Blow writes: "...the state's largely private prison system profits from high incarceration rates and tough sentencing, and how many with the power to curtail the system actually have a financial incentive to perpetuate it."

(illustration: Raw Story)

Plantations, Prisons and Profits

By Charles M. Blow, The New York Times

26 May 12

"Louisiana is the world's prison capital. The state imprisons more of its people, per head, than any of its US counterparts. First among Americans means first in the world. Louisiana's incarceration rate is nearly triple Iran's, seven times China's and 10 times Germany's."

That paragraph opens a devastating eight-part series published this month by The Times-Picayune of New Orleans about how the state's largely private prison system profits from high incarceration rates and tough sentencing, and how many with the power to curtail the system actually have a financial incentive to perpetuate it.

The picture that emerges is one of convicts as chattel and a legal system essentially based on human commodification.

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+59 # Reductio Ad Absurdum 2012-05-26 08:23

The last time I looked, Louisiana was in the United States, so this is a de facto American gulag system and an American shame foisted on our "freedom-loving " country by the crypto-fascist conservatives who are wrecking havoc on our democracy..

+8 # doneasley 2012-05-28 15:04

While you're checking out LA, it would be well to cast an eye toward AZ and it's for-profit prison system. As devastating cuts are continuing in the areas of health care and K-12 education and in the wake of AZ's new "papers please" law, that state is poised to award multi-million dollar contracts to these private prison corporations. And, wouldn't you know it, Governor Jan Brewer's name pops up again along with some members of her staff and legislature in the wake of an investigation into private prisons and the anticipated incarceration of immigrants.

Conservatives are attacking on all fronts. And if Romney is elected ....

+5 # mdhome 2012-05-28 17:22

First they came for the "illegals", then they came for the "questionable, then they came for????you?

+44 # tomtom 2012-05-26 08:53

Talk about Sado-Masochism, the way we treat each other and ourselves astounds. I see the national elections as the greatest effort at dividing the American people. It has to be it's solé purpose, because no matter which party wins, the corporate financers always end up as the real winners. Am I wrong, or is religióus doctrine the biggest promotor and perpetrator of societal guilt and punishment? Get God out of the justice Department, we need a little more sensitivity, understading and forgiveness. Sorry, get profit out of the world of jurisprudence. Trust me, they're arresting "them", now, but, you're in line.

+20 # Glen 2012-05-26 09:12

Much found in religious teachings, tomtom, as you say, include casting guilt and advising punishment. Perfect excuse for old testament policies, the those dominant in the U.S. appear to prefer.

+41 # noitall 2012-05-26 09:28

Like a historic groundhog day isn't it? Man, over the ages, has used the bible to justify living opposit the teachings of his God. Ironic. Those who claim to be the most Religious, god-fearing, are the most blood-thirsty, greedy, selfish, uncaring, racist, assholes among us. Go figure. totally ironic that the "god fearing" are all that stands between today's status quo and world peace.

+12 # karlad 2012-05-26 15:00

I completely agree!!! Those that preach how God wants you to be only want YOU to be that way.

+1 # annualoath 2012-05-29 18:07

tomtom,
i'm in agreement with you and all who've replied to you. all of you have said what i'm going to say in another way.

allow me to be real.

as an african male born in this country and a descendant of slaves, i know that christianity is a manufactured religion, just as all religions are, and is one of many tools used by the 1% to manipulate the masses and especially africans. the prison system is another of their tools, and they work together hand in hand to maintain the status quo. the religion hypnotizes, the prison system stigmatizes, disenfranchizes , and marginalizes africans and others of color in a most devastating and complete way. and in the process if some with white skin get caught up in the net, then you know they just call it "collateral damage". it's the price of doing business.

the bottom line is that it's "white supremecist racism in action from one generation to the next, and it never stops like a well oiled machine. it's ongoing. cut and dry.

ultimately, getting rid of as many of us as possible is their goal. black, brown, and white. not having to spend their money to feed, cloth, house, educate us, etc., is what drives them. but, especially those of us who are black and brown. certainly, there are those of you who will disagree with me, but i am not naive about this.

thanks !

0 # X Dane 2012-06-04 22:23

annualoath. Unfortunately I agree with you. I wish it wasn't so. I do hope you understand that not all white people hate, for lack of a better term,..non whites. We have to live together in peace.

I totally agree with the religious aspect of your comment.
Which is why I do not want to have anything to do with religion. I have faith but no religion for me.

+43 # free.radical 2012-05-26 09:04

Our prison system is totally out of control. For most convicts, especially the nonviolent ones, the goal ought to be rehabilitation and a return to the community with skills that will let them lead productive lives. We have completely lost track of this and are now using prisons for private profit and ignoring the interests of the convicts and the society to which they will return.

+14 # Glen 2012-05-26 10:48

While reading your post, free.radical, I was reminded of the movies Escape from New York and Escape from L.A. Rehab and re-introduction into society quite possibly is not the goal of any prison system being built and will be eliminated entirely as U.S. population increases. Will be interesting to see how that works. OK, maybe not interesting. How about alarming.

+42 # Glen 2012-05-26 09:10

"Slavery by Another Name". Not only did prisons lease out inmates to plantations they also put them in factories. This after arresting them for as little as loitering, which was actually an individual waiting for a friend.

As more states cave into the monetary offerings of these corporations, especially in light of so many financial issues, as tomtom above states, "you're in line". When folks are arrested for traffic violations to end up in prisons for 10 years, perhaps the local populace will wake up. Don't be surprised if we, too, end up on the plantation.

+14 # karlad 2012-05-26 15:03

Prisoners are already doing quite a bit of work for businesses while spending their time in prison. The next time you book a flight or vacation ask the person booking where they are located or what are "in" for?

