US to Phase out Federal Use of Privately Operated Prisons

The U.S. Justice Department plans to end its use of privately operated prisons, saying they are less safe and less effective than government-run facilities, The Washington Post said on Thursday, citing a department memo.

Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates announced the decision in a memo saying Justice officials should phase out the use of such private prisons by letting contracts expire or by scaling them back, according to the Post.