,000 below its peak, Davis is choosing between operating all 33 state prisons and continuing

Closing the prisons would do nothing to help California alleviate overcrowding. Despite the declining inmate population, the state is operating at 190 percent of capacity with 156,000 inmates.

Even if the legislature declines to go along with the request, the governor can use his line-item veto power to strike spending for the private prisons.

All of the units that would be closed are minimum security and hold a combined 1,400 prisoners.

Davis asked the legislature to close the Baker Community Correctional Facility near Los Angeles; Eagle Mountain in Riverside County; Leo Chesney near Sacramento; McFarland Community Corrections Facility in Kern County; and Mesa Verde in Bakersfield.

Four other prisons would close after their contracts expire in 2007: Desert View and Victor Valley, both in Adelanto; and Central Valley and Golden State, both in McFarland.

Four different companies run the prisons-Alternative Programs Inc., Cornell Cos., Management and Training Corp. and Wackenhut Corrections Co.

The governor's proposal fulfills a promise he made to the 28,000member California Correctional Peace Officers Association, which contributed more than $2 million to his 1998 campaign and is expected to support him again in November.

The union has no jurisdiction over private institutions.

"Privatization is more trouble than it has been worth," said the governor's press office. "There have been a lot of lawsuits and headaches."

The union also said security is the top issue. "Public safety should never be put in a position of having to make money."

In a message to members announcing the governor's proposal, the union pointed out that "privatization has been a thorn in our side."

The decision to end privatization reverses the policies of Davis' predecessors, who contracted with private operators to ease crowding and cut costs.

The governor said the private prisons operate at slightly more cost than state prisons. He estimated ending private contracts would cut correctional spending about $5 million a year.

The -private prison operators claim Davis failed to factor in the cost of prison construction, which the contractors bear, not the state.