Penitent Profit: Private Prisons Exploit You AND Inmates | deep dive$

[@CamJames]

There's obviously more we could say on a topic this far-reaching and pervasive, but hopefully y'all see the merit in the message. This one represents a new approach to these episodes. Get a 14-day free trial with today's sponsor Aura and see where your personal information has been leaked online: aura.com/camjames

[@Cinnamorollin980]

Any Californian voters watching-- Prop 6 on the ballot in November would CHANGE THE STATE CONSTITUTION to outlaw California prisons from forcing prisoners to work without pay. Please get the word out and vote YES on Prop 6!!!

[@CamJames]

fuck yeah

[@Desaved]

Will do! Thanks!

[@marinaavant]

I can't wait to vote I'm in Tennessee tho

[@SameWindowDifferentVisual]

It really fucks me up that this measure didn't pass.

[@lug.5329]

@@SameWindowDifferentVisual , the us does like slavery after all

[@AcappellaTidbits]

While she didn't go to prison my mother went to jail for a night after we reported a woman attacking us and the officers decided since she was bigger than the woman she was the threat. The other woman was pregnant. That night in jail traumatized my mother and they treated her like dirt, shes disabled and neurodivergent. For something she didn't do when she herself was crying for help. They took her without me knowing. I used to work for the police station as a records clerk. That was the only reason why I was able to find her and pick her up because they wouldn't let her call me. They get a free three minute phone call the rest thry pay for. Otherwise they would have released her in the dangerous city at NIGHT. My mom will never call the police again. Even if she were in danger. OH and did you know she still has to deal with court for this. This stresses her out so much, knowing she has appearances over the horizon.

[@CamJames]

Man this sucks so much. I'm sorry she had to go through that.

[@AcappellaTidbits]

​@@CamJames Thank you. We plan to pursue justice. At least to have the charges dropped.

[@gallen2101]

❤ sending virtual hugs

[@theletterd]

Every time I learn a new fact about Alabama, it makes me want an Ancestry report done on every state official to start connecting some dots

[@CamJames]

nah I'm right there with you lmao

[@TheDannyA1]

I always anticipate and try say “Aye” at the same time.😂

[@0ThrowawayAccount0]

Bro, same! You just **know** it is coming and you eagerly wait for that microphone to raise up!

[@GillianRosheuvel]

Glad I'm not the only one!

[@CamJames]

best supporters anyone could ask for.

[@gunz.]

real

[@TheDannyA1]

@@CamJames love your work, man. 🥳

[@DaBlaccGhost]

"People going to prison is never funny" cuts to Smollett footage LMAO thank you that vro 😂🙏

[@eric6242]

I was pulled over for allegedly “texting” and when I told the cop to look at my phone he said my MONTH tag on my plate was blurred out and when I asked to look he held me in my car and made me sign the ticket . I went to court and the judge looked at the picture of my tags and she threw out the case . That’s just some of the bs I’ve had to deal with in my life .

[@quartzofcourse]

Bruh that’s some garbage

[@CamJames]

smh cops are often under pressure to find something, and too many make something up

[@gordonowens7741]

Love when you do these type of hard hitting episodes causes as a Black man with no criminal record we all got brothas with heavy rap sheets who ARE GOOD PEOPLE but can’t shake the label placed on them

[@sovcitwatch]

So a little comparison between prison systems in the U.S and Canada: In Canada, not only can felons vote, but active prisoners can, too. Elections Canada goes to prisons, hands out ballots, and counts those ballots. Only thing I can't remember is if they count for the riding that the prisoner is from or where the prison is. While not perfect, we also have a much stronger emphasis on rehabilitation

[@CamJames]

lightyears beyond whatever the hell our system is supposed to be

[@piedpiper1172]

Frederick Douglass, a man who was himself enslaved, lived to see the rise of the southern labor prisons post war. He said the prisons were actively much worse because a slave owner suffers a financial loss if they work their slave to death. A prison warden doesn’t. So the wardens were crueler, and the system less motivated to provide adequate food, housing, first aid, etc. Having never been enslaved myself, I’m gonna take Mr. Douglass’ word for it. Our prison system is even more optimized for human suffering than the chattel slavery system it replaced.

[@dreeko_]

Haven't even finished the video, I know it's a banger

[@CamJames]

aye thank you for the support fam!

[@illzwillzwatuz963]

Bless

[@awijntje14]

Keep up the good work Cam, we need more voices like yours!!

[@CamJames]

thank you for watching!

