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Thiscomparativefocus,however,obscurestroublingfeaturescommontopublicandprivate
facilitiesalike,includingtheimpositionofgratuitousinhumanepunishment,indifferenceto
theriskofimposingunjustifiablylongsentences,andthedistortingeffectsoffinancial
interestsonprisonpolicy.Moreover,theexclusiveconcernwiththevalueofefficiencyshapes
theinquirytocrowdconsiderationofallothernormativeimplicationsofincarcerating
convictedoffendersoutofthepicture.
Fromthe.perspectiveofcomparativeefficiency,thesoleissueintheprivateprisonsdebateis
whetherresponsibilityforincarcerationshouldremaininpublichandsorbeprivatized.
Comparativeefficiency,inotherwords,wantsonlytoknowwhichisbetter,publicorprivate.
Butframingtheissuethiswaycanleadustomissaltogetherthemorelikelypossibilitythat
neitheralternativeissatisfactoryorevenadequate.