This is an absolute must read! I knew that the private sector had tentacles into the prison industry in partnership with government but did not know to the extent this permeated every aspect of prison life including detainment camps being used for "migrants." The focus on profit above all else allows for a violation of basic human rights and dignity. It was difficult reading some of these chapters but at the same time, it is important we know about this. Not only are prisoners being given food not fit for human consumption, they are also getting personal hygiene products that contain ingredients banned by the FDA (causing rashes, etc.). All communication cost money to prisoners and their families who often have to go into debt if they want to send emails or do video calls. If you want to read "free books" when you are in prison, you have to rent a substandard tablet and pay for the privilege of downloading books that are free to the rest of us. Private equity and corporations are nickel and diming incarcerated people and their families and it is absolutely sickening. Vultures -- that would be how I would describe these companies. Each chapter is around different aspects of running a prison and includes a description, facts and background, a personal story with photo, and additional resources and readings. The personal stories added a lot -- because seeing a real person or family member and the impact these policies and practices had on them, really brings it to life and will make you want to take some type of action. I highly recommend this book for everyone and particularly for those who are concerned about criminal justice abuses and want to advocate around reform.

Thank you to Netgalley and The New Press for an ARC and I voluntarily left this review.

Thank you NetGalley and The New Press for this ARC!

4.5 ✨

I loved the way this book was organized. Each chapter features an overview of the topic, financial information, personal stories, and more in-depth explanations of the issues. Some topics I was more familiar with than others but I did find it to be well researched. This would be more useful as an introduction to the prison industry as a whole, so use caution if this a topic you have a lot of knowledge about. I also appreciated the author not inserting personal opinions into the book and letting the facts speak for themselves.

This book is confirming everything that marginalized people of color say every day relating to the US Prison system. There are no morals and no one cares because these are “convicted felons” except there are tons of innocent people and low criminal offenses getting major time and being taken advantage of so that privately owned prisons can make a buck. I actually heard of private corp GEO and it’s immigration jail in Adelanto from a fiction book I read called Left on Rancho. For this book to confirm everything that was “fictionally” happening is crazy to me. We know those who work in a jail are undertrained. Every corporation that is complicit should be ashamed. Thank you for bringing to light the facts.

This book has great information in it, but it feels more like an in-depth pamphlet than a book. The sections were very short and to the point, with little analysis. I agree with the author's thesis, but I don't know that it would be very persuasive to someone who didn't already come in to this book with this knowledge.
A good source for the basic information about the prison industry, but it's not in depth enough to stand up on its own.

The Prison Industry, authored by Bianca Tylek and Worth Rises, is a searing and meticulously researched indictment of the carceral system's insatiable appetite for profit. It's not just a book; it's a weapon, a meticulously crafted tool for understanding and dismantling the machinery of mass incarceration.

This exposé transcends the well-trodden ground of private prisons, delving into the pervasive and often hidden ways in which corporations, hand-in-glove with government entities, extract wealth from incarcerated individuals and their families. The authors meticulously map the intricate web of profiteering, illuminating the dark corners of labor, telecom, healthcare, and community corrections. Each chapter serves as a damning case study, revealing the origins of privatization and the staggering sums of money involved.

Worth Rises' reputation for groundbreaking research precedes them, and The Prison Industry lives up to that standard. The book's strength lies in its ability to connect the dots, showing how seemingly disparate sectors contribute to the overall system of oppression. The authors expose the methods used to siphon resources from public coffers and communities, naming the corporations most active in this exploitation and detailing their insidious partnerships with government.

The book doesn't simply present a litany of abuses; it offers a compelling argument for abolition. Tylek and Worth Rises don't shy away from the radical implications of their findings. They understand that true justice cannot be achieved through reform alone. The carceral system, they argue, is fundamentally rotten, built on a foundation of exploitation and dehumanization.

The Prison Industry is a vital resource for anyone seeking to understand the true cost of mass incarceration. It's a call to action, a challenge to dismantle the system that profits from human suffering. The book doesn't just offer critiques, it offers a vision of a world built on care, not cages. It's a powerful and essential read, a necessary step towards building a more just and equitable future. This book is not just informative, it is a catalyst.