Introduction
The United States is home to one of the largest prison populations in the world, and the driving force behind this staggering statistic isn’t just crime prevention—it’s profit. This profit comes at the expense of millions of incarcerated individuals, their families, and society at large. The prison industrial complex, a term used to describe the overlapping interests of government and industry that use imprisonment, policing, and surveillance as solutions to economic, social, and political problems, is a well-oiled machine that enriches corporations while exploiting vulnerable populations.
The Financial Engine of Mass Incarceration
Corporations and individuals who have a vested interest in maintaining the prison industrial complex are profiting from mass incarceration. The focus is not on rehabilitation or justice but on maintaining a system that benefits economically from keeping as many people incarcerated as possible. The roots of this system can be traced back to the 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which outlawed slavery “except as a punishment for crime,” effectively allowing the exploitation of prison labor.
According to the Prison Policy Initiative, the U.S. prison system generates roughly $80 billion a year in revenue, benefiting industries that provide everything from food services to telecommunications to private prison management.
Major Players in the Prison Industrial Complex
Several well-known corporations have profited immensely from the incarceration of millions of people in the United States:
- CoreCivic (formerly Corrections Corporation of America)
CoreCivic is one of the largest private prison companies in the United States, operating over 65 correctional facilities. It reported revenues of $1.98 billion in 2022. Their business model relies on government contracts that provide payment for every bed filled, incentivizing the company to maintain high incarceration rates. - GEO Group
Another major player in the private prison industry, GEO Group operates prisons, immigration detention centers, and mental health facilities worldwide. In 2022, the company brought in approximately $2.26 billion in revenue. Like CoreCivic, their profit model depends on maintaining high levels of incarceration. - Securus Technologies
Securus is a telecommunications company that provides phone services to incarcerated individuals. They charge exorbitant rates for phone calls, generating millions in profits. Reports from the Prison Policy Initiative found that prisoners and their families pay upwards of $1.4 billion in fees annually for communication services. - Aramark
Aramark provides food services to correctional facilities, often serving low-quality meals while cutting costs to maximize profits. The company’s revenue exceeded $16.3 billion in 2023, with a significant portion of their income generated from their contracts with prisons. - UNICOR (Federal Prison Industries)
UNICOR is a government corporation that uses prison labor to produce goods and services. The organization reported $528 million in revenue for 2022, much of which comes from paying incarcerated workers pennies on the dollar for their labor while selling their products at market rates.
“The U.S. prison system generates roughly $80 billion a year in revenue.” – Prison Policy Initiative
Benefiting from Slave Labor: The Role of Incarceration and Profit
The exploitation of incarcerated individuals is legalized by the 13th Amendment’s loophole, allowing prisoners to be used as virtual slave labor. Companies like UNICOR exploit this loophole to pay prisoners as little as $0.23 per hour for their labor, all while generating significant profits. Moreover, private prisons and detention centers operate under contracts that financially reward them for keeping as many people incarcerated as possible, leading to inhumane conditions and the prioritization of profit over rehabilitation.
Moreover, states have their own laws and policies that allow private companies to reap benefits from mass incarceration. In states like Texas, prisoners work on farms and produce goods for various companies for little or no compensation. In Arizona, where I personally experienced the oppressive nature of this system, laws were specifically designed to keep individuals like myself locked up longer than necessary.
Who’s Behind the Curtain?
While corporations rake in billions of dollars from the prison industrial complex, they often lobby to ensure that laws remain in place that will keep their profits flowing. Names like Charles Zwick, George Zoley, and Damon Hininger—CEOs of companies like GEO Group and CoreCivic—are deeply entrenched in the system. These individuals have a vested interest in maintaining mass incarceration, as it directly benefits their bottom lines.
Moreover, legislation like the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) and Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Laws exacerbate the issue by reducing inmates’ ability to seek redress for wrongs suffered in prison while keeping incarceration rates high. These laws disproportionately affect Black and Brown individuals, who already bear the brunt of mass incarceration, continuing the legacy of racial discrimination in the American criminal justice system.
“President Joe Biden was the Chairman of the Judiciary at the time, that spearheaded this process to pass this bill, Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) in 1995, signed by President Bill Clinton, that allowed such devastating damage to millions of families, specifically black and brown peoples.” – Ewing Redmond Samuels III
The Bottom Line: Injustice for Profit
The prison industrial complex is a national disgrace that prioritizes corporate profit over human dignity, justice, and rehabilitation. Corporations like CoreCivic, GEO Group, Aramark, Securus Technologies, and UNICOR exploit incarcerated individuals and their families while lobbying for policies that keep incarceration rates high. They benefit from laws like the 13th Amendment’s loophole and mandatory minimum sentencing, which disproportionately affect communities of color.
Evidence & Proof of Corruption
- In 2022, CoreCivic and GEO Group spent over $3 million on federal lobbying efforts to maintain and expand their private prison businesses .
- According to a 2021 report from the ACLU, companies like Securus Technologies charge as much as $24.95 for a 15-minute phone call, profiting from the emotional bonds of families .
- The Center for Responsive Politics reported that political action committees (PACs) tied to the private prison industry have donated millions to candidates and politicians who support harsh sentencing laws that keep incarceration rates high .
Conclusion: Time for Change
The evidence is clear: the prison industrial complex is a machine built for profit, and it must be dismantled. It is time to advocate for laws that prioritize rehabilitation, reentry, and restorative justice over profit and punishment. The U.S. must address the structural injustices that allow corporations to profit from mass incarceration and put an end to the exploitation of incarcerated individuals. History has given ample evidence from the Nazis and Nuremberg Trials that those involved in this kind of behavior are human rights abusers and are liable, responsible and ultimately to be held accountable in a Court of International Law, with immediate arrest warrants.
We must call for transparency, accountability, and reform in a system that continues to prey on vulnerable populations. If we are to create a just society, we must stop placing profits over people and start building a system rooted in fairness, humanity, and genuine rehabilitation.
Citations:
- Prison Policy Initiative: www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/money.html
- ACLU Report on Prison Communication Fees: www.aclu.org/communication-fees-report
- Center for Responsive Politics: www.opensecrets.org
This is a fight for human rights, and the time for change is now.
Until Next Time…
I Am,
Ewing Redmond Samuels III
