private prisons

Part 1 of 2 Join us for an enlightening conversation with Phil Wheatley, a veteran of 50 years in the prison system, and Laura Owen, a dedicated prison lawyer with 14 years of in-depth experience. Their expertise promises to provide you with a rare and comprehensive insight into the murky intricacies of the prison system. In our discussion, we zoom in on the frequent use of the 'being of good behaviour'  licence condition, a term that has become an easy tool for recalls and subsequently, a major contributor to the backlog of parole cases. 

Together, we unpack the policies that are fuelling a surge in our prison population.

As we continue to dissect the prison system, we draw attention to the growing pressure on probation services, a byproduct of the rise in the prisoner population. Phil and Laura explore the challenges of staff recruitment and retention and the arduous process of enforcing licence conditions. Our seasoned guests also touch on the importance of an effective engagement between probation officers and prisoners in reducing reoffending rates, highlighting the necessity for a comprehensive approach to rehabilitation.

Finally, we approach the contentious topic of privatization within the prison service. We dissect the government’s motivations behind this shift, and how it has fundamentally impacted the prison system. From the pursuit of cheaper prison running costs  to the impact of funding cuts on the roles of prison officers and rehabilitation opportunities, we leave no stone unturned.

In conclusion, Phil and Laura weigh in on the effects of privatization in the prison system, the challenges that have arisen and the far-reaching implications for access to justice, parole, and rehabilitation. Tune in for an impassioned discussion on the state and future of our prison system.

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Nearly 2 million people are locked in US jails and prisons on any given day. That's a 500% increase in during the last 40 years. Mass incarceration fueled a move toward private prisons-for-profit as states ran out of space to house incarcerated people and money to build new prisons. Our contemporary system of private prisons -for-profit began in the 1980s. Today, private prisons make billions of dollars every year housing, feeding and overseeing incarcerated people who the state pays them to lock up. But making money off incarcerated bodies isn't a new idea. It's actually older than the United States. 

For a great genealogical take on the contemporary prison system, check out Shane Bauer's book American Prison: A Reporter's Undercover Journey into the Business of Punishment.

For more on the drug war, prison profits and CCA (CoreCivic), see Discourses of Deception: (Re)Examining America's War on Drugs. 

“To all the hustlers, bastards, strugglers, and hoodlum childs who are chasing their dreams.” 

On this episode of Remainders, Darren and Patrick discuss the book American Prison by Shane Bauer. Bauer is an investigative journalist who posed as a correctional officer in a private prison in Louisiana to expose the deplorable conditions for both inmates and officers. The purpose was to uncover the inner workings one of America’s most controversial topics--prisons that work for profit, which many people consider to operate as modern day slavery. 

Bauer himself suffered through imprisonment for over two years while reporting in Iran. But in American Prison, he tries to understand what happens when there’s a clear economic incentive to locking people up. Or more explicitly, who is getting rich by keeping people in prison?

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Kevin Ott was arrested with 3.5 ounces of methamphetamine in 1996. That's the weight of a bar of soap. His sentence was life without the possibility of parole.

Kevin was pardoned by the governor in 2019, 7 years after a documentary called The House I Live in highlighted his story from prison. Last week I sat down to ask him about his transition to the free world, his time inside, and what could have been different. 

Josh talks with Bianca Tylek and Michael Crowley about prison privatization and private prisons

I forgot to mention that Decarceration Nation was mentioned in the online publication Bustle this week. Thanks to Taylor Maples for including us on the list of "7 Criminal Justice Podcasts to Listen to."

If you are a long-time fan of Orange Is the New Black, the guide to all of my recaps covers every season to date.

If you are just starting to watch Orange Is the New Black, the first recap covers the first episode of Season 6 from the perspective of formerly incarcerated folks.

Bianca Tylek is the Director of the Corrections Accountability Project.

Michael Crowley worked at the Office of Management budget under both the Bush and Obama Administrations, he currently works at the Brennan Center for Justice.

He was written recent articles on funding priorities for criminal justice reform and about model state movements towards criminal justice reform.

I asked the most renowned expert in prison abolition that I know the question, "if you could only suggest one book people should read if they wanted to learn more about abolition, what would you suggest?" She quickly responded, "Are Prisons Obsolete by Angela Y Davis."

I have also recently written a breakdown of my own experiences in Solitary Confinement.

Private Prisons are seeing incredible growth in immigration enforcement contracts.

Private Prisons are often shielded from FOIA requests.

Privatization of public prisons should be an equally large concern as Bianca's research at the Correction Accountability Project has proven.

The University of Pennsylvania produced a pretty good study summarizing the problems with medical contracts in prisons.

Securus has moved to acquire ICS which will create a near duopoly on telephone communication in the correctional market.

New York City just made many phone calls in jail free.

Many of the companies who operate in the private prison and prison privatization space are buying up community correction and reentry services to take advantage of the movement towards criminal justice reform.

Carl Takei's article addresses the move by private companies into mass supervision and surveillance.

Obviously, I disagree with Michael on the First Step Act but I do agree that one of the risks of the legislation is that it widens the net of supervision and surveillance.

Meek Mill is a textbook case in how expanded surveillance and supervision can be dangerous.

I have covered the evidence behind the question of violence many times, here on the podcast, on Medium, on Medium again, and on Daily Kos.

The breakdowns of prison costs were broken down in a Vera Institute of Justice study "The Price of Prisons."