This is a compelling read that explores just one of many problems with our criminal justice system. I had listened to a podcast about a journalist who worked for the well-known magazine who went and applied for a job at a private prison located in Louisiana. They hired him; he was deep undercover and what he reported was enough to make your skin crawl. They only wanted a body to fill out a uniform, he had no experience and minimal training.
While this book touched on more in-depth issues of this multi-billion dollar industry it still left me unsettled. The private sector boasts that it has a lower recidivism rate, that's false. They are all about making money; they are less likely to offer any educational or vocational benefits to the prisoners who are locked up. There is no reform as far as they're concerned it's all about the numbers. These prisons are being run like a huge corporation and they are adamant about keeping the cost down. I was stunned when I read how they operate. There are normally about two guards armed with a whistle and pepper spray per 200 prisoners that range from low-level street crimes to murderers. Plus they are told that under no circumstances are they to get in the middle of a prisoner on prisoner battle they are to blow their whistles, give me a break! It's easy for these low paid guards to get sucked into making extra cash to turn a blind eye while someone is getting sexually assaulted to supplying illegal contraband to high ranking prisoners on their block, these guards are barely making minimum wage as it is. So when they are approached by certain prisoners, I have no doubt that they have a foreboding sense of fear plus the monetary incentive is too great to resist.
These huge corporations come into low-income out of the way places with the promise of jobs and growth that will put these little two-bit towns back on the map. It doesn’t normally work as promised. There were instances where they would come in and build these huge facilities that literally set vacant for years! What a waste of taxpayers money! Our new administration is really going to pander to these corporate giants because of the new immigration laws, they already have several located in south Texas that are full.
This seems like a no-brainer to me, loosen up on drug laws, take a firm hand to prosecution and judicial misconduct and start using this massive amount of money to work with our youth before it’s too late.

DISCLOSURE: I received a copy of this e-galley through NetGalley, in exchange for my honest opinion. The above opinion I’ve expressed above are my own. ( )