This examination of prison privatization begins with an explanation of prison privatization and its place in the recent debates over California prison reform. Focusing on the privatization at the staff level, it continues by exploring the difficulties in any analysis and implementation of prison privatization: the calculation of costs savings, the making and enforcement of contract at the state level, and the California State Civil Service Act. The four proposals for privatization at the staff-level focus on the ability of the state to maneuver around the civil service act by serving specialized groups of inmates in both private and public facilities.