The public attitude was, "Why should criminals get a free education? Law abiding citizens have to pay for college." The overcrowded conditions, caused by long mandated sentences for non-violent drug offenses put an end to social programs in the prisons aimed at preparing prisoners to live as law-abiding citizens when they got out. Privatization of prisons, which makes them cheaper to run, has had negative effects. Some researchers contend that by putting private companies in charge of prisons, we have created a market economy for crime with a market demand for prisoners. More people in prison provide more business for these companies. These companies have strong lobbies that pressure for harsher and longer sentences. For example, the Federal system passed laws for "Truth in sentencing," and then most states followed suit. A "life sentence" is now a "life in prison with no possibility of parole" sentence. In many states parole has been effectively abolished.

Today there are about 2.1...

it's a national disgrace.
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Slovenko, Ralph.…