Prisons for Profit in the Land of the Free

"The Land of the Free" has the largest rate of incarcerated individuals in the world. America holds only 5% of the world's population, and over 25% of the world's prisoners. This does not translate into lower crime rates nor a safer country. In fact, our incarceration rates have little to do with peace or justice at all. And this epidemic of incarceration has shown an exponential increase since 1971, with the canonizing of The Powell Memo and the Profit Motive.

The Profit Motive has significantly influenced the American prison system, particularly through the rise of private prisons and the commercialization of various prison services. Here are some key ways this influence manifests:

1. Growth of Private Prisons

Private prisons are operated by for-profit companies under contracts with federal and state governments. These companies are incentivized to maximize their profits, which can lead to cost-cutting measures that may compromise the quality of care and safety for inmates.

• Cost-Cutting Measures: To increase profitability, private prisons may reduce spending on essential services like healthcare, food, and staffing. This can result in poor living conditions, inadequate medical care, and higher levels of violence and unrest.

• Capacity Expansion: Private prison companies often lobby for policies that increase incarceration rates, such as longer sentences and stricter laws, to ensure a steady inflow of inmates and thus a consistent revenue stream.

2. Influence on Legislation

The profit motive has also led to private prison companies and associated industries (e.g., prison labor, prison service providers) exerting influence on public policy and legislation.

• Lobbying Efforts: Companies like CoreCivic and GEO Group spend substantial amounts on lobbying efforts and campaign contributions to politicians to advocate for policies that favor higher incarceration rates, such as mandatory minimum sentences and three-strikes laws.

• Legislative Influence: These lobbying efforts have contributed to the passage of laws that expand the prison population, such as "tough on crime" policies and anti-immigration laws that lead to more detentions.

3. Commodification of Inmates

The prison system's profit-driven model treats inmates as commodities, leading to various exploitative practices.

• Prison Labor: Inmates are often required to work for minimal or no pay, with their labor contracted out to private companies. This practice provides a cheap labor source for businesses and significant profits for prison operators.

• Cost of Services: Inmates and their families are charged exorbitant fees for basic services like phone calls, email access, and commissary items. Private companies providing these services often have exclusive contracts, leading to monopolistic pricing and high profits.

4. Impact on Rehabilitation and Recidivism

The profit motive can undermine efforts to rehabilitate inmates and reduce recidivism rates.

• Inadequate Rehabilitation Programs: Cost-cutting measures often result in insufficient funding for educational, vocational, and rehabilitation programs that are essential for successful reintegration into society.

• Recidivism as Profit: High recidivism rates can benefit private prison companies by ensuring a continuous supply of inmates. This creates a perverse incentive to focus on incarceration rather than rehabilitation.

5. Public vs. Private Performance

There is ongoing debate about the comparative performance of public and private prisons.

• Quality of Care: Studies have shown mixed results, but some suggest that private prisons may offer lower-quality care and more safety issues compared to public prisons due to the profit motive driving cost reductions.

• Cost Savings: While private prisons claim to offer cost savings to taxpayers, some studies question the actual savings once the full costs are considered, including the social costs of higher recidivism rates and poorer inmate outcomes.

Conclusion

The profit motive has deeply influenced the American prison system, often prioritizing financial gain over the welfare and rehabilitation of inmates. This dynamic has contributed to the expansion of the prison population, the commercialization of inmate services, and the perpetuation of practices that may not align with public safety and justice goals.