The Prison-Industrial Complex

Prisons all over the country are starting to feel the pressure now more than ever. Why? Primarily, because prisons are becoming overcrowded with inmates. Many of whom are people of color. This is happening primarily because of the profit many corporations gain from high incarceration rates. The prison-industrial complex incorporates this notion that politicians' "tough on crime" ideology is simply racially profiling and targeting people of color and throwing them in prison for long sentences. The media also plays a large role in criminalizing people of color. It has been said several times that the media can make the innocent guilty and the guilty innocent. The Prison-Industrial Complex is a big deal because it is ultimately racism, hidden in politics. Paying attention to this growing problem can allow us to make smarter decisions when supporting certain corporations who profit from these prisons, as well as understanding the masked racism behind this ideology. …show more content…
Rather than taking the time to understand the mind of individuals who participate in criminal activity and helping to break reoccurring cycles, the criminal justice system is quick to criminalize these individuals, thus failing to realize that, in reality, these acts are just cries for help. Typically, when a person commits a crime, it is because some crime has been committed to them. There is something from their past that haunts their present and, ultimately, their future. However, no one takes the time to consider this. Crimes such as domestic violence, drug abuse, and theft are not looked into as actual mental illnesses that could illicit this type of behavior but just as a wrongdoing that must be