American Prison: A Reporter's Undercover Journey into the Business of Punishment

In 2014, investigative journalist Shane Bauer, using his real name without a background check, was hired as an entry-level prison guard at a private prison in Winnfield, Louisiana. After four months, his employment ended, but he wrote an exposé that won a National Magazine Award and became the most-read feature in Mother Jones’ history.

In this book, Bauer delves deeper into his experiences and a researched history of for-profit prisons in America. He reveals that private prisons became entrenched in the South after slavery to keep the African-American labor force in place. These shameful origins echo through the system.

The private prison system is deliberately unaccountable, prioritizing profit over inmate well-being and staff retention. Bauer befriends colleagues but witnesses chronic dysfunction, leading to his own cruelty and aggression.

(This book may contain a sharpie mark on the top or bottom edge and may show mild signs of shelfwear.)