But that study did not even mention as an option the hiring of private firms to operate prisons.

Colorado Department of Corrections operates several prisons in the county.

Federal prisons are run by national governments in countries where subdivisions of the country also operate prisons.

The department operates prisons and jails in Jamaica.

But spending to operate prisons that states have been building to relieve overcrowding, the report said, is "by far the fastest area of state appropriations."

Judges, for example, have issued orders affecting the way officials may operate state hospitals, prisons, schools and other facilities.

The national government does not operate prisons.

Even with Federal help in construction, operating vast new prisons will put a heavy burden on the states.

Generally, those who operated prisons were most concerned that their victims knew what was happening to them.

New York is one of more than 30 states that operate 23-hour confinement units and prisons, sometimes called "supermax" facilities.