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America's Private Gulag
What is the most profitable industry in America? Weapons, oil and computer technology all offer high rates of return, but there is probably no sector of the economy so abloom with money as the privately-run prison industry.
Consider the growth of the Corrections Corporation of America, the industry leader whose …
Consider the growth of the Corrections Corporation of America, the industry leader whose …
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More from this issue:
- America's Private Gulag, by Ken Silverstein
- Speedy Death Penalty Provisions Enjoined in California
- Strange Bedfellows; CCA's Political Connections, by Alex Friedmann
- Texas Sheriff Exploits Prisoner Labor
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- Grievance Retaliation Unconstitutional
- Qualified Immunity for Strip Search
- PLRA Not Enough for Fourth Circuit
- Sixth Circuit Issues PLRA IFP Order
- Fifth Circuit Holds that PLRA Requires Fees in All Pending Cases
- Ninth Circuit: PLRA Doesn't Apply to Habeas
- Massachusetts Court Avoids Ruling on Consent Decree Termination
- Pro Se Tips and Tactics (Declaratory Relief), by John Midgley
- Federal Parolees Kicked off Internet
- Texas Prison Building Corruption, Problems and Dangers
- A Matter of Fact
- Jury Verdict in Prisoner Attack Affirmed
- On the Edge of Midnight, by Mr Wolf
- CDC Consent Decree Contempt Vacated
- California Prisoner Wins Judgment Against Guard in Shooting
- PLN Readers Dissatisfied with Freedom Press
- California Slave Labor Loses Money
- Denial of Eyeglasses Violates Eighth Amendment
- Swastika Carved on CDC Prison Guard Rifle
- Illinois Jail Conditions Suit States Claim
- FTCA Suit Not Barred by Prior Bivens Claim
- Trial Required on ADA EFV Claim
- California Prisoners Entitled to Contact Attorney Visits
- No Frivolousness Review Allowed When Filing Fee Paid
- Book Review - Privatization and the Provision of Correctional Services: Context and Consequences
- Iowa Retaliation Verdict Affirmed
- Pro Se Litigant Entitled to Defendant's Identity
- Relation Back Period Suspended during IFP Application
- 'Scared Straight' Youths Molested in Texas Prison
- Prison NA Meetings Violate Establishment Clause
- BOP Owes Duty of Care to Prisoners
- TB Isolation May Violate RFRA
- News in Brief
- Habeas Petition Not Mooted by Segregation Release
- BOP Can't Set Restitution
- Wisconsin RFRA Jewelry Ruling Affirmed
- Mississippi Detainees Awarded Damages in Disciplinary Suit
- Prisoners' Spouses Challenge Washington 35% Law
- Massachusetts Prisoners Awarded Back Pay
- $7,500 Awarded in Guard Beating
More from Ken Silverstein:
- “Progressive” Seattle Mayoral Candidate Exposed as Shill for the Private Prison Industry, July 1, 2021
- Interview: Jodie Sinclair on Her New Book, “Love Behind Bars”, Sept. 1, 2020
- Interview: Corene Kendrick on How the Prison Litigation Reform Act Strips Prisoners of Legal Rights, Sept. 1, 2020
- Prison Postcards: “I feel as though I was either in a car accident or beaten by a baseball bat.”, Aug. 1, 2020
- Interview: Jessica Sandoval of Unlock the Box on Solitary Confinement, Aug. 1, 2020
- Prison Postcards: A Plea from Kentucky and Dispatches from Texas and Massachusetts, July 1, 2020
- Interview: Alec Karakatsanis of the Civil Rights Corps on Money Bail and Debtors’ Prisons, July 1, 2020
- Prison Postcards: Official Accounts Differ from Prisoner Accounts as the Pandemic Spreads, June 1, 2020
- Interview: David Fathi of ACLU’s National Prison Project on Criminal Justice Reform in the Age of Coronavirus, June 1, 2020
- Interview: Don Specter of the Prison Law Office on California Prisons, COVID-19 and Governor Newsom, June 1, 2020
More from these topics:
- Cuyahoga County Receives Over $846,000 Refund from Securus Technologies, Feb. 1, 2026. Contractor Misconduct, Jail Misconduct, Corrections Audits, Securus.
- Missouri Prisoners Forced to Shovel Snow in Subzero Temperatures, Feb. 1, 2026. Retaliatory Segregation, Prison Labor, Work Conditions/Safety, Exposure to Cold, Administrative Detention/Segregation.
- Labor Coalition in Minnesota Demands Disney Contractor Pay Prisoners Minimum Wage, Jan. 1, 2026. Prison Industries, Prison Labor, Advocacy, Contractor Liability, jobs.
- Wisconsin DOC Is Not Tracking Work Release Data, Jan. 1, 2026. Work Release, Prison Labor, Statistics/Trends, Fair Labor Standards Act.
- How I Learned to Transcribe Braille in Prison, Jan. 1, 2026. Prison Labor, Education, Rehabilitation/Recidivism, jobs.
- Mass Surveillance for Profit: Flock’s AI Reports “Suspicious” Movement to Police, Dec. 15, 2025. Contractor Misconduct, Government Misconduct, Protests, Police State-Surveillance, Electronic Surveillance.
- Huge $27.75 Million Verdict for Montana Prisoner Nearly “Beaten to Death” at CoreCivic Lockup, Dec. 1, 2025. Corrections Corporation of America/CoreCivic, Failure to Protect (General), Damages - Compensatory, Judgment as a Matter of Law, Deliberate Indifference.
- Hyundai and Kia Sued in California for Use of Prison Labor in Southern States, Dec. 1, 2025. Work Release, Prison Labor, Work Conditions/Safety, Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
- Mississippi Legislator Blasts VitalCore, DOC for Shoddy Prison Healthcare, Dec. 1, 2025. Contractor Misconduct, DOC/BOP misconduct, Systemic Medical Neglect, Private Contractors, Hepatitis.
- Tennessee Seeks $13 Million Raise for CoreCivic, Despite Violations, Dec. 1, 2025. Corrections Corporation of America/CoreCivic, Contractor Misconduct, Lobbying, Staffing, DOJ CRIPA Actions.

