Prison consultant deal heads to exec council

New Hampshire will be looking to a former Massachusetts corrections commissioner to help it decide whether to accept one of four proposals to privatize the state’s prison system, if the Executive Council approves a $171,347 consulting contract at its Wednesday meeting.George Vose, who served as the Massachusetts Correction commissioner from July 1989 to January 1991, will be the state project manager forMGT of America Inc. Brad Sassatelli, who worked in the Illinois prison system, will be the state contract manager.MGT is one of seven vendors contacted for the job.The two are part of MGT’s criminal justice team. Massachusetts previously hired the Florida firm to conduct a review of its facilities, and the firm recently landed a contract with Illinois to identify and remedy staffing concerns.In its request for proposals, New Hampshire’s Department of Administrative Services said it would need the help of a consultant to “look over its shoulder” as it and the state Department of Corrections evaluate massive privatization proposals from four private prison contractors. The four vendors seeking the privatization contract are Corrections Corporation of America, Management & Training Corp., The Geo Group Inc. and the Hunt Companies.If the state goes ahead with its proposal, it would the only state in the nation to hand over its entire inmate population to a for-profit concern. – BOB SANDERS/NEW HAMPSHRIE BUSINESS REVIEW