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Inside Private Prisons: An American Dilemma in the Age of Mass Incarceration
When the tough-on-crime politics of the 1980s overcrowded state prisons, private companies saw potential profit in building and operating correctional facilities. Today more than a hundred thousand of the 1.5 million incarcerated Americans are held in private prisons in twenty-nine states and federal corrections. Private prisons are criticized for making money off mass incarceration―to the tune of $5 billion in annual revenue. Based on Lauren-Brooke Eisen’s work as a prosecutor, journalist, and attorney at policy think tanks, Inside Private Prisons blends investigative reportage and quantitative and historical research to analyze privatized corrections in America.
From divestment campaigns to boardrooms to private immigration-detention centers across the Southwest, Eisen examines private prisons through the eyes of inmates, their families, correctional staff, policymakers, activists, Immigration and Customs Enforcement employees, undocumented immigrants, and the executives of America’s largest private prison corporations. Private prisons have become ground zero in the anti-mass-incarceration movement. Universities have divested from these companies, political candidates hesitate to accept their campaign donations, and the Department of Justice tried to phase out its contracts with them. On the other side, impoverished rural towns often try to lure the for-profit prison industry to build facilities and create new jobs. Neither an endorsement or a demonization, Inside Private Prisons details the complicated and perverse incentives rooted in the industry, from mandatory bed occupancy to vested interests in mass incarceration. If private prisons are here to stay, how can we fix them? This book is a blueprint for policymakers to reform practices and for concerned citizens to understand our changing carceral landscape.
From divestment campaigns to boardrooms to private immigration-detention centers across the Southwest, Eisen examines private prisons through the eyes of inmates, their families, correctional staff, policymakers, activists, Immigration and Customs Enforcement employees, undocumented immigrants, and the executives of America’s largest private prison corporations. Private prisons have become ground zero in the anti-mass-incarceration movement. Universities have divested from these companies, political candidates hesitate to accept their campaign donations, and the Department of Justice tried to phase out its contracts with them. On the other side, impoverished rural towns often try to lure the for-profit prison industry to build facilities and create new jobs. Neither an endorsement or a demonization, Inside Private Prisons details the complicated and perverse incentives rooted in the industry, from mandatory bed occupancy to vested interests in mass incarceration. If private prisons are here to stay, how can we fix them? This book is a blueprint for policymakers to reform practices and for concerned citizens to understand our changing carceral landscape.
336 pages, Hardcover
Published November 7, 2017
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607 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 15, 2020
I'm not sure this needed to be a whole book honestly. Like the book says, private prisons are the minority of prisons and I'm not sure they deserve such disproportionate amounts of attention (I don't mean the attention towards them from this book but rather in a larger general sense). I personally am sympathetic to the moral arguments against private prisons outlined through out the book, especially about the prison's profit motives that are tied with keeping incarceration rates high. I do think for those people who like hearing both sides of the argument this book will provide that. I personally think at this point I have my own set opinions about prison and incarceration, built from knowing a lot already about the things in this book, and so I didn't get much out of this. This probably would be a better read for someone trying to learn more about private prisons and the dynamics/politics around them.
January 24, 2018
This is a compelling read that explores just one of many problems with our criminal justice system. I had listened to a podcast about a journalist who worked for the well-known magazine who went and applied for a job at a private prison located in Louisiana. They hired him; he was deep undercover and what he reported was enough to make your skin crawl. They only wanted a body to fill out a uniform, he had no experience and minimal training.
While this book touched on more in-depth issues of this multi-billion dollar industry it still left me unsettled. The private sector boasts that it has a lower recidivism rate, that's false. They are all about making money; they are less likely to offer any educational or vocational benefits to the prisoners who are locked up. There is no reform as far as they're concerned it's all about the numbers. These prisons are being run like a huge corporation and they are adamant about keeping the cost down. I was stunned when I read how they operate. There are normally about two guards armed with a whistle and pepper spray per 200 prisoners that range from low-level street crimes to murderers. Plus they are told that under no circumstances are they to get in the middle of a prisoner on prisoner battle they are to blow their whistles, give me a break! It's easy for these low paid guards to get sucked into making extra cash to turn a blind eye while someone is getting sexually assaulted to supplying illegal contraband to high ranking prisoners on their block, these guards are barely making minimum wage as it is. So when they are approached by certain prisoners, I have no doubt that they have a foreboding sense of fear plus the monetary incentive is too great to resist.
