USA prisons are privatised. I guess that's the obvious results when big business makes money out of jailing people.
Don't confuse privatization with corporatism. Of course when government gets in bed with big business corruption happens, but it's not the fault of a free market. Also, I think you mean the services prisons offer are from big business not the prisons themselves, like food.
Alabama does the best in running the jails. The Sheriff is budgeted $1 a day to feed the inmates and whatever is left over they keep. One sheriff actually is able to feed the inmates on 87 cents a day. Kool-ad, mac and government cheese and plenty of fresh vegetables from the prison farm.
Because people go to jail for crimes in America, in the UK we let them of with a slap on the wrist, give them housing, and give them tax money.
I did mean corporations yes, but they do run the whole show rather than just certain services. When there's money being made by jailing I believe there's a risk of major corruptions for sure. This company has also infiltrated here and I think it's a bad move and should be stopped. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GEO_Group
No, I think the percentage of drug offenders is much higher. Closer to 90 percent. It is because of a combination of reasons we have so many prisoners. 1. Our country's relatively wealthy so people who want drugs can afford them. 2. Because our country is wealthy, we can afford to keep people in jail for minor offenses. 3. Because most prisons are privately run, and represent a huge and profitable industry, these companies lobby for stricter drug laws. I am not a drug user. Currently I don't even drink alcohol or caffeine, but I think that most drugs should be legalized, regulated and taxed. Use the taxes to advertise against drug use and to finance the costs to society of drug use. This way, drug users would be the ones paying for their mistakes, not the rest of us. Also, it would end the drug wars which cost innocent lives and it would remove drug lords/cartels from power. The cartels in Mexico are in the middle of an extended war over smuggling routes which is leaving thousands dead every year.
My concern is once corporations become involved, lobbyists will be pushing for even more underhanded laws as shareholders demand bigger profits. Soon, speed limits may drop more in order to create more crims, even eating chocolate may get you locked up! It's not a good direction at all.
Aggressive drug laws + richest consumers in the world + breakdown of family values among certain populations = big incarceration rates due to drug trafficking I do think the drug laws will be reformed in the next 20-40 years. All the <25s right now will see to it when they are running the world. At least the attitude towards marijuana will change. BTW, Nate I miss you.
Our legal system is the difference. Agreed, many more people who are in jail now could and probably should be released for certain drug offenses. Slap with a fine and let them go instead of crowding our prison system beyond its ability to handle its normal flow of crooks.