I bought a prison in the United States.

"Mr. Chen, what do you think are the advantages of the system you invented?"

Boone asked with a hint of curiosity.

"The advantage is that it transforms management from the personal likes and dislikes of prison guards into a set of predictable rules."

"Prisoners don't need to curry favor with the guards to get by; they just need to follow the rules."

"Prison guards don't need to use their fists to manage the cell blocks; they just need to enforce a point system."

Boone leaned back in his chair. He had worked for the state corrections department for many years and had witnessed countless management problems.

Friction between prisoners and prison guards, and the recurring violent incidents, all stem from a common root cause.

The rules are unpredictable!

When prisoners are unaware of the consequences of their actions, it is easy to ignite their rebellious spirit, turning the prison into a furnace in an instant.

Boone carefully considered his words:

"A very good angle. This points system, in theory, fits very well with the problem we are currently discussing."

Putnam finally couldn't sit still any longer.

He lifted his gaze from the reports:

"Director Boone, I think the points system proposed by Mr. Chen is perfect for the pilot program."

"Although the Sentencing Reform Act was signed today, the bill is mainly a framework and does not provide specific tools for prison management."

"Congress and the Department of Justice are still arguing over the drafting of supporting facilities and specific implementation plans. If we can first achieve some results at the state level..."

Moorhouse had already stood up and walked to the water dispenser in the corner to pour himself a glass of water.

Her movements were slow, but her heartbeat was already erratic.

The $500,000 plus $200,000 in medical funding is a significant expense for the state corrections department.

This money is still blank on her budget, the recipient hasn't been specified yet, but she can't just give it away easily.

According to convention, all funding applications for the next fiscal year should be submitted before September.

Submitting now?

late.

However, if it is used as a special channel for pilot project funds, it is still possible to complete the process.

She returned with her water glass and accidentally knocked over the pen holder on the table as she sat down.

The pencil rolled all over the table, but she wasn't thinking about tidying it up; she was thinking about something else entirely:

The state audit office will send someone to investigate where the pilot program's funds went in six months.

If Chen's prison fails to do so, she will be the scapegoat in the audit report, and Boone can still slip away on his pension.

"Mr. Chen, how many lines are required in your bed agreement?" Morehouse asked.

"A minimum occupancy rate of 90% or higher is guaranteed. If the occupancy rate is not met, a subsidy of 90% of the beds will still be provided, and the payment will be settled monthly."

Ringo immediately replied that the condition was not excessive, because his bed cost was 40% lower than that of the state prison.

Moorhouse opened her budget book, her fingers flying across the pages.

McLean Orthodontic Center has a total of 144 beds, more than 90%, which means that at least 130 beds need to be available.

Each bed costs $32 per day, which amounts to $150 million per year.

With the addition of a one-time equipment grant of $50 and medical funding of $20, the total exceeds two million dollars.

But this is not a net expenditure.

The McLean County Correctional Center's workshops are generating revenue, and federal tax revenue will increase as the prison expands.

If Ringo's points-based pilot program is successful, Oklahoma may be at the forefront of the nation and receive more federal funding from the Department of Justice.

"Director Boone, I think this proposal deserves serious consideration."

Morehouse closed the budget:

"From a financial perspective, finalizing this allocation before the end of the year will also help us maintain our budget execution rate for this fiscal year."

Boone was still hesitating.

Because he knew that once he signed the document, it would mean writing a seven-figure check to a newcomer who had only taken over the prison less than a month ago.

This carries a significant risk within the bureaucratic system.

If Ringo messes up, Boone's name will appear in the newspapers along with the disaster.

If Ringo succeeds, the credit will first go to the Reagan administration that signed the bill, and only then to the state governments.

But in Lin Ge's eyes, the hesitation and siding between these two people were waiting for his final push.

He pushed his last chip onto the table.

That internal evaluation report of the Oklahoma prison system that he secretly asked Mr. Frank to get his hands on!

"Gentlemen, please look at this report, which shows that the overcrowding rate in the state's public prisons is approaching 177%."

"Many prisons are holding far more people than their safety capacity, and violent clashes and health incidents are frequent."

"Some prisons have seen cases of inmates filing collective appeals, which are becoming a public opinion risk across the state."

Ringo gave Eleanor a wink, and she added:

"My client believes that if low violation rates and high labor participation rates can be achieved in private prisons, the state government can prove that 'rehabilitation through labor' is not just a slogan, but a reliable management model."

After saying that, she herself was surprised.

This confidence did not come from a lawyer's professional instinct, but from the fact that when drafting the agreement, Ringo insisted on including "participants must be informed and have the option to withdraw" in every pilot principle.

He also said at the time:

"Only when it is voluntary can labor not be exploitation."

Putnam quickly jotted down a few notes in his brown legal notepad.

The state government's biggest fear is news of a mass appeal by prisoners emerging before the election.

At this critical juncture, providing an outlet to absorb the surplus population is almost irresistible.

Boone pondered this for a long time before speaking:

"Ms. Morehouse, please help me put this grant on next week's special approval agenda."

"Mr. Putnam, you are in charge of drafting the pilot agreement. Send it to us for review tomorrow."

"We aim to sign a formal agreement by the end of the month."

A smile spread across Lin Ge's face; the negotiation had been a success!

……

The official approval for the pilot program came through faster than Ringo had anticipated. He had thought the US would follow the same path as the UK, but it seems he was mistaken.

Putnam faxed the draft early the next morning, with the following words prominently printed on the cover:

[Pilot Project Number: OK-SPC-84-001 - Pilot Program for Point-Based Labor Management in Oklahoma's Private Correctional Institutions].

Below was a line of small print that made Eleanor raise an eyebrow:

「本协议授权麦克莱恩县立矫正中心在1984年10月25日至1985年10月24日期间，作为俄克拉荷马州首个全面推行积分制劳动管理体系的试点单位。」

The $50 surveillance upgrade payment arrived in my account on the fifth business day after the signing.

Also received was $20 in special medical funds. As for the bed agreement, it will need to be reviewed and decided by a specialist from McLean County.

On the day the money arrived, Hamon stood at the office door, watching Lingo sign three checks in a row.