they are a disgrace of a crony operation, whereas a true private organization would need to face competition in the market, for which these prisons have none. If they weren't empowered by the state to act as agents for the state then we would certainly have different results than we have today. It is the government which is responsible for the existence of these prisons as they stand today, with their war on drugs, 3 strike rule, and thousands of victimless crimes they choose to prohibit etc, they've created the demand for these institutions and fueled the worsening conditions for individuals as an end result, and nobody wants to take responsibility at the end of the day for those who are left suffering in the cesspool that is the justice system as we know it.