In other words, stakeholders are individuals who have a clear, defined stake within the company, such that these stakeholders definitively hold power and influence over the operation of the company.
Internal and external stakeholders can have a huge influence on prison rehabilitation programs. Internal stakeholders may be those who decide which rehabilitation programs to implement into their prisons as well as the inmates who may be participating in them. They may also decide on the budget of each program and have the responsibilities of making sure that funds continue to come in and support them. Internal stakeholders may also be responsible if these programs fail and find a way to convince their fellow stakeholders of other rehabilitation programs that they hope will have better results. In California, which has the second largest prison system in the country (Bales, 2010), the key stakeholders of those prisons has partnered with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to form the Office of Community Partnerships. The purpose of the OCP is to identify innovative, evidence-based programming for offenders, and strengthening the state and local continuums of service for offenders. This partnership is made up of majority internal stakeholders, prison and correctional officials and the rehabilitation programs that this group has established throughout California's prison systems have been seen as groundbreaking. Several states across the country are looking to find ways to model California's example (Ca.gov, 2011).
External stakeholders can also have a positive influence in the rehabilitation of prisoners as well. These are usually individuals are contribute in some way on the outside of the prison walls. They come from different walks of life: shareholders, businessmen, vendors, political figures, etc. External stakeholders work to fund prisoner rehabilitation programs through large donations, fundraisers, and federal loans and grants.