> I don't think there is anything inherently wrong with private prisons. The problem is that they are misaligned, not that they exist I have lived through some

> I don't think there is anything inherently wrong with private prisons. The problem is that they are misaligned, not that they exist I have lived through some of these cycles, of trying to adjust incentives so markets can deliver goods/services in a sensible way when the naturally occurring incentives are skewed in all the wrong ways. In imprisoning people the incentives are all wrong to involve the private sector. The public sector too faces bad incentives. It is a catastrophe AFAICT both in the USA, here in Aotearoa, and in our neighbouring state Australia. These are the cases I know something about. We can only fix it one bite at a time, and keeping the private sector out of the mix - with their millions in lobbying power, is one such bite. Here we have mostly succeeded. Where the private sector has gotten in the lives of prisoners have gotten worse. Remember: Every prisoner will be released (here - maybe not there) and they will be your neighbour. How do you want to treat them when you have them in your power? So you think cruel treatment will increase, or decrease, the chances of bad actions when they are living next to you?