AP set a strategy meeting with OCSEA. They discussed sending more flyers out, making more signs, and contacting different people. Also in January, several members of CAP joined other anti-private prison groups in protest. In February, members of CAP met with an author for the magazine Mother Jones. The author is Barry Weohm, and the editor is Eric Bates. They are going to write an article about private prisons. The author interviewed the Youngstown Prison Forum, took a tour of the CCA-run facility in Youngstown and interviewed a prisoner. The article will be published in May. (20) The author also attended one of CAP council meetings and interviewed the mayor. Also in February, CAP members met with Lyle Williams who is running for Congress on the Republican ticket. He has made his views on private prisons known. CAP is supporting his campaign. In April, CAP got a local newspaper to write an article on Correctional Corporation of America’s $206 million loss. (21)Although Citizens against Private Prisons is a very new interest group, their voice is already being heard in Ohio. They have made attempts at Astroturf lobbying by contacting constituents by telephone and direct mail. They have experienced the two problems with lobbying already. They are having a hard time getting the attention of policy makers, and influencing the policy makers. They don’t have many resources yet, but with the help of other interest groups, they may become stronger in the future. It is interesting to study the politics of a newly formed interest group and to see the mistakes that they make. Some of these new groups learn from their mistakes, and others do not and disappear from the world of politics.In researching these four interest groups against private prisons, I have learned a lot about interest group politics. I have learned that when these groups work with other groups for a common cause they are more likely to become successful. I have also ...
