There is little doubt in the minds of many that the prison system within the United States is a first-rate, money laundering system. The current age in American society is one that prides itself on money and affluence. The rich keep getting richer, while the poor keep getting poorer. The fact that there are more incarcerated individuals in the U. S. than anywhere else worldwide suggests just how profitable and lucrative the criminal justice system is. Many individuals become incarcerated for a variety of reasons, but some of the underlying reasons are poverty, socioeconomic status, racism, and discrimination. This is the result of a dumbing-down of society in order to build up those in power.
One of the most definitive ways to do this is by incarcerating individuals. Private corporations own and operate some 200 facilities nationwide, of which then become publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The prison system in the U. S. is an industry all in its own right. Privatization of prisons took shape in 1984 when the War on Drugs was launched. If there ever was a scheme to create a crisis in order to fill up the nation’s prisons, this was it. The more individuals that could be arrested and incarcerated because of drugs, would mean more money lining the pockets of the corrupt system. To that end, between 1970 and 2005, the prison population in the United States increased by over 700%, all the while violent crimes decreased or at the very least remained unchanged.
Is it any wonder why the so-called War on Drugs has not made much headway in combatting a problem that was created by the government? The other side of this are those who become entrenched in the prison system; some being repeat offenders. Individuals who serve time in prison have it better than they do on the outside. Most receive slaps on the wrist and lenient sentences so that they can be turned back out into society sooner so the vicious cycle can be repeated. Those overseeing the prisons systems know this as do the criminals. It can be likened to restaurants turning customers at a fast pace to get them served and out the door. The more customers that are served, the more the wait-staff makes. The same can be said of the prison system. The longer criminals spend in prison, the more it ends up costing the states and private institutions. The only way to keep the profit-margin flowing is to keep turning criminals back out into society to break the law again. It is a revolving door that is never-ending, and one that has garnered private institutions millions.
- If Everyone Knew | Now with five more facts that everyone should know. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2016, from http://www.ifeveryoneknew.com/
