The Prison Industrial Complex

Who is the Prison Industrial Complex?

They are people who make money through prison. We don’t think about them much. Who are they:

• The companies who sell food to the prison – vegetables, meat, and staples.
• Those who supply paper and office supplies
• The garbage contractors
• People who repair machines and computers in the prison
• People who repair the plumping, electricity or structure of the buildings
• The paid chaplains that provide chapel services and counseling
• The school services, which in Canada go to the lowest bidder
• The companies that inmates are allowed to order from
• The company that services the candy and soda machines in the visiting room
• The local and stare/provincial legislators in areas where prisons are. These people know that if they don’t support the prisons, they won’t be in office.

We’re talking big money here in many cases. These are people who want to see more and bigger prisons. They don’t want to see prison reform and they have a lot of clout.

Did I miss anyone?