When we think about prison profiteering, private prisons are often the first to come to mind. While they make up only 8 percent of prison beds in the U.S., they’ve had a massive impact on our criminal legal system and our immigration detention system, where they make up 75 percent of beds. In recent years, activists have done incredible work to finally interrupt their decades-long hold on criminal legal policy, and President Biden just signed an Executive Order to phase out the use of private prisons by the U.S. Department of Justice. It’s the beginning of the end for private prisons—but we may not want to celebrate too soon.

Assignment

• Read Textbook Chapter 2: Operations + Management (pgs. 9 - 16)

• Answer Discussion Guide questions in Chapter 2: Operations + Management (pg. 2)

• Watch the Punishment + Profit webinar on Operations + Management

• Watch and share this week’s 5 Quick Facts video on social media