prison industry earns $50 billion yr. - goal is to earn more

[donsu]

http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main/article/1924/

Cashing in on Cons

Undercover at the American Correctional Association’s 2005 Winter Conference

-snip-

The 2005 winter conference in Phoenix—attended by an estimted 4,000—found the ACA still touting its principles: “Humanity, Justice, Protection, Opportunity, Knowledge, Competence and Accountability.” The organization stresses that it brings together individuals and groups “that share a common goal of improving the justice system.” But with the prison industry now bringing in annual revenue of $50 billion, the ACA seems most intent on “improving” profits.

-snip-

Keeping litigation costs down is only one way prison corporations profit from incarceration. In addition, for-profit prisons also increase revenues by contracting with other corporations to provide substandard or overpriced services to prisoners. In some states, companies like Microsoft pay prisons to employ prisoners at wages far below market rates.

Taking advantage of the unprecedented prison boom of the late ’80s and ’90s, prison administrators, politicians, lobbying firms and corporate boards created a prison-industrial complex in which everyone benefits except the prisoners.

-snip-

Noting that the prison population may have reached its apogee, ACA President Gwendolyn C. Chunn told members at the conference, “We’ll have a hard time holding on to what we have now.” But attendees seemed more than willing to try; everyone at the conference seemed to be riding high on the promise of growth, expansion and profits.
-snip-
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please read all of this as it names names and the money trail, plus what their workshops were about and the names of companies that prop up the prison business, like tasers - sickening.

they are talking about human beings here. they get paid by the head as do cattle.

why are they so sure their profits are going up? what do they know that we don't?

[amazona]

1. it is the return of slavery

I don't have the heart to read another story about the corporate prisons. I've been screaming about it for years. No one cares. It's always the other guy who is going to be sent up for something he didn't do or for smoking a harmless herb. All I know is...I've been accused of things I didn't do. I've seen people go to prison for crimes I knew for a fact they didn't commit. It's hopeless to change as long as there is profit to be made in creating slaves.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[tabasco]

2. You know you live in a police state ...

when the police and prisons exist for no other reason than to perpetuate themselves.

That's where we are, folks. We already live in a police state.

[Webster Green]

3. All part of the BushCo Inc. plan for the budget cuts....

Disenfranchise people to the extent that a lot more will wind up behind bars, or join the armed services.

More slave labor for the corporate correctional industries and more cannon fodder for BushCo's imperialist occupation forces.

[blm]

4. Bush Sr. got into the "prison" industry after he left office in 93.

It's a cash cow. That's why they want privatization of that industry, too. They still get tax dollars while running up profits.

[Telly Savalas]

5. Wouldn't it be cheaper for the damn state to run them?

operating costs < (operating costs+profit margin)

When it comes to the provision of public goods the market rarely adds any efficiency to trim costs, it simply cuts corners and provides lower quality goods and services.