Part 5/13:
Justin’s reflections on incarceration highlight a grim reality: prisons in the U.S. are less about reform and more about profit. The system’s economic incentives, driven by high per-inmate revenue—sometimes upwards of $36,000 annually—fuel a cycle of systemic abuse. Prison labor, sometimes akin to modern-day slavery, offers minimal compensation—sometimes just a dollar a day—and benefits no one but the corporate entities profiting from the prison-industrial complex.
He witnessed how prison staff and local economies rely on steady inmate populations, creating a disincentive to reduce incarceration rates, especially for non-violent offenders. His personal experience underscores the need for reform, emphasizing that education and humane treatment could offer genuine pathways to rehabilitation.