Middle Of Nowhere

A sunset flaring red beyond the Continental Divide, Boldt drove the rental through the third guarded entrance to the privately owned prison, coils of razor wire sitting atop the twenty-five-foot chain-link fence. The facility's outer wall rose thirty feet high, its masonry block connecting the four heavily armed guard towers. The middle fence, which was nearly invisible, carried High Voltage warnings on large red and yellow signs. The facility's physical plant—owned and operated by the Etheredge Corporation—housed both maximum and medium detention units, with separate visitor entrances. One of a dozen such compounds nationally, all built and managed by private companies, the correctional services contracted back to the state and were paid for by tax dollars. Etheredge Corporation traded on the NASDAQ. "Prisoners for Profit," Daphne read from a photocopy of a two-year-old article found in the downtown Denver library.

   "Keep reading," Boldt said. He had timed their visit to the facility purposefully, knowing that the telemarketing would likely be under way in the evening when the callers could catch families at dinner or watching TV.

   She read on. The public had been outraged, the politicians impressed by the prospect of reducing corrections costs. "Unsubstantiated charges" accused "unnamed" state representatives of taking bribes for pushing the private corrections concept through the state legislature. With three such private facilities operating in Colorado and two more under construction, the point seemed moot. Nevada had four, Idaho two. The federal government was getting into the act. Corrections had gone private. Boldt and Matthews intended to play on the fact that Washington State had a similar proposal on a referendum that was scheduled for the fall election.

   Boldt found a parking space reserved for visitors. A sign reminded them to lock the car and take the keys.

   Corrections, in private hands, had gone high tech. Electronically keyed gates requiring both a guard's handprint and the swipe of a credit-card-size magnetic key permitted access to various areas of the mediumsecurity facility. The floor plan was an octagonal layout that placed the only guard station in a center hub allowing unobstructed views of every cell. Video surveillance, infrared sensors, and electronic "LoJacks" secured around the ankle of every prisoner rounded out the cutting-edge security technology. Evidently Colorado could not afford to build such an elaborate facility, and yet could pay the forty thousand dollars per year to house each prisoner.

   Boldt had not approached Etheredge Corporation on his own, knowing full well that no privately held company would appreciate law enforcement discovering a fault with their business plan. Instead, he had used a friend in Washington State Corrections to make the introductory call for them, alleging that a pair of detectives on a fact-finding mission to Colorado were interested in touring Etheredge's Jefferson County Corrections Facility and citing in particular the medium security's so-called private commerce program. Etheredge executives, aware of the impending referendum in Washington State, saw a potential client.

   Boldt and Daphne were greeted by the facility's "managing director"—its warden—forty-five, with closecropped hair and a steely glint to his eye. Two administrative assistants, both men in their mid-thirties, reminded Boldt of Army or Marines. Corporations knew where to recruit.

   "Impressive," Boldt said, indicating the security through which he and Daphne had just passed. The warden, a talker, a salesman, went against the stereotype. Boldt had difficulty fitting him in with the other wardens he'd known over the years.

   The private tour lasted forty minutes, all show-andtell of the facility's high-tech security. The infrared gear was sensitive enough to detect "any mammal with a body temperature above a rat."

   "Who else have you toured?" the warden inquired, competition in his blood. He led them down a long, plain corridor.

   Daphne pulled out a name from the article she'd been reading aloud only minutes earlier.

   The warden nodded. "They came in behind us. Still trying to catch up," he suggested immodestly. "We turned a profit after just four years of operation, don't forget. Nationally, I'm talking about. We maintain ninety-seven percent occupancy. Best bed-to-inmate ratio in the business. Zero escapes in four years of operation. Zero," he repeated. "Nationally!" he said again.

   "The private commerce program," Boldt said, assuming this was where he was leading them. He asked, "Does the state share in any of that revenue?"

   "Absolutely!" The warden beamed. "I believe the state's take is twenty percent." He turned to one of the two sycophants and said, "We can verify that." The young commando took off down the hall to a white wall phone.

   Boldt stabbed. "So Etheredge takes eighty percent of the private commerce profit for itself."