Final answer:
The Corrections Corporation of America and the GEO Group are known for building and operating private correctional facilities, contributing to the prison-industrial complex and raising concerns about the quality of correctional services.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Corrections Corporation of America and the GEO Group are private companies most notably recognized for building and operating correctional facilities. These entities are part of the larger prison-industrial complex, which involves the collaboration of political leaders and corporations to profit from the correctional system.
This complex has been a contributing factor in the significant growth of the US prison population, further motivated by the incentives for private profits, prompting concerns over the quality of services and human rights within these facilities.
Historically, the rise of these private prisons can be traced back to a broader cultural and political shift towards a 'tough on crime' approach, which has led to an increase in incarceration rates. The debate around the criminal justice system includes concerns over the fair and effective rehabilitation of inmates and the administration of justice as it relates to various social issues, such as poverty and drug addiction.