The term “prison–industrial complex” is used to describe a network of individuals, organizations, and social institutions involved with the incarceration of millions of Americans. This term began to be used in the 1970s as a consequence of several public policies, including the “war on drugs” and the “Three Strikes and You're Out” rule. The individuals, organizations, and social institutions involved in the prison–industrial complex include law enforcement officials, courts, and correctional facilities, but also include under‐resourced schools, private corporations, and state and local governments. The prison–industrial complex is a multibillion‐dollar industry that often harms instead of helps efforts to protect individual rights and to maintain public safety and order.
Jeremy Bentham was an English philosopher and prison reformer. He is mainly known for his principle of utilitarianism, which assesses actions of others based upon their consequences. Bentham believed that all matters at issue were to be determined or dictated rigorously on the basis of how consequences influenced general utility. He produced works that contributed to a variety of topical areas, including criminology, criminal justice, and political science. Each of his works was at the intersection of politics and humanity, and many still have influence in policy today. Bentham's philosophy and writings have had a large influence on criminal justice systems across the globe.
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