These huge corporations come into low-income out of the way places with the promise of jobs and growth that will put these little two bit towns back on the map. It doesn’t normally work as promised. There were instances where they would come in and build these these huge facilities that literally set vacant for years! What a waste of tax payers money! Our new administration is really going to pander to these corporate giants because of the new immigration laws, they already have several located in south Texas that are full.
This seems like a no-brainer to me, loosen up on drug laws, take a firm hand to prosecution and judicial misconduct and start using this massive amount of money to work with our youth before it’s too late.
DISCLOSURE: I received a copy of this e-galley through NetGalley, in exchange for my honest opinion. The above opinion I’ve expressed above our my own.
While this book touched on more in-depth issues of this multi-billion dollar industry it still left me unsettled. The private sector boasts that it has a lower recidivism rate, that's false. They are all about making money; they are less likely to offer any educational or vocational benefits to the prisoners who are locked up. There is no reform as far as they're concerned it's all about the numbers. These prisons are being run like a huge corporation and they are adamant about keeping the cost down. I was stunned when I read how they operate. There are normally about two guards armed with a whistle and pepper spray per 200 prisoners that range from low-level street crimes to murderers. Plus they are told that under no circumstances are they to get in the middle of a prisoner on prisoner battle they are to blow their whistles, give me a break! It's easy for these low paid guards to get sucked into making extra cash to turn a blind eye while someone is getting sexually assaulted to supplying illegal contraband to high ranking prisoners on their block, these guards are barely making minimum wage as it is. So when they are approached by certain prisoners, I have no doubt that they have a foreboding sense of fear plus the monetary incentive is too great to resist.
These huge corporations come into low-income out of the way places with the promise of jobs and growth that will put these little two bit towns back on the map. It doesn’t normally work as promised. There were instances where they would come in and build these these huge facilities that literally set vacant for years! What a waste of tax payers money! Our new administration is really going to pander to these corporate giants because of the new immigration laws, they already have several located in south Texas that are full.
This seems like a no-brainer to me, loosen up on drug laws, take a firm hand to prosecution and judicial misconduct and start using this massive amount of money to work with our youth before it’s too late.
DISCLOSURE: I received a copy of this e-galley through NetGalley, in exchange for my honest opinion. The above opinion I’ve expressed above our my own.
November 16, 2017
3.5 out of 5 stars: This book was well-researched almost to a fault - just bursting at the seams with information. On the one hand, I want to casually recommend this to anyone with zero background knowledge of the United States prison system (like me!) because it such a strong collection of data and eye-opening realities. But if I'm completely honest it was a bit of a struggle for me to get through, probably better suited as a required reading text in a college course.
First and foremost, Inside Private Prisons is an investigation of the benefits and downsides of privatizing the American prison system. But of course, everything is more complicated than it seems. A journey through the history of privatization goes on to explore our sordid past (and present) of prisoners as commodities, how activists use prison divestment as a tool, and the extent to which immigrant detention centers fit into the prison industrial complex. Overarching the span of the book, readers are encouraged to reflect on the nature of the carceral state: how did we get to this age of mass incarceration? How will our current political landscape shape the future?
First and foremost, Inside Private Prisons is an investigation of the benefits and downsides of privatizing the American prison system. But of course, everything is more complicated than it seems. A journey through the history of privatization goes on to explore our sordid past (and present) of prisoners as commodities, how activists use prison divestment as a tool, and the extent to which immigrant detention centers fit into the prison industrial complex. Overarching the span of the book, readers are encouraged to reflect on the nature of the carceral state: how did we get to this age of mass incarceration? How will our current political landscape shape the future?
November 2, 2017
3.5 stars. Eisen has done a tremendous amount of research into the whole American penal corrections system. She is incredibly even-handed in her approach which is rare when authors are tackling such a controversial topic. It would be easy for this to become a preacher for her cause but she sees both sides and presents them well.
There is a lot of data in here, but for the most part it is interestingly presented. I most enjoyed the investigative reporting - as she visits these places and meets those involved first-hand, especially in the private prisons and immigration detention centres. Private prisons seem like a self-serving cycle that is deeply damaging American society, and in particular minorities who are incarcerated at a deeply disturbing rate.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.
There is a lot of data in here, but for the most part it is interestingly presented. I most enjoyed the investigative reporting - as she visits these places and meets those involved first-hand, especially in the private prisons and immigration detention centres. Private prisons seem like a self-serving cycle that is deeply damaging American society, and in particular minorities who are incarcerated at a deeply disturbing rate.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.
