The Obama Administration announced that the use of private prisons will be phased out. Some 15% of all prisoners are held in private prisons.
Could the welfare of the prisoners be insured by the greedy profit oriented private companies? The mental and health status of the prisoners have no relevance in their getting the money from the state. The less food they give, the less care they offer, the less trouble they make, their profits go up.
There have been reports of abuse of the prisoners. There is a case with a prisoner weighing 71 pounds committing a suicide.
Perhaps what is interesting in the way that it goes is that Bernie Sanders, the lost candidate from the Presidential Democratic primary race, has been against private prisons. He lost the race but got what he wanted. Somewhat a typical way that Obama Administration has been doing, in appeasing the opponents.
What could be more interesting is in that Hillary Clinton has been criticized for receiving the money from the private prison lobbyists. Is it a concession on her part? She certainly is in the very good position in winning the election anyway, with or without their money.
Considering the way that how dysfunctional our prison system is, this perhaps is a welcoming move, be it what it may mean in politics. It could be a beautiful story indeed of people caring the prisoners, among many of them non-white.