"There are approximately two million inmates in state, federal and private prisons throughout the country. According to California Prison Focus, 'no other society in human history has imprisoned so many of its own citizens.'" The United States has jailed more of its citizens than any other nation. In the past 35 years the amount of inmates has grown from 300,000 to the current two million. The disastrous "War on Drugs" and rise in immigration detentions continue to aid this enlarging number. Due to this exponential growth, the state prison systems are relying more heavily on private prisons to house these criminals. Private prisons are contracted by the state government to imprison given criminals. These private penitentiaries are managed by large industries such as the Correction Corporation of America (CCA). The industry of private prisons profits billions of dollars annually and holds little to no regard for their inmates. The prison industry's sol prerogative is expansion in capital by outsourcing prison labor, endangering inmates, and exploitation of the U.S. government.
The 1980's are recognized as the origin of the private prison industry. Due to Nixon's recent War on Drugs effort, state penitentiaries held a burgeoning population of inmates. State reformates became over crowded with criminals. The state deemed this to be cruel and unusual punishment. Private businesses within the prison (providing simple services) took advantage of the opportunity. Quickly after, the private sector held contracts to operate and manage entire prison facilities. Soon corporations like the CCA controlled the prison system of an entire state. The U.S. government continued supporting private detentions to cut back on the immense spending for state penitentiaries. Since CCA was contracted the inmate population has grown 500 percent. The state prison systems delayed the problem of over populated penitentiaries, but created a new industry of concern.
