The prison Industrial Complex is a social structure of grand scale. It has only recently come into focus as a reality in American society. I often receive looks of incredulity when I speak about this man-made structure which self perpetuates imprisonment at an ever growing rate in America. We now have over 2.2 million people, human beings, citizens, behind bars in America. We have the unique distinction of being the largest incarcerator of human beings in the world, bar none.
Prison is big business, very big business.
The secure housing, minimal support , minimal medical care and feeding of 2.2 million people is a costly endeavor consuming billions and billions of dollars of tax payers money every year in America. Corporations are lined up to receive a portion of the public funds used to support the self-perpetuating incarceration industry. States such as California spend more public funds, tax dollars, your money, my money, on prisons than for education and schools. Each one of these companies to a greater or lesser extent are making profit from the 2.2 million people being held captive within the prison industry. Many of the following companies listed are solely concerned with prisons, others such as the drug company Bristol-Myers are advertising to just one aspect of the industry.