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With prison incentives being what they are, it’s hard not to think that it’s beneficial for the profession to hold on to inmates longer.



I'm wondering if there isn't a business model in this: couldn't the inmates (or their families) hire some law firm that calculates the correct release date and sues the state to get a hefty compensation for every day the inmates serve longer than they should? That would turn around the incentives...


Which you’re assuming that the inmates can hire an expensive law firm in the first place.


Don't ascribe to malice... The dates and sentences can change so many times it's surprisingly hard to calculate. I've watched people who try earnestly to get the dates right complain about how hard it is.


is there a version of this that says "Dont ascribe to incompetence what is more likely caused by greed"? I'm tired of seeing comments like this that imply that any accusation of greed or malice is unfounded when in todays world, particularly in an industry like private prisons, greed is often the most likely cause.




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