prison-industrial complex

English

Etymology

By analogy to military-industrial complex. First use appears c. 1960. See cite below.

Noun

prison–industrial complex (plural prison-industrial complexes)

1. The socioeconomic combination of prisons and the private businesses that supply them with goods and services.

   Synonym: PIC

   • 1960, New Left Review Limited (publisher), New Left Review, page 83:

     In Philadelphia, on the other hand, during a day of action against the prison-industrial complex, I saw a lot of cop cars being beaten up,

   • 1992 July 6, Barry Sheerman, “Prisons”, in parliamentary debates (Commons)‎^[1], volume 211, column 125:

     […] if we pursue the privatisation of prisons, a large industry will develop. Over the past two or three years many hon. Members have been lobbied by the private prison groups. They are already organised and are paying political consultants and lobbying companies. Some of them have paid Conservative Members—not Labour Members [to lobby for private prisons.¶The prison industrial complex already existed and Conservative Members were taking the King's shilling years ago in respect of that professional lobby.

   • 1995 January, John Conyers Jr., “Taking Back Our Streets Act of 1995: Hearing Before The Subcommittee on Crime of the Committee on the Judiciary”, in hearings (House of Representatives)‎^[2], Washington D.C.: United States Government Publishing Office, →ISBN, page 575:

     […] that while a person is incarcerated he can't commit a crime or they can't be continued wife abusers or whatever, is exactly the logic that is fueling the prison industrial complex that is going on for many decades, but has now become explosive.

Related terms

• military-industrial complex