In America there are approximately 130,000 inmates housed in privately owned prisons. It's a foul stench within a justice system that leads the world in number of persons incarcerated within a state, federal or private institution.
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In 1984 the Corrections Corporation of America was contracted to oversee its first facility in Hamilton County, Tenn.. Such transition marked a new federal precedent of complete private control of a correctional institute.
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Employees of CCA,along with 2,000 state legislators and 250 private and corporate citizens, are active members of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). ALEC, based in Washington, D.C., is actively engaged in criminal justice discussions in the U.S. Congress as well as state legislatures.[12]
The US (Land of the Free) has 5% of the world's population but has 25% of the total number prisoners world wide. Which makes the US one of the best places on the planet to run a for profit prison.
more beyond the Koswiggle
Every corporate private prison organization will advocate for maximum minimum and mandatory sentencing. Fear, as usual will be the hook - you know that dope smoking scum will looking to loot your home to buy drugs, rape your wife and daughter and kick your dog. - be afraid - be very afraid
Then they will buy what ever legislators or governors on the condition that they share those goals - More inmates = more $$$$ - it's a no brainer.
[The] Prison Industrial Complex, an oppressive current now being led from the top down by the highly profitable Prison Privatization Movement.
I couldn't begin to list all opportunities for corruption in the PIC with the little or no regulations they enjoy. Little or no control on prisoner treatment by low wage, poorly trained guards and administrators – little or no control on prisoners diet, medical care or living environment – insufficient number of guards to prevent violence and sexual predation among the inmates. Any expense will subtract from the bottom line – that dog food has a lot of nutrients, with a few vegies it will make a tasty stew.
It would an easy step to turn the prisons into third world sweat shops – another avenue of profit (quarterly reports will be great)
For those who don't believe that those endeavors will not be successful, consider the deep pockets that think otherwise and put their money on it.
...stakeholders include a slew of corporate sponsors: Nordstrom's, Microsoft, IBM, Revlon, Target, Dell, Hewlett-Packard and even AT&T, a smorgasbord of some of your favorite brands.
Given the potential for huge returns on their investments does anyone believe any significant prison reform is in the cards, or that any reforms in sentencing guidelines is forthcoming? After all, who is going to give a fuck about a bunch of low life criminals? It's unlikely it will be legislators receiving large contributions from the private prison industry and risk being tagged as “soft on crime” if they don't dance to the music – maybe when pigs (with lipstick) get their wings.
Were it not bad enough that we lead the world incarcerating our population, we have upped the ante by making it a profitable enterprise.
Is this a great country or what?