Convict Leasing

Abstract

During the aftermath of the Civil War, prison systems in southern states were plagued by deteriorating prisons, an increase in inmates, and a lack of funding to support rebuilding and maintaining an effective prison system. Southern states, as a result, began experimenting with leasing inmates to businesses and individuals as a means of reducing prison populations and costs. The convict leasing system, however, was plagued with abuse and mistreatment of inmates causing its popularity to decline in spite of profits and by the 1930s convict leasing ceased to be used in the United States.