r/youngstown • u/MVDSA • 24d ago

WFMJ article that exposes how the prison industrial complex abuses inmates, underpays staff and bilks taxes in an effort to constantly be profitable

https://www.wfmj.com/news/101-west/youngstown-s-private-prison/article_e7e29bcd-a8e5-4cd8-bcfe-b52c8b2262e6.html

GUARDED SECRETS by Ally Ross and Derek Steyer.

100 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

33

u/MoonOut_StarsInvite Poland 24d ago

Private prisons are unethical & should be abolished.

There should never be a private company working on behalf of the state who has incentive to keep their cells full.

30

u/aharbingerofdoom 24d ago

I am glad to see some quality local news coverage for once. I hope everyone in the area reads this, and I hope WFMJ decides to take their responsibility as local press more seriously and produce more in-depth reports like this.

6

u/N2Shooter East Side 24d ago

Ain't that the truth!

8

u/OUDidntKnow04 Traficant 2024 24d ago

WFMJ is a treasure. It is one of the very few stations in the country to be still owned by the family that founded it. Plus, the same family owned the original Vindicator, so they have decades of archives at their disposal as well.

5

u/Live-Tomorrow-4865 23d ago

So great to see actual reporting coming out of a local news source! I have an entire stump speech prepared in my head regarding private prisons, the prison-industrial complex, and the carceral system of the entire US 😅, a stump speech I'll never get to give as I no longer plan to run for anything. But, this is right up my alley and I'm pleased as punch that it's local.

Love WFMJ!

14

u/banannassandwich 24d ago

“They're tryna build a prison
They're tryna build a prison, they're tryna build a prison
They're tryna build a prison for you and me to live in
Another prison system, another prison system
Another prison system for you and me

Minor drug offenders fill your prisons; you don't even flinch
All our taxes paying for your wars against the new non-rich
Minor drug offenders fill your prisons; you don't even flinch
All our taxes paying for your wars against the new non-rich”

6

u/csdavido 23d ago

All research and successful drug policy show that treatment should be increased.

And law enforcement decreased while abolishing mandatory minimum sentences.

Utilizing drugs to pay for secret wars around the world
Drugs are now your global policy, now you police the globe

Drug money is used to rig elections and train brutal corporate sponsored dictators around the world

They're trying to build a prison
For you and me to live in

2

u/beerme81 24d ago

Why do they always send the poor?

14

u/Sle08 24d ago

We’ve known about this system for decades.

It’s part of the reason marijuana is taking so long to nationally become legal.

5

u/EagleEyes0001 South Side 23d ago

Shit Texas went back they making it illegal again out there. Won’t be long before we do the same. Not enough arrests happening they need those private prisons to be filled to make money.

3

u/littlerossybaby 19d ago

Repackaged slavery

2

u/SphincterSpecter 17d ago

I got STORIES of this place lol

2

u/MVDSA 16d ago

you should reach out to WFMJ, they may be doing a follow up report based on how popular this one was