Prison–industrial complex

United States correctional population

US timeline graphs of number of people incarcerated in jails and prisons

US incarceration timeline

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U.S. incarceration rates 1925 onwards

United States homicide victimization rates by race 1980 2008

Prison–industrial complex (PIC) is a term used to describe the overlapping interests of government and industry that use surveillance, policing, and imprisonment as solutions to economic, social, and political problems. The PIC is a multifaceted phenomenon that involves the expansion of the prison system, the increase in prison labor, and the influence of private prison companies. It highlights the ways in which government and industry interests are aligned in promoting incarceration as a solution to social problems, which in turn generates profit for companies involved in the prison industry.

Overview

The concept of the prison-industrial complex is derived from the military-industrial complex, a term popularized by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in his 1961 farewell address, which critiqued the relationship between the military and the defense industry. Similarly, the prison-industrial complex refers to the relationship between governments and the private sector that supports and benefits from the growth of the prison system. This includes private prison companies, construction companies, surveillance technology vendors, and companies that contract prison labor.

Components

The prison-industrial complex consists of several key components:

• Private Prisons: Facilities operated by private corporations that contract with government agencies to incarcerate individuals. Companies such as Corrections Corporation of America (now CoreCivic) and GEO Group are major players in this sector.
• Prison Labor: The use of incarcerated individuals for labor, often paid at far below minimum wage, which benefits both the prisons (by reducing operational costs) and private companies (by reducing labor costs).
• Surveillance and Policing: Increased investment in policing technologies and strategies, often targeting marginalized communities, which feeds into the cycle of incarceration.
• Legislation: Laws and policies that result in higher rates of incarceration, such as mandatory minimum sentencing, three-strikes laws, and the war on drugs.

Criticism

Critics of the prison-industrial complex argue that it incentivizes incarceration over more humane and effective approaches to dealing with crime, such as rehabilitation and social programs. They also highlight the ethical issues surrounding prison labor and the disproportionate impact of incarceration on marginalized communities, particularly Black and Hispanic populations in the United States.

Reform Efforts

Efforts to reform the prison-industrial complex focus on reducing the prison population through changes in law and policy, promoting alternatives to incarceration, and challenging the privatization of prisons. Advocacy groups and activists play a key role in these reform efforts, pushing for a shift towards a more just and equitable criminal justice system.

See Also

• Mass incarceration
• Criminal justice reform
• War on Drugs
• Private prison