In a new research brief, In the Public Interest shows “how the increased violence in private prisons increases recividism, or the likelihood that prisoners will return to jail or prison. America’s high rates of incarceration and recidivism have become heavy burdens for communities, the economy, and taxpayers. How Private Prison Companies Increase Recidivism details how private prison companies, in their pursuit of profit, add to that burden by increasing recidivism.

“Not only do private prison companies profit off of more incarceration, they exacerbate the many issues our broken criminal justice system already faces. Rather than giving away hundreds of millions of tax dollars in profits each year to the private prison industry, we should invest that money in helping prisoners live healthy, productive lives once they’re released.”