Final answer:
The movement towards greater reliance on private prisons in the U.S. is linked to a dramatic increase in incarceration rates, influenced by policies like the war on drugs and 'three strikes' laws. It is part of what's known as the prison-industrial complex, where political and corporate interests align, sometimes at the expense of service quality and inmate rehabilitation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The movement towards the wider use of private prisons reflects a significant shift in the United States' approach to incarceration. Following an enormous increase in the prison population, from 200,000 inmates in 1970 to 2.2 million by 2010, the concept of a prison-industrial complex emerged. This term suggests a symbiotic relationship between political leaders and corporations within industries providing products and services to the criminal justice system, including the operation of private prisons.
The debate over private prisons touches on issues of cost-efficiency, quality of services, and the morality of profiting from incarceration. Critics argue that the incentives for private prisons may lead to lowered service quality, human rights violations, and a focus on profitability over rehabilitation. The growth in private prisons was also stimulated by cultural politics and policies such as the war on drugs, 'law and order' politics, and the implementation of 'three strikes' laws which exacerbated the need for additional incarceration facilities. These factors have led to increased dependency on private corporations to manage the overflow of inmates, incentivizing the perpetuation of high crime and recidivism rates.
Although initially being touted as a means to improve efficiency and reduce government spending through market competition, the privatization of prisons has raised concerns regarding governmental responsibilities and the ethical implications of such a system.