South Carolina pays a private company to run its medical detention facilities

South Carolina awarded a $19 million contract to a private company to manage medical services in its detention facilities. This means a private entity will now be responsible for the healthcare of people held in these facilities.

Governments often outsource services to private companies, but medical care in detention facilities is a sensitive area. This contract shifts the operational responsibility for inmate health from the state to a for-profit business. The question is whether this move will improve care or simply transfer the financial and ethical risks.