Experts from different countries say that, driven by a motive to seek profits, private prisons in the U.S. have become "big business" that thrives on violations of the human rights of migrants and minorities.
Statistics show that the United States tops the world in terms of incarceration rate. Over 2 million people are currently in the country's prisons and jails, a 500-percent growth over the past 40 years.
Private prisons are notorious for human rights infringement. To make profits, private prisons make the lowest possible payments to staff and cut costs in medical care. Inmates have to work all day for money barely enough to buy necessities.
According to the U.S. News and World Report in October 2021, black and Latino Americans were incarcerated at about 5 times and 1.3 times respectively the rate of white Americans.
An executive order signed a year ago by U.S. President Joe Biden to terminate federal private prison contracts seems to have little effect on private contractors, who have been engaging in this business as usual over the past year.
Produced by Xinhua Global Service