This is why privatization is a bad idea: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1308337... To increase profits, they try to open 'new markets'. These correction corporations are literaly writing legislation and donating to campaigns to increase the detention of illegal immigrants so they they can have more prisoners. If you have corporations writing laws so that more people can be incarcerated, what do you have? What kind of country is that?
Privatization is a horrible idea. As it is, the prison system has too strong a grip on legislation. It's in large part responsible for the antiquated drug enforcement laws we have. I had a long conversation last night with a staunch conservative that agreed with me that our drug laws are ineffective and that marijuana and other "soft" drugs need to be legalized. The vast majority of our country agrees.... except those that work in the prison system and need a population to incarcerate.