Hardin Jail Doubts

Tools

By Nick Lough

Story Published: Sep 22, 2009 at 6:30 PM MDT

Story Updated: Sep 23, 2009 at 8:05 AM MDT

BILLINGS - Less than two weeks after Hardin officials announced an agreement with American Police Force to house prisoners and stimulate the Hardin economy the questions and controversy continue.

APF officials want to build an animal shelter and police training center, but private prison expert Frank Smith, who's spent the last 13 years researching private jails, says the plan doesn't seem legitimate.

"It doesn't make any sense at all. They come on like Mother Theresa in camo," said Smith about the APF.

The jail expert claims the first problem American Police Force will have in trying to meet its end of the bargain is filling the jail.

"APF doesn't have any juice in this fight. It's a fight for contracts where they'd be up against mammoth corporations," said Smith who claims there are thousands of beds already available in the private jail sector. The Hardin facility only adds to that problem. "They're talking about closing a prison in Oklahoma because there's no prison they've closed one in Michigan," said Smith.

The private jail experts also fear that the 10 year agreement will force the city of Hardin into a financial meltdown, something he's seen happen first hand at private jails in Coke County, Texas and Tallulah, Louisiana.

"They go bad often," said Smith. "They don't virtually ever produce the economic benefits they are touted to produce."

A lot of mystery still surrounds the facility and Hardin officials hope to clear that up when they release the contract to the public. Officials claim to have done their homework and believe APF is a justifiable group that has every intention to fill the jail and help the residents of Hardin for the next decade.

You have indicated this comment should be removed.

Close

The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .

Derek in FL said on Wednesday, Sep 30 at 11:12 PM

What are your elected officials doing in Hardin. Trying to cash in on the already shady business of private jails? This whole fiasco sounds like a joke to the rest of the country. Who even came up with the idea of building a prison with no prisoners to fill it? Did your elected officials really shell out 27 million to build this place in the first place?

white boy said on Friday, Sep 25 at 11:01 AM

Why don't we put all of these so called experts in the dog shelter they are going to build until they tell us the truth????

Gertie said on Thursday, Sep 24 at 11:41 PM

Where are the political leaders of our state? When they wanted Guantanamo prisoners to come here I believe it was loudly said, "Not on my watch". They should be saying the same until it is found out what this Group is all about.

Frank Smith said on Thursday, Sep 24 at 10:42 AM

Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin were "experts" on polio. They were able to nearly rid the world of a terrible disease. Does that bring their credibility into question? Nobel Prize economists Paul Krugman and Joseph Stiglitz calculated the costs of war against Iraq. They were against it. Does that mean that their numbers aren't credible? Private prisons are dangerous, low paying, escape ridden, corruptive institutions. That experts oppose them, doesn't change those basic facts.

Frank Smith said on Thursday, Sep 24 at 10:38 AM

Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin were "experts" on polio. They were able to nearly rid the world of a terrible disease. Does that bring their credibility into question? Nobel Prize economists Paul Krugman and Joseph Stiglitz calculated the costs of war against Iraq. They were against it. Does that mean that their numbers aren't credible? Private prisons are dangerous, low paying, escape ridden, corruptive institutions. That experts oppose them, doesn't change those basic facts. Hardin's jai

Frank Smith said on Thursday, Sep 24 at 9:12 AM

KULR8 was perfectly aware of my identity when it interviewed me and had our website address. If we wanted to conceal our intent or identities at the Private Corrections Institute we would not have put them on a website. If you want to find out more about CiviGenics, or Hale-Mills, or Municipal Capital Markets, Innovative Government Strategies, go to our website and see how a long string of towns have been taken advantage of. www.privateci.org

dahc said on Wednesday, Sep 23 at 10:38 PM

Is this going to be a training camp for other countrys to do something to us. Is this just a under cover camp so no one knows what is going on or is it a start of putting a training place to trainig place in each state to take are guns from us.

Ahma_Daeus said on Wednesday, Sep 23 at 7:30 PM

INCARCERATING PEOPLE "FOR PROFIT" IS IN A WORD....WRONG! The mere presence of a private “for profit” driven prison business in our country undermines the U.S Constitution and subsequently the credibility of the American criminal justice system. In fact, until all private prisons in America have been abolished and outlawed, “the promise” of fairness and justice at every level of this country’s judicial system will remain unattainable. http://www.petitiononline.com/gufree2/petition.html

Matilda said on Wednesday, Sep 23 at 7:20 PM

Secrecy, rather than frank and open discussions with all those that matter(in this case, citizens of Hardin and surrounding communities) always breeds contempt and the suggestion in cover-up to the real agenda. It seems this is pretty apparent in this case. Why in the world doesn't the Harding City Council and the Two Rivers Authority disclose what they know...if they know anything...and let all involved at least know the truth???

Skeptic said on Wednesday, Sep 23 at 6:49 PM

Frank Smith is totally against this effort. His website begins with: "If you need help fighting the for-profit private corrections industry, we're here to help you." KULR needs to talk to the APF representatives that they claim have arrived in Hardin.

Matilda said on Wednesday, Sep 23 at 3:38 PM

The Hardin City Council and the Two Rivers Authority Board seem to have forgotten who they work for; they are doing a terrible job of putting to rest any and all questions from the citizens of Hardin and the neighboring communities to ensure the safety of all involved. This entire "deal" smells like a big money-laundering scheme, with absolutely no concern for the intent of the USA Patriot Act, and no concern for the safety and well-being of the surrounding communities.

Dart Mouth said on Wednesday, Sep 23 at 2:37 PM

Is Frank Smith a jail expert? Isn't he really an anti private prison activist? Wouldn't he be trying to keep this facility from opening at all? Here's a website with his BIO privateci.org/who.html

Hardin Newcomer said on Wednesday, Sep 23 at 1:59 PM

I agree with Matilda. The APF and Two Rivers need to stop playing this "game" and get on the ball and start producing some concrete evidence that this deal is legit. And what does building an animal shelter in Hardin have to do with prisoners?Providing jobs? Helping build a community? I am afraid that Hardin is being taken for a ride because of it's "small town ignorance". Of not knowing anything about Federal Contracts, Jails, etc. I really hope that this doesn't end up embrassing the town!

Dart Mouth said on Wednesday, Sep 23 at 12:44 PM

Is Frank Smith a jail expert? I thought he was an anti-private prison activist trying to put private prisons, like the one in Hardin, out of business. Wouldn't Frank be trying to keep Hardin from getting these jobs?

Matilda said on Wednesday, Sep 23 at 7:37 AM

The longer the Hardin officials try to hide the fine print, the more outcry will come to the surface from all sides; these officials simply must answer questions about who American Police Force is, who the Principals are of American Police Force, where will the money come from to fund this "project" by American Police Force, and truly disclose what the facility will really be used for, with proper ability to perform verification audits of all these issues going forward.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

KULR-8 News, Sports, Weather and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

Your Weather Authority

Icon
Current Temp 84.0 °F
Partly Cloudy
Wind : Variable at
6.9 mph
Humidity : 15 %
Pressure : 29.75 in
More Weather

Party America Sky Cam

More Weather

On Demand

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.