Private Prisons in the U.S. – What You Need to Know
Private, for-profit prisons play a significant role in the U.S. criminal justice system. As of 2022, private prison companies incarcerated over 90,000 individuals, representing 8% of the total state and federal prison population. Despite some states moving to ban private prisons, others continue to expand private prison contracts, relying heavily on corporations such as CoreCivic, GEO Group, and Management & Training Corporation (MTC) to house inmates.
However, private prisons have faced lawsuits and government investigations due to poor living conditions, inadequate medical care, forced labor, and excessive phone call charges for inmates and families.
If you or a loved one has suffered from private prison abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation, you may be eligible for compensation. Contact our legal team today for a free consultation.
Common Lawsuits Against Private Prisons
1. Inadequate Medical Care & Neglect
Private prisons have been sued for failing to provide proper medical care, leading to preventable illnesses, injuries, and even deaths. CoreCivic, one of the largest private prison operators, has settled multiple lawsuits involving inmate mistreatment due to lack of access to prescription medications, delayed emergency care, and inadequate mental health services.
👉 Related Legal Cases:
2. Forced Labor & Unpaid Work
Many private detention centers and prisons have faced lawsuits for forcing detainees to work for little to no pay under threat of punishment. A class-action lawsuit filed against CoreCivic alleged that detainees were paid as little as $1 per day for labor, including cleaning, cooking, and facility maintenance.
👉 Related Lawsuits:
3. Unsafe & Inhumane Living Conditions
Investigations have revealed shocking conditions in many private prisons, including overcrowding, unchecked violence, lack of sanitation, and inmate abuse.
4. Exorbitant Phone Call & Communication Charges
Many private prisons have been accused of price gouging inmates and their families by charging excessive fees for phone calls and video visitations. Global Tel*Link (GTL), Securus Technologies, and ICSolutions are among the largest prison telecom providers, and they have faced multiple class-action lawsuits for unfair pricing and hidden fees.
Example of High Fees:
- Inmates and families report paying up to $25 for a 15-minute phone call due to lack of competition in private prison contracts.
Are You or a Loved One a Victim of Private Prison Misconduct? Contact Us Today
If you or a loved one have experienced mistreatment, abuse, financial exploitation, or medical neglect in a private prison, you may have a legal claim. Our experienced attorneys are investigating cases against private prison operators to hold them accountable for their actions.
FAQs – Private Prison Lawsuits
What is a private prison?
A private prison is a for-profit correctional facility operated by a corporation under contract with a state or federal government.
Can I sue a private prison?
Yes, inmates and families can sue private prisons for abuse, medical neglect, forced labor, excessive phone charges, and inhumane conditions.
Who operates private prisons?
The largest private prison operators in the U.S. include:
- CoreCivic (formerly Corrections Corporation of America)
- GEO Group
- Management & Training Corporation (MTC)
Are private prisons still growing?
Some states have banned private prisons, but they continue to operate in states like Texas, Florida, and Arizona.
If you’ve experienced any of these or other forms of mistreatment in a private prison, contact us today for a confidential consultation. Our experienced legal team is here to help you seek justice and hold responsible parties accountable.
Experience Matters
Sauder Schelkopf has a nationally recognized litigation practice. The firm currently serves as court-appointed lead counsel in courts across the country. The attorneys at Sauder Schelkopf have recovered over $1 billion on behalf of their clients and class members. Our firm was recognized by the Legal Intelligencer’s 2022 Professional Excellence Awards. The Legal Intelligencer’s Professional Excellence Awards honor Pennsylvania law firms and attorneys who have made a significant, positive impact on the legal profession. Our firm was named in the Litigation Departments of the Year (Specialty Area category; runner-up), an award that honors the best litigation practice in a small or mid-sized firm in Pennsylvania. This recognition was based on the firm’s 2021 litigation work and its important ongoing cases. LawDragon has recognized our attorneys in its list of the “500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers” for 2022. This list notes: “From the opioid epidemic to toxic substances and defective products, truck accidents to wildfires and sexual abuse, these are the lawyers who stand on the front line in individual lawsuits and class actions seeking justice.” Mr. Schelkopf was named to Pennsylvania’s Best Lawyers® 2022 for Class Actions/Mass Tort Litigation. The American Lawyer named Mr. Sauder to its 2021 Northeast Trailblazers. The honor recognizes 60 lawyers who are “truly agents of change.” It “recognizes professionals in the Northeast who have moved the needle in the legal industry.” The Legal Intelligencer named Mr. Sauder and Mr. Schelkopf in its 2020 Pennsylvania Trailblazers list recognizing 31 lawyers who “have taken extra measures to contribute to positive outcomes . . . and who are truly agents of change.” The Legal highlighted the firm’s innovative work on advocacy as class counsel in large institutional sex abuse cover-ups, women’s, and children’s rights. Our attorneys have also consistently been recognized by their peers being named to Pennsylvania SuperLawyer, a distinction held by the top 5% of attorneys in Pennsylvania. The National Trial Lawyers Association has also selected our attorneys as the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania.
We Want to Hear from You
If you or a loved one have experienced mistreatment, abuse, financial exploitation, or medical neglect in a private prison, you may have a legal claim. Our experienced attorneys are investigating cases against private prison operators to hold them accountable for their actions.