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LSDefine
Simple English definitions for legal terms
private prison
Read a random definition: Patriot Act
A quick definition of private prison:
A private prison is a type of prison that is run by a company instead of the government. It is a place where people who have been convicted of crimes are sent to serve their sentences. Private prisons are different from government-run prisons, which are managed by the state or federal government. They are also known as penitentiaries, penal institutions, or adult correctional institutions.
A more thorough explanation:
A private prison is a facility for confinement of convicted criminals, especially felons, that is managed by a private company instead of a governmental agency.
For example, the GEO Group and CoreCivic are two of the largest private prison companies in the United States. They operate facilities that house inmates for state and federal governments.
This means that instead of the government running the prison, a private company is in charge. The company is paid by the government to provide services such as food, medical care, and security for the inmates.