Anovelexplanationforstateprisonprivatization:thattheydosotolimitlegalandpoliticalaccountabilityforinmatelawsuits.OneofthemostcontroversialdevelopmentsintheAmericancriminaljusticeinthelastfewdecadeshasbeenthedevelopmentofthemodernprivateprisonindustry.Whiletherearemanyexplanationsprofferedfortheadoptionofthispolicy--includingpartisanship,economicstress,unionization,andlobbyingeffortsbyprivateprisonfirms--nonefullyexplainwhystatesprivatizetheirprisons.InCaptiveMarket,AnnaGundersonproposesanovelexplanationforwhystatesadoptthispolicy.Sheshowsthatstatesprivatizeprisonstolimitlegalandpoliticalaccountabilityforinmatelawsuits,anunintendedconsequenceofthelegalrightsrevolutionforprisoners.Evidencefromanoriginaldatasetandinterviewswithprivateprisoncompanies,governmentofficials,andadvocacygroupssuggestthatgrowingprisonerlawsuitsareasignificantdriverofprisonprivatizationintheUnitedStates.Withover160,000inmatescurrentlyheldinprivatefacilitiesacrossthecountry,itisvitaltounderstandthecausesofthisriseandthenuancesofprivateprisonpolicy,onewithsignificantconsequencesfortheAmericancriminallegalsystem.Aneye-openingaccountofanindustrythatmanyareawareofbutfewknowmuchabout,thisbookwillreshapeourunderstandingofthefundamentalnatureoftheAmericancarceralstate.
