Behind Bars: Secrecy in Arizona’s Private Prisons’ Labor Pool

Abstract

Prisons run by private corporations in the United States have at hand a pool of individuals who are, by law, required to work while they are incarcerated. This article examines the secrecy behind the use of inmate labor, including on-the-job injuries sustained by prisoners, focusing on the state of Arizona as a case study. Ultimately, the article recommends that states should create oversight boards of its private prison system or allow private prison records to be accessible through already existing public records laws.