By C1 Staff
The Trump administration is looking to add more than 1,500 beds to private prison facilities.
The increase notice was issued by the Bureau of Prisons on April 21 and seeks to add 1,607 beds, bringing the private prison population to 22,894, CNN reported.
The notice for beds was issued for Criminal Alien Requirement facilities, which primarily houses non-U.S. citizens convicted of low-level drug crimes and immigration offenses, according to CNN.
The Obama administration sought to eliminate 7,200 beds by May 1, which would have brought the population down to 14,200.
Former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates announced last year that the Obama administration was phasing out the use of private prisons, the Associated Press reported.
“Private prisons served an important role during a difficult period, but time has shown that they compare poorly to our own Bureau facilities,” Yates wrote in a memo. “They simply do not provide the same level of correctional services, programs, and resources; they do not save substantially on costs; and as noted in a recent report by the Department’s Office of Inspector General, they do not maintain the same level of safety and security.”
When Attorney General Jeff Sessions took office, he rescinded Yates’ memorandum. He said in a memo that “[Yates’] memorandum changed long-standing policy and practice, and impaired the Bureau’s ability to meet the future needs of the federal correctional system.”
According to CNN, the official solicitation is expected to be posted later this month.