Yesterday Biden announced that the federal gov’t will no longer contract with private prisons. But let’s put this into context (thread)!

Currently, 8% of people incarcerated by the federal government are incarcerated in private prisons. And the majority of people incarcerated in federal private prisons are in immigration detention facilities.

Biden’s ban on contracting with private prisons applies to the DOJ, but it does not apply to DHS. So: the executive order does nothing to help people in immigration detention facilities - despite his promise on the campaign trail to not use private facilities for any detention.

Focusing on ending private prisons alone obfuscates the larger picture of the prison industrial complex - after all, 92% of incarcerated people are imprisoned in public facilities.

And let’s talk about scale here: currently, .7% of the US population is incarcerated in a federal or state prison, or local jail. That’s a bit less than 1 out of 100 people!!

The privatization of prisons extends way beyond a private company owning the prison. The gov’t contracts with private companies for all kinds of services within public prisons, too.

Like: tech that incarcerated people use to communicate with people outside of prison (which typically places a heavy financial burden on the loved ones of prisoners), the (terrible) food and healthcare provided in prison, and surveillance technologies that are used post release.

Even if the gov’t will no longer contract directly to operate private facilities, private companies will still profit off public facilities. These companies are profiting off of injustice and suffering.

Getting rid of private prisons is a good goal, but only if we’re just as committed to getting rid of public ones too. The distinction between public & private prisons doesn’t change the daily reality and lived experiences of incarcerated people.

All prisons are terrible, evil institutions. All prisons must go - not just private ones. Free them all.