For private prisons, the Corrections Corporation of America reportedly spends over $1 million each year on lobbying. [1][2]
Beyond private prisons, there's lobbying from prison guards' unions. For example, the California union appears to have substantial political influence, and in 2008 successfully spent $1.8 million to defeat a ballot initiative that would have reduced the prison population.[3]
Further, in some municipalities, cities use fines as revenue-raising tools, and arrest and jail people who fail to pay. See e.g. the Ferguson DOJ report.[4]
>> financial incentives to incarcerate...
> Do you have any sources for this?
For private prisons, the Corrections Corporation of America reportedly spends over $1 million each year on lobbying. [1][2]
Beyond private prisons, there's lobbying from prison guards' unions. For example, the California union appears to have substantial political influence, and in 2008 successfully spent $1.8 million to defeat a ballot initiative that would have reduced the prison population.[3]
Further, in some municipalities, cities use fines as revenue-raising tools, and arrest and jail people who fail to pay. See e.g. the Ferguson DOJ report.[4]
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corrections_Corporation_of_Ame...
[2] http://www.diversityinc.com/diversity-management/who-profits...
[3] http://criminology.fsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/volume-10-issu... p. 750 (PDF page 274)
[4] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2015/03/0...