prison industrial complex

American  

[priz-uhn in-duhs-tree-uhl kom-pleks] / ˈprɪz ən ɪnˈdʌs tri əl ˌkɒm plɛks /

Or prison-industrial complex

noun

1. the network of government agencies and private industry that foster, benefit from, and contribute to mass incarceration, the imprisonment of large numbers of people.

   The cheapness of prison labor is just one way that the prison industrial complex is used for profit.

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Etymology

Origin of prison industrial complex

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

"The Island is Pack" refers to Rikers – at the beginning of what we eventually call the prison industrial complex.

From Salon • May 14, 2023

As we’ve already mentioned, we get a good glimpse of how the prison industrial complex operates.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 30, 2022

Many films have sought to capture the impact of America’s prison industrial complex, but “Time” is something else.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 6, 2020

I believe #MeToo survivors can more effectively address sexual abuse without resorting to the punishment and exile that mirror the prison industrial complex.

From New York Times • Aug. 17, 2019

By midseason, it’s clear that Kohan is railing harder against the prison industrial complex than ever before.

From The Verge • Jun. 20, 2016