+1 # mdhome 2012-05-28 17:24

When we say stop we mean STOP, you WILL not go thru a stop sign!

+27 # JohnnyK 2012-05-26 09:21

Another good reason to stay away from Louisiana.

+27 # Glen 2012-05-26 10:42

It's "coming to a Gulag near you". It isn't just Louisiana.

+39 # fishmother 2012-05-26 09:29

Sadly there is nothing surprising about this. The private prison system for the most part seems to have chosen greed as an operating modus while casting aside any principles that even smack of sound psychological & humanitarian principles, so they don't bother much with rehabilitation. There's no real profit in that!

+1 # mdhome 2012-05-28 17:55

Yep, they WANT inmates to keep coming back.

+26 # Peace Anonymous 2012-05-26 09:56

What kind of a world are we living in? Can you imagine a business whose profits are based on how many people are incarcerated? Do you not think it is time to get business out of government and put it back with the people where it belongs. By the people, for the people.

+2 # mdhome 2012-05-28 17:56

I used to think China put many into prison for the slave labor, but looks like they enemy is our system, not theirs.

+19 # suzyskier 2012-05-26 10:07

Now another state I will never visit.(Arizona) Are these prisons any better than the gulags or concentration camps? We have not gone so far from the Middle Ages as one would hope. Private prisons? How can these people live with themselves?

+19 # Phlippinout 2012-05-26 12:32

I live in Arizona and support the boycott of everything here. When the economy is a bit better I can get out of this crazy stupid ass state. It is right there with the rest of the backwards south. Who needs education when you have a gun? Theres a guy running for office in Tucson and his commercial was "come down and shoot an m16 with Jesse Kelly" Unbelievable!

0 # X Dane 2012-06-04 22:31

Very well suzyskier, with CHEEP labor.
These for profit prisons need to be shut down.
They are a disgrace. There are always people who will exploit a system like that.

+26 # spanky 2012-05-26 10:12

Most of these nonviolent prisoners are incarcerated for substance related offences. It makes so much more sense to treat these people for their addictions and take steps toward restoring them to be productive citizens than it does to lock them up and use them as slave labor. What more, it is a lot cheaper.
But if we were to do that, the crooked politicians who run the system would lose a profit center.
And they sell this travesty to a gullible and frightened populace with more fear.
What a mess!

+21 # Bob P 2012-05-26 10:26

We are just beginning to keep track of the number of innocents who have been proven to be wrongfully convicted, so we havo little historical data. But I wonder if prison economics is increasing that number also.

+15 # Dave_s Not Here 2012-05-26 11:37

What about the mentality of the thugs who take jobs in those places? How can they possibly live with themselves? No amount of money could get me to systematically humiliate, degrade and abuse my fellow human beings that way.

0 # X Dane 2012-06-04 22:38

Good for you Dave. Unfortunately the times are desperate, so some people will take jobs, they would not want under better circumstances;

+16 # railroadmike 2012-05-26 12:30

In reality the war on drugs has been a farce from the beginning. Double speak. Take a close look when the drug problem began to hit the Afriacan Americans. After the voters rights and civil rights laws was passed. What better way to take over a country without firing a shot and take your freedoms when the the citizens are impaired .

+16 # cordleycoit 2012-05-26 13:02

Colorado's private prisons are shocking. The are fraught with uprisings or mutinies by their tortured inmates and the public is isolated from the reality of the system. If one speaks out one goes on a no visit list. Wardens are all powerful screws are easily corrupted and the courts don't care. Millions of Americans are held and brutalized and they are building more bigger detention centers for the automatically guilty.

+9 # James Marcus 2012-05-26 13:19

The Worst kind of Blood Suckers, feed on their own children; or, preferably, their neighbors'. (less messy)
The Worker Bees, Automatons, who People the Staff of these institutions, are a sub-human Flock, bred and trained for just this purpose. They Know nothing; Feel nothing; Perfect for the position. (Have Tool; Will Torture)
Sickness beyond belief! (Right here in 'America'!)

+13 # nsilva2270 2012-05-26 13:44

it only makes sense...if the state's prison system is privatized, they need bodies to make money...the more the merrier...more states are looking at this option...and people will start being arrested and prosecuted for minor, petty, victimless crimes and given disproportionat e sentences...

+11 # Mrcead 2012-05-26 15:09

They do that now with pot possession. More people in jail over pot possession than for violent crimes.

+1 # mdhome 2012-05-28 17:28

They need look no further to see why the states are having a fiscal crisis.

+5 # peterjkraus 2012-05-26 19:19

Monday is Memorial Day. Might be a good time to fact check ourselves. Land of the Free? Home of the Brave? Best Country in the World? Seven times China's incarceration rate? Cell blocks as profit centers? Habeas corpus only for select prisoners?

Might be a good time to listen to ourselves spouting bullshit propaganda. And then acting on it.

+4 # Granny Weatherwax 2012-05-27 14:54

The US:
5% of world population
25% of world prison population.

And the islamo-terroris to-chino-foreig ners hate us because of our freedom?

+2 # mdhome 2012-05-28 17:29

I suspect the worst is yet to come, money makes it very likely.

+2 # moby doug 2012-06-01 05:40

These monstrous prison-for-prof it, education-for-p rofit, medicine-for-pr ofit, war-for-profit systems are the flip side of Norville Norquist's "no more tax hikes (for the rich)" legislative pledges. That is, the GOP legislators refuse to fund needed government services and then turn them over to their owners, corporate cronies, who make cash cows of the organizations. Thus are the legal system, the educational system, the military, and healthcare privatized, profitized, trashed and corrupted and made to serve the personal profit of the wealthy in America.

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