Louisiana is the world's prison capital. The state imprisons more of its
people, per head, than any of its U.S. counterparts. First among
Americans means first in the world. Louisiana's incarceration rate is
nearly triple Iran's, seven times China's and 10 times Germany's.
The hidden engine behind the state's well-oiled prison machine is cold,
hard cash. A majority of Louisiana inmates are housed in for-profit
facilities, which must be supplied with a constant influx of human
beings or a $182 million industry will go bankrupt.
Several
homegrown private prison companies command a slice of the market. But in
a uniquely Louisiana twist, most prison entrepreneurs are rural
sheriffs, who hold tremendous sway in remote parishes like Madison,
Avoyelles, East Carroll and Concordia. A good portion of Louisiana law
enforcement is financed with dollars legally skimmed off the top of
prison operations.
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