On September 4, 2003, President Bush signed the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (H.R. 1707), creating the first ever federal law to address rape behind bars. Appointing members to the new National Prison Rape Reduction Commission created by the law will be the first step in implementing the act. ...

The turbulent economy of the past decade has led many communities across America to foolishly seek prisons as a recession proof industry and rural welfare program for poor whites. But prisons can be a double edged sword, sometimes causing more problems than they solve. Private prisons can be especially duplicitous. ...