prison-industrial complex
Carceral capitalism system
The prison-industrial complex refers to the overlapping interests of government and private industry that some critics argue drive the expansion of incarceration in the United States.
The term suggests that corporations profiting from prison construction, management, and services—along with politicians and unions—have financial incentives to promote policies that increase imprisonment regardless of public safety benefits.
Critics blame the prison-industrial complex for mass incarceration.
The phrase echoes the older "military-industrial complex" to imply a similarly entrenched system.
- for profitSeeking monetary gain
- correctional institutionFacility housing convicted offenders
- convict leasingHiring out imprisoned people
- chain gangShackled convict work crew
- incarcerationConfinement in jail
detention · corrections · jail · warden · criminal justice · inmate · confinement · doing time · penitentiary · sentencing · prisonhouse · bail reform · custody · penal system · three strikes · forced labor · shackles · systemic oppression
prison-industrial complexrestorative justice
Conflict resolution through mutual healing
truth and reconciliation · rehabilitation · community justice · decarceration · abolitionism
prison-industrial complexcommunity investment
Resources supporting local areas
prison-industrial complexabolition movement
Campaign to end slavery
decarceration · civil liberties · freedom · open society · amnesty
prison, prisons, prisoner, prisoners, imprisoned, imprisoning, imprisonment, industrial, industrially