Q Warden - Rumors are afoot in your community. You realized that your career track gave you an opportunity that does not come along often and you had to take this tough position of perhaps lose the opportunity for the remainder of your career. There would be no time to ease into the position as this new issue has arisen. Your experience has all been in security management and administration. Now, within 2+ weeks of your appointment on May 21, 2018 another new area comes directly onto your plate - privatization. Overcrowding has continued, staff recruitment continues to be difficult though you have significantly improved employee morale. Since your arrival you have not yet used your large office for any large meetings or private discussions (good). You have worked at making rounds without a team of escorts, moving all over the Prison and covering all shifts (24/7). This was not a practice in the prior administration. The challenges still remain. A major business group has asked the Governor to conduct an experiment and create a single private prison in your state. They have recommended Milford given its problems and has urged the Governor to just do it and see what the outcomes may be in terms of administration, easing of operations, impacts on crowding and cost containment. The union that represents all your line staff (everyone up through Lieutenant - 90%) are openly demanding the Governor not conduct this experiment for the union believes many staff will lose their jobs and all may lose their vested pensions and part of their sick leave and other benefits. Staff have come to you and expressed their fear of privatization - even a single prison test. The Governor of your state has a large budget deficit and any areas where costs might be reduced are on the table for discussion. The Governor must make a decision within 30 days. It cannot be placed on the ballot for voter review for it is an executive decision that must be made by the Governor. Your have been contacted by the Governor's Chief of Staff and informed that the Governor seeks your specific recommendation - the Governor wants to know from his Warden on site at Milford whether privatization of Milford State Prison makes sense and should be given a chance. You are well aware that the Governor received major support from the business community in your state and while an honest elected official he is only being asked to try on private test case - it just happens to be Milford. You are to attend a full Cabinet Meeting with the Secretary of Corrections but the Governor wants you to make the presentation given your years of experience. Week #3 Discussion Questions: #1 - Week #3 - take a clear position - you are expected to have a clear and direct position and write 300 words advising the Governor on what his decision should be regarding Milford. Keep politics out and stick directly to professional Corrections - to privatize or not to privatize - that is the question. Cite one article on both sides of the issue/topic in case any of the Governor's staff in addition to your comments seek further reading to assist them in their review for the Governor. Respond to at least three Discussion posts of other students or your Instructor. Keep your writing improving, use good paragraphs with topic sentences and provide the Governor with your recommendation. All the information you need is contained in the readings. This is a real world application and speaks to discussions going on in many parts of the country.