Injustice League

INJUSTICE LEAGUE The two largest private prison providers in the U.S. each rake in tens of millions of dollars every year. How do they make their money, and what agreements are in place to protect their profits? GUARANTEED OCCUPANCY When a prison company approaches a state or city to either build or take over a facility, they're often guaranteed certain occupancy rates. In other words, law enforcement is expected to provide prisoners (arrest and convict people of crimes) to avoid getting hit with fines, so the incentive to keep people in jail rather than out of jail is pretty clear. 65% 80%- 100% Private prison contracts that include occupancy rate guarantees Range of guaranteed occupancy rates; 90% is the most frequent 90 100% $2 million 95%-100% occupancy contracts: Amount Colorado taxpayers have been forced to pay in so-called "low-crime" taxes because crime has dropped by about one-third in the past 10 years Arizona Louisiana Oklahoma Virginia MONEY TALKS It's little wonder that states and cities have allowed private prisons to move in. The biggest prison companies in the U.S., Corrections Corporation of America and the GEO Group, have spent millions lobbying and donating to political campaigns. CCA GEO Group $17.4 million $1.9 million $2.5 $2.9 million million in lobbying from 2002-2012 in political contributions from 2003-2012 in lobbying from in political contributions from 2003-2012 2004-2012 CANDIDATE CONTRIBUTIONS Which candidates have been the biggest beneficiaries of lobbying by private prison companies? TOP CANDIDATE RECIPIENTS, 2013-14 3 CCA GEO Group Lamar Alexander (R-TN) Henry Cuellar (D-TX) $7,000 $10,000 Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN) Mary L. Landrieu (D-LA) $5,000 $5,000 Steve Fincher (R-TN) Joe Garcia (D-FL) $3,500 $4,000 Sherrod Brown (D-OH) Mark Begich (D-AK) $2,500 $3,000 Pete Gallego (D-TX) Rob Portman (R-OH) $2,500 $2,500 SOURCES 1. http://www.inthepublicinterest.org 2. http://www.beyondbars.org 3. http://www.opensecrets.org online-paralegal-programs.com