Does the usa and/or it's state and local governments make a profit by imprisoning it's own citizens?

Answer 1

If you mean simply by making a profit from a jail or prison. I have not ever heard of one doing that... most cost the county or state money. Years ago before you had to be politically correct, the state of Texas made their prisoners work at various jobs and was the envy of jails and prisons world wide because the Texas prison system was self supporting and did not cost the state.

Answer 2

No, in fact people are always complaining about how much they cost the taxpayer. I think in some states they contract out part of the prison population to for-profit prisons, but I'm pretty sure even they only make a profit because they are paid by the state. Prisoners are expensive to keep, with all the necessary security and necessities of life. And most prisoners are not very productive workers, if they work at all. So no, the only way the state benefits from imprisoning people is by the fact that they can't prey upon the outside population while they are in prison.

Answer 3

Definitely not. The governments usually have to provide legal counsel for the person at trial and, then, pay for security, food, etc. for the prisoner. By being put into the system, the prisoner is not giving the government money or services. Thus, to say that the government profits from incarcerating people would be incorrect.

It is true that some private corporations PROFIT for running prisons for the government. Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), for example, makes money by contracting with governments. They profit because the government pays them (not the prisoners) and, therefore, the government is LOSING money.

In an indirect way, a government could profit if the person being imprisoned is causing a large amount of property damage to private, tax paying citizens because those citizens may have reduced income (and, therefore, reduced taxes to the government).

Answer 4

Despite what the previous posters said we do make money of their labor. Moreover, the companies that service prisons make billions of dollars off the prison complex. One small prison operator in Tenn, makes 90 million dollars on long distance calls alone! True fact. The corrections people make tons of money, that's why they want to keep building prisons and are against spending that same money on after-school programs and jobs. Prison is big business maybe not of the state, but for the political business interest.

Answer 5

Profit...rofl...no.....we spend more money than we should because society says that they should be treated fairly. I say why should they have cable TV, airconditioning and all the amenities of a country club. Why should inmates who have repeatedly victimized society be treated fairly. Why should we have to pay for the perks of jail. I say we go to the ARizona Sheriff's Method. Make em all wear pink everything..put em to work all day for somthing productive, and make em sleep in tents. Why should a prisoner in jail have cable tv, a gym, and 3 square meals a day when we have soldiers who suffer, homeless who would lkill for that????

Answer 6

oh no honey we dont call it that we call it opening or enlarging an industry. For the porpuses of employing 10's of thousands or more so some anonymus source can skim the top off. But no one is making or showing a profit.

Answer 7

Nope, on the contrary. They loose millions of dollars on food, clothing and building prisons. Not to mention paying for the lawyers that prosecute them.

Answer 8

Yes... we make OH so much money off of prisons!

Answer 9

It's not making a profit. Mainly it's warehousing people so they won't steal, kill, or rape you.