A new form of slavery is running strong in
the United States.
With only 5 percent of the total global
population, the United States holds approximately 25 percent of the entire
global prison population.
China has a half million fewer prisoners
than the United
States, despite a population five times larger than the
United States. In total, 2.2 million people are currently in U.S. prisons or
jails.
Inside U.S. prisons, inmates reportedly
produce 93% of U.S. paints and paintbrushes, 92% of U.S. stove
assemblies, 100% of military helmets, and more, including products for
companies including IBM, Boeing, Motorola, Microsoft, AT&T, Dell, Compaq,
and Nordstrom’s.
While the U.S. violent crime rate has fallen
drastically in the past thirty years, U.S. prisons and jails
have had a 500%
increase in population, thanks in large part to the efforts of
private prison corporations. In the past decade alone, Geo Group and CCA spent
over $45
million on political campaign contributions. By 2009, private
prisons accounted for 8% of all prisoners housed in the United States. In 2011
alone, the two largest private prison corporations – The Geo Group and
Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) – earned over $3
billion.
