The Prison Industrial Complex Within The U.s. Essay

Understandings and Outcomes of the Prison Industrial Complex within the U.S. Following the privatisation of the prison industry in the 1970’s, the prison population of the U.S. has increased by an estimated 500%. Despite this, statistics suggests that overall reported crime rates have remained relatively stable. (Fortner, 2013). A question is raised then, as to why incarceration rates would be on the rise despite little change in crime. This essay will attempt to answer this question and to make sense of the Prison Industrial Complex. It will also argue that the privatisation of the prison industry has resulted in the exploitation of incercerated offenders in order to increase capital. This will be achieved through a discussion of the background events which led to the emergence of the complex, followed by a description of the phenomenon itself. Following this, the intended and resulted outcomes of the Prison Industrial Complex will be analysed in order to aid in understanding the complex. Ultimately, this will lead to the conclusion that the Prison I ndustrial Complex can be understood through the devastating outcomes on the North American Society, with the needs to increase profits outweighing the need to rehabilitate offenders. Firstly, the rise of the Prison Industrial Complex can be closely linked to the election of Barry Goldwater as senator of Arizona in the 1970’s (Schlosser, 1998). Goldwater’s election manifesto focused heavily on the fear of crime in order toShow MoreRelatedA Cycle of Struggles Endured by the African American Race1301 Words   |  5 Pagesthere are still aspects of racism and economic segregation that occur within residential areas. This being said, many individuals of the African American race become primary targets and victims to devastating economic and social disadvantages. 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