A recent Ohio state audit reported 47 violations by a privately owned prison, including failure to meet state standards in food quality, sanitation and hygiene, according to City Beat.
The audit looked into Corrections Corporation of America’s operation of the first privately owned prison in the state. The audit found that its fire plan lacked specific ways to evacuate prisoners from locked areas in case of emergency. Employees said, “they had no idea what they should do” in case of a fi re emergency, reports City Beat.
“All housing units had less than the needed 25 square feet of open space per occupant,” reports City Beat. Also, “single watch cells held two prisoners with some sleeping on the floor, and some triple-bunked cells had a third person sleeping on a mattress on the floor.”
Prisoners claimed laundry and cell-cleaning services were not provided, the audit states. Recreation time was not always allowed five times a week in segregation units, as required. Other problems included food quality and sanitization.
Sick- all patients were not seen in a timely manner and nursing competency evaluations were not completed before the audit was conducted. The health care administrator could not explain or show an overall plan for correcting the deficiencies, reports City Beat.