One of the more successful businesses in the US, the private prison system is alive and well. This is due in no small part to the close relationship between the government and this private industry group. First let’s start with an image of how many countries in the world have a higher incarceration rate than the “Land of the Free”:
That’s right. The US is the world’s leader in incarceration. The next closest incarceration rate to any country that is not an island nation is Rwanda.
In another measurable in the incarceration world, the US is the only country in the world that incarcerates children for life. You can find an image of all the countries that condemn children to die in prison here.
In order to further the success of this business, below is a graphic of the location of prisons where state governments are committed to finding enough offenders to fill 90% of the available beds:
And in California, the state is working toward not releasing nonviolent drug offenders despite a federal court order. Instead, they are discussing a new alignment between the state’s prison guard union and the private prison corporations that would expand the current incarceration levels.
Also of note, although blacks in the US only make up 30% of the population, they make up 60% of the prison population. A graph of the African-American population in the US has a relationship to the incarceration map above.
This sure looks like a strange form of capitalism, where business failure is not an option. You can find out more about how to invest in this growing business at CCA’s investor page.
Eye on the Ball 