ECONOMIC RECOVERY MEANS LOTS MORE BUSINESS FOR PRIVATE PRISONS

Recessions decrease tax collections, forcing cuts in law enforcement and corrections budgets that result in early prison releases and fewer arrests

More arrests and prison confinements will protect the public from criminals doing time in the big slammer. Of course, that runs counter to the belief of social scientists and prison reform advocates who say that many, if not most lawbreakers are sent to prison when they could be treated more effectively within community programs.

Those social scientists and prison reform advocates have probably never been the victims of a felonious crime. Had they been burglarized , mugged or raped, they would sing a far different tune.

Back in the '70s, a fellow faculty member was always ranting about the cops making unnecessary arrests and the courts sending too many poor people and minorities to prison. That was until the day one of those persecuted people stole his VW Bug out of the college parking lot. Wow, that theft led to an instant 'brain transplant.' He went ballistic and kept wanting that 'dirtbag' busted and punished just short of the death penalty ..... and sometimes I thought he would have been pleased had they executed the 'bastard' who stole his beloved Bug.

PRISSON POPULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BOOM NOW THAT THE ECONOMY IS RECOVERING
By Walter Hickey

Business Insider
July 17, 2013

As the U.S. economy improves, people are going back to work, investing in their homes, and preparing to make new purchases.

They're also going to spend a lot more time in prison.

Private prison company Corrections Corporation of America released a slide deck in June that we recently came across.

CCA is thrilled at the economic recovery. Recessions mean less tax collections. Less tax collections mean cut budgets, which mean fewer arrests and early releases. The end of the recession means a return to normalcy.

Now that the nation is back on its feet, the world's biggest jailer is about to get back to work. Before the recession, state inmate populations grew around 23,000 per month. The recession lead to small increases.

CCA forecasts make it seem like Americans are about to spend a lot more time in the clink than they have over the past five years.