The prison industry is big business involving fortune 500 companies that are driven by the pursuit of profit. However, the only way the private prison industry stands to make money is if more people are in jail for longer sentences. They do not benefit from probation, rehabilitation, or alternative sentencing.
The primary question that will determine the direction of this research paper is: What are the political, social, and economic implications of basing the operation of a prison on a purely profit motivation? Other important questions are: How does this private interest affect policy-making? How does the incentive to cut costs affect safety? Does profit from incarceration violate fundamental moral values or business ethics? Potential answers to these questions may be found in the statistics of prison population or in the effects of mandatory sentencing or any other laws that affect prisons. The initiatives set forth by the companies that own prisons will also be analyzed for potential answers.
The aforementioned questions led to the development of a similar theoretical framework. After preliminary research I have decided to analyze this issue with respect to three theories: the interest of prison companies affect policy-making and unfortunately, their primary interest is having more people in jail for longer sentences, Labor performed by the prisoners as well as the fact that these companies are traded on the stock market have relevant economic implications, and that there is something inherently wrong with anyone profiting from the incarceration of people, in effect proving that crime does pay.
Policy.
As added incentive for their construction and use, many rural areas struggling with high unemployment rates clamor for prisons, public or private, because they mean jobs; and local legislators are often anxious to gratify these wishes whether or not the facility is needed.
It's common knowledge that the harsh drug-sentencing laws that congress passed in 1986 have greatly increased the prison population.
