POLL: Kentucky Voters Overwhelmingly Oppose Re-Opening For-Profit Prisons That Operate at Taxpayer Expense
On Heels of President’s Executive Order Eliminating For-Profit Prisons at the Federal Level, New Poll Shows Nearly 3 Out of 4 Kentucky Voters Don’t Want Taxpayer Dollars to Go to Corporate Prisons
KENTUCKY – Shortly after President Biden’s announcement eliminating the use of for-profit prisons at the federal level, the bipartisan Justice Action Network released a poll showing Kentucky voters are overwhelmingly against the reopening of for-profit prisons in the Commonwealth. The poll, conducted statewide January 5-7th, showed that more than 70% of likely Kentucky voters oppose using taxpayer funds to run corporate prisons.
“For years, these companies have profited off human misery, and used these profits to fund lobbying and political giving that feeds a cycle of failure,” said Holly Harris, President and Executive Director of the Justice Action Network. “There aren’t a lot of issues that bring together all Kentuckians, regardless of party, but this is one of them. We hope Gov. Beshear hears the message from this poll loud and clear; the days of for-profit prisons should be over in Kentucky.”
The poll, which surveyed 810 likely Kentucky voters, showed:
When asked whether they support of opposed Gov. Beshear re-opening for-profit prison in Eastern KY, 57% of respondents opposed the move
When reminded the corporate for-profit prison are funded with taxpayer dollars, 72% of respondents opposed the action.
73% of respondents were more likely to oppose reopening when told about the history of rape, sexual abuse, food deprivation, and rioting that took place in these for-profit prisons.
Governor Beshear recently announced plans to re-open the Otter Creek Correctional Center in Floyd County. Taxpayers will pay $41 million over 10 years to lease the facility from CoreCivic, a for-profit prison company. The prison was shut down in 2012 after wide-ranging sexual abuse allegations from female inmates, as well as reports of serious food deprivation and riots.
President Biden’s Executive Order, which appears to run contrary to Governor Beshear’s recent action, was issued today during the President’s speech focused on racial equality.