There are a number of dimensions to the Florida plan but those that interest me are the plans to "privatize" the system by turning even more of it over to "faith based" prison ministries and to reshape the system as whole with a model put forth over 40 years ago by none other than RJ Rushdoony, the founder of Christian Reconstructionism. Governor Rick Scott wants to move prisoners from government institutions to privately run facilities and increase the 4300 inmates already held within faith based programs by increasing the number of programs from four to six.

While inmates in these facilitates choose the faith based programs over other options, it's not, as proponents like to argue, fair to say that they choose to be there. Opponents of the plans argue that inmates in faith based programs enjoy a number of perks and better facilities than other inmates. But whatever the case, Scott's plan would turn more of the state's obligation to run the criminal justice system over to religious organizations.