November 1, 2017
*I received this book on NetGalley in return for an honest review*
I have always been fascinated by prisons, cycles of incarceration, and how the prison system works and this book was super fascinating to me. I learned a lot about private prisons and how they affect politics, prisoners, and every facet of society. While there were a lot of facts and data in this book they were explained well and told in such a way that it wasn't boring to read. I learned a lot through reading this book and thought a lot about what I was reading.
I have always been fascinated by prisons, cycles of incarceration, and how the prison system works and this book was super fascinating to me. I learned a lot about private prisons and how they affect politics, prisoners, and every facet of society. While there were a lot of facts and data in this book they were explained well and told in such a way that it wasn't boring to read. I learned a lot through reading this book and thought a lot about what I was reading.
August 5, 2022
Eisen does a deep dive into the business of private prisons. Despite her mostly objective look at the industry which attempts to examine both pros and cons, one is left with the feeling that this is a fundamentally unethical business that can't escape its conflicts of interest. There simply is no justification for private prisons that can deal with the fact that these corporations are financially incentivized to keep more people in prison for longer and to encourage policy that incarcerates people in increasing numbers. As such, it is a uniquely unethical and morally corrupt business.
April 11, 2018
Just finished Inside Private Prisons by Lauren-Brooke Eisen . What I found most surprising in the book was the absence of outrage or drama. The author, I am certain, is not beholden to the incarceration for profit industry, nor is she an advocate of the practice. She is clear about her position with regard to the moral hazards of the practice & her coverage of the anti-incarceration movement is entirely sympathetic. But what surprises is her reporting on studies which seek to compare private vs public prisons. She finds an absence of definitive studies demonstrating significant differences in either treatment of prisoners & detainees or differences in costs to the public in providing such services. In other words, we cannot conclude that private prisons deliver violations or abuses against prisoners' civil rights nor that they provide value to taxpayers or government. What we do find is that prisons - especially private prisons which can be built in hopes of attracting business - are popular with small communities on the decline & lacking employment opportunities. Jobs are in demand & the criminal justice system is thought to be fertile ground for the provision of jobs.
This is a sad state of affairs. It seems that we are told that we cannot dismantle the prison-industrial complex because it would cause unemployment & would be unpopular with voters just as we cannot dismantle the military-industrial complex because it would cause unemployment & be unpopular with voters & we cannot dismantle the health care-industrial complex in favor of single payer heath care provision because that would cause unemployment (of insurance company personnel) & would be unpopular with voters. What to do?
What we must obviously do, is to plan for a time when a large proportion of our citizens are not gainfully employed. Distribution of wealth is critical!
This is a sad state of affairs. It seems that we are told that we cannot dismantle the prison-industrial complex because it would cause unemployment & would be unpopular with voters just as we cannot dismantle the military-industrial complex because it would cause unemployment & be unpopular with voters & we cannot dismantle the health care-industrial complex in favor of single payer heath care provision because that would cause unemployment (of insurance company personnel) & would be unpopular with voters. What to do?
What we must obviously do, is to plan for a time when a large proportion of our citizens are not gainfully employed. Distribution of wealth is critical!
December 3, 2021
This book is written in a first-person perspective of an investigative journalist seeking to understand differences between private prisons and state-run prisons in America. The author begins with a tour through a Colorado private prison. Although the book leans toward the political view that private prisons are problematic due to the systematic profit incentive, it did not feel unnecessarily slanted and I quite enjoyed reading both sides of the controversial debate and what her real-world journalism and experience brought to the discussion.
January 12, 2018
Very in-depth study on the prison system. At times, it seemed to in-depth. I enjoyed the interaction with the interaction the author provided, but it was a lot of information to digest. It is presented well I did learn a lot and I felt the author gave one enough information to form their own opinion on private prisons: Good or Bad? Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review.
August 29, 2022
This was an insanely boring study of the private prison industry. For all of the stats provided, the only conclusion that can be drawn is that money is made from inmate incarceration. And that much has been known for decades. This reads like someone's high school research paper. And that would have received a C-.
February 5, 2020
Read for my English paper. This thing is chalk full of facts and nifty graphs. It goes full circle on the private prison debate without being one sided on the issue. It may have a bit too much information.
August 28, 2017
a too all over the place read.
April 30, 2018
Eye opening!
September 10, 2018
I
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2024
Read this book to understand private actors in the prison system and yeah, awful as expected.
March 17, 2025
So clear-eyed and truly investigative on a controversial topic.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews