ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a brief overview of privatisation in criminal justice, generally, followed by a definition of privatisation (and outsourcing). Privatisation has brought forth a fierce debate on the merits and demerits of introducing private sector demands into the public sector. This is especially so when introduced into the criminal justice system whereby criminal justice is seen to have extenuating features not found elsewhere. Accusations are made against supporters of privatisation that the pursuit of profit has no place within criminal justice. This was a constant form of attack over privatisation of the Probation Service. Over the years opposition to privatisation has grown, especially to that in criminal justice, with an increasing disillusionment with private sector involvement. Privatisation differs from outsourcing. Whereas privatisation occurs when the private company owns the assets, outsourcing occurs when private companies sell their products to the private sector in the same way as they sell their products elsewhere.
