The Prison-Industrial Complex Report by Shenin Mesdaghi Sources: Angela Davis, Eve Goldberg, and Linda Evans

Prison and Complexity? Prison network = complex and dynamic system –Involves multiple agents that interact with one other  over time, there is increasing complexity as prisons expand and become more corporate -- “Prison Industrial Complex” (PIC) PIC involves different levels of interaction: –government / political system –economic system –social / cultural system

General Info After Cold War, shift from military spending (communist threat) to prison spending (war on drugs) news/media and politicians depict crime as urgent problem  public votes for more crime control –justifies huge govt. spending on prisons w/out public complaint more prisons = seen as “solution” to crime and other social problems

General Info Crime rate , while…. –dramatic increase in incarcerated pop (113% increase btw BJS Bulletin ) and –major Federal, State, Local Prison expansion continues Why this continuous expansion? –Prison = link public, business, and govt. interests of social control and profit As capital and labor relations change, prison, as an emerging business, becomes central to US economy

PIC: Corporate Nature of Prison Network big businessBuilding and maintaining prisons = “big business” –many companies/industries profit –some required to give portion of profits to govt. cheap laborIncreasingly, inmates provide cheap labor market for many other companies –prisoners are paid below min. wages, companies profit change labor market by hiring prisoners, and laying off others –sweatshop conditions at times prisoners can’t complain to media or govt. b/ have no rights

PIC: Corporate Nature of Prison Network private prisonprivate prison corporations emerge and greatly increase -- contract with govt. to keep costs low –punishment industry for pure profit, not social concern –investors benefit from prison bonds and stocks continue to vote for more prison space Prison = leading rural growth industry –rural area = economic decline b/ traditional agriculture pushed out by agribusiness  unemployment –want prison facilities b/ source of secure jobs and revenues

Socio-Political-Economic Nature of Prison Network Inmates = raw material for this prison industry Inmates = mostly unemployed, poor, illiterate minorities –blacks/latinos = fastest growing -- 70% of inmate pop # of women also increasing –increasing arrests for non-violent crimes mainly drugs and robbery due to economic need, poverty PIC need continuous inmate-supply for expansion –relies on feedback mechanism and racism Feedback Mechanism

Socio-Political-Economic Nature of Prison Network 1960s-80s -- govt. (CIA) secretly involved in foreign drug trade with Vietnam and Nicaragua  dumped lots of drugs into US poor, black communities 1970s-80s -- many manufacturing companies moved abroad for cheaper labor markets  lots of black, semi-skilled workers lost jobs –unemployment  poverty, stealing, and drug use mid-1980s -- Reagan’s “War on Drugs” –arrests/targets mainly poor urban black communities for criminals –though whites and blacks used ~ same amt. of drugs –also, arrest many foreign drug smugglers

Socio-Political-Economic Nature of Prison Network Prison: with capitalist interest, enforces structural racism and class bias Increased prison spending cuts money for other social programs (ex. welfare), that originally aided poor urban areas –as a result, the poor have less work, school aid, and drug-treatment services available –resort to stealing, drug use, and other crimes –feedback mechanism that increases inmate pop.

PIC -- Eventual Decline or Collapse? Eventually threshold will be reached when can’t expand prisons any longer: signs…. –prison overcrowding –inmates rioting –lack of financial resources to manage private prisons As prisons expand, more people and publications rally against PIC –might effect public opinion, votes?

PIC -- Eventual Decline or Collapse? Current large incarcerated pop means more inmates released later  more crime later? –According to L.A. Times, national crime rate increased by 1% from previous year, and in certain parts of states (like CA) by 12%, due to increase release of prisoners who again commit crimes Since prison does not address/solve root causes of crime (poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, racism) especially with social service money cut b/ of it –only temporary holding, until released later

That’s All Folks