Throughout the 1990s, as the prison population exploded due to War on Drugs policies and “tough on crime” legislation, states expanded and entrenched felon disenfranchisement laws, creating a new form of mass voter exclusion that disproportionately impacted Black and Latino communities. …
State LegislaturesALECThe Sentencing ProjectRepublican Governorsvoting-rightsfelony-disenfranchisementmass-incarcerationvoter-suppressionalec
First Lady Hillary Clinton delivers a speech at Keene State College in New Hampshire supporting the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, in which she uses the now-infamous “super-predators” terminology. In her remarks, Clinton stated: “They are not just gangs of kids …
President Bill Clinton signs the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, the largest crime bill in U.S. history, consisting of 356 pages that provided for 100,000 new police officers and $9.7 billion in funding for prisons. Drafted by then-Senator Joe Biden and sponsored by …
Bill ClintonJoe BidenJack Brooksmass-incarcerationcriminal-justiceprison-industrial-complexracial-justicelegislation
Wackenhut Corrections Corporation (WCC) launches its initial public offering on NASDAQ, selling 2.2 million shares and becoming the second major private prison company to go public. Founded in 1984 by George C. Zoley as a division of The Wackenhut Corporation security firm, WCC establishes itself as …
Wackenhut Corrections Corporation (WCC)GEO GroupGeorge C. ZoleyThe Wackenhut CorporationNASDAQprivate-prisonprison-industrial-complexwall-streetmass-incarcerationfinancial-capture
The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), with Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) serving as co-chair of its Criminal Justice Task Force, passes the “Three Strikes You’re Out Act” model legislation requiring mandatory life imprisonment after a third felony conviction. …
ALECCorrections Corporation of America (CCA)GEO GroupNational Rifle AssociationRobert Britton+1 morealecmass-incarcerationprivate-prisonprison-industrial-complexthree-strikes+3 more
Congress passes the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986, establishing a 100-to-1 sentencing disparity between crack cocaine and powder cocaine offenses—imposing the same penalties for possession of 5 grams of crack cocaine as for 500 grams of powder cocaine. The legislation provided mandatory minimum …
Ronald ReaganCongressmass-incarcerationracial-justicewar-on-drugscriminal-justicesentencing-reform+1 more
Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) launches its initial public offering on NASDAQ under the symbol CCAX, selling 2 million shares at $9 per share and raising $18 million to fund expansion. Despite struggling for profitability in its first three years, the company convinces Wall Street …
Corrections Corporation of America (CCA)Thomas W. BeasleyNASDAQVanderbilt University Law SchoolJack C. Masseyprivate-prisonprison-industrial-complexwall-streetmass-incarcerationinstitutional-investment+1 more
Thomas W. Beasley (chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party), Robert Crants, and T. Don Hutto found Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) in Nashville, Tennessee, creating the first modern for-profit prison company. After a 15-minute presentation on Valentine’s Day 1983, Massey Burch …
Thomas W. BeasleyRobert CrantsT. Don HuttoCorrections Corporation of America (CCA)Massey Burch Investment Group+1 moreprivate-prisonprison-industrial-complexmass-incarcerationcorporate-lobbyinginstitutional-capture+1 more
At a press conference on June 17, 1971, President Richard Nixon declared drug abuse “public enemy number one,” launching what became known as the War on Drugs. This announcement marked the beginning of a dramatic expansion of federal drug control policy and law enforcement that would …
Richard NixonJohn Ehrlichmanmass-incarcerationinstitutional-racismwar-on-drugspolicing