Private Policing, Law Enforcement, & Adjudication in a Stateless Society

Private Security
When discussing the idea of a free society – meaning a stateless society – I often use Las Vegas casinos as an example of how market-provided police forces would be much more secure, effective, and efficient than the government-provided police forces we all currently live (and suffer) under.
If you spend any time whatsoever in any casino here in Vegas, you’ll immediately notice that there are private security officers everywhere, both uniformed and plain-clothed. And cameras. Lots of cameras.
And something else you’ll likely notice, which may seem odd: those security officers are some of the nicest, most respectful, honorable people you’ll meet.
And the kicker: you’ll rarely see any problem or commotion arise in a casino – let alone any actual crime.
In the twelve years I’ve lived in Vegas (since Aug 2002), I’ve not seen any serious problem arise in any casino. Sure, there’s a disruptive drunk or vocal dispute now and then, which gets dealt with immediately, or escorted outside before it escalates. But crime, or any type of serious altercation? I’ve never seen one. Not one. And remember, we’re talking about an extremely heavy cash-flow environment – cash everywhere you look – which would typically attract criminals, and be susceptible to criminal activity on a regular basis. Add to that the booze – which is flowing non-stop – and you have a volatile recipe for trouble.
But instead, casinos boast a festive environment, most everyone is having a grand time, and the entire facility generally feels quite safe and secure for the duration.
I doubt many of us would agree that it feels this way out in the streets – even in our own neighborhoods – andespecially when government-provided police officers happen to be around. In fact, whenever they’re around, I actually feel less safe. I’m much more worried about what those officers might decide to do to me than what a few strangers on the street might do.
Why is this so? Why the stark difference between private security officers, and public police officers? The answer is simple: private security firms are subject to market forces – accountability, customer satisfaction, adherence to rules and policies, competition from other firms, etc. – and public police forces are not.

This post was published at The Daily Sheeple on June 2nd, 2015.