[@FreekaPista]

I know Kanye caught flack for saying it, but there are serious issues with the way the 13th amendment was written, and that it allows for forced labour in any form in this country. And best I can tell, you can't change the wording of a constitutional amendment, you have to repeal it and add a new amendment.

[@CamJames]

yeah, that's how it works with Amendments

[@dontaclebourn5679]

​@CamJames but clearly the Supreme Court can strike down parts of an Amendment as they have with the 14th. So a pathway is there, it just takes political will

[@jeffu3248]

The unfortunate thing is Cam, we are assumed to be threats when the majority of us are stand up people with morals, integrity, character, etc. We all are not the stereotypes that's plastered all over media and the news. I dealt with too many experiences to even count. Yes. This also includes in the recently workplace, at stores, or even walking around in the neighborhood where I reside. It is pretty messed up to automatically focus on us when an actual potential threat of a different hue is right in front of you 🤦🏾

[@lukefairbanks8622]

Another banger, crazy how many people either don't know about this or pretend to not care cause they benefit from it or can't see themselves on the short end of the stick. Totally agree to massively clamping down on profits and corruption: if there's no money in it these business will crumble. There should not be any financial incentive to lock people up

[@CamJames]

🎯🎯🎯

[@kaymitchell6143]

I have a cousin who was released a few years ago and he’s just now starting to acclimate to day to day life. Prisons are not places for rehabilitation and anyone who believes that is just fooling themselves. Another good video as usual Cam (and Nao)! Keep up the great work.

[@CamJames]

we really appreciate the feedback and thanks for watching! I agree completely

[@wskrrr6874]

Rick Scott in the top 3 for getting money from private prisons is no surprise. If you look up "sleazy" in the dictionary, you might find him staring right back at you

[@CamJames]

Definitely the worst of the worst

[@gangsta8929]

“Thanks to reganomics, prisons turn to profits, cause free labors the cornerstone of US economics”

[@vvitch-mist20]

I am convinced most people in jail, both general and max, only needed a proper home, proper education, rehab/therapy and a stable job, and like at least half of the current inmates wouldn't be in jail.

[@mylesjaydcuo]

My profiling experience while working graveyard. To keep it short, I was questioned by a random guy at 3am at night asking what I was doing and that they were neighborhood watch and trying to keep the community safe. He was in a decent sized white truck and I had just parked and got out my car. Add to the scene the fact that it was 3am, no lights besides his car, and nobody around, my fear and anxiety jumped up so fucking bad. I couldn't talk right because I was trembling. I was scared he was going to get out his car. I explained and he said okay, sorry, jesus loves you. I call it racial because I just parked outside a house and got out, how is that suspicious? I was pulling out keys to the front door. Like, how? And how dense of a person do you have to be to not understand how scared anyone would be, when approached by a big truck in the middle of the night. Also, his first words after pulling up on me suddenly, were, "Hi! I was just want to say jesus loves you and you are blessed in his name. What you doin' out here?!" Dude at 3am, you decide to spread Jesus? In the middle of the street? Like bro. He had to be a bit drunk but also profiling a bit. He might not have had bad intentions but his intrusive racial generalized thought won that time.

[@eun371]

I'm so sorry that you went through that. I got scared just reading, I can't imagine going through it

[@meligoth]

Private prisons have state contracts where the state is required to keep those prisons at capacity, maybe more. The saving money part for taxpayers is a lie when they perpetually pay full price for full prisons.

[@joshr5014]

This is why it took me one semester to drop from the criminal justice program in college. I was doing some research one night for our final paper of the semester, and one of the first articles I read described some insanely uncomfortable truths I had never been aware of. Many of these truths, Cam outlines in this video. From the absurdly high rate of black men in our prison systems, to the legitimate (and don’t come at me with this “Oh but they pay them!!” It’s like $0.30 an hour my man, it’s slave labor) slave labor that occurs in privately owned penitentiaries, there’s no shortage of extremely criminal and in my opinion, inhumane things going on within our justice system. Not to mention a massive amount of these people will NEVER be able to reintegrate into society after they’ve had to deal with the conditions in these prisons.

[@b00biejingles]

Its nasty work fr...btw in Texas prisons inmates dont get paid at all. Most if not all of the prisons around the country don't aim to rehabilitate its more to punish the inmates and thats if you even wanna consider it that. Depending on who you are it can get political and even a business enterprise. Alot of the staff dont get paid enough to live off of and even the ones that do can get more working with particular individuals. How else you think inmates get free world food and clothes and phones into those facilities? It all stems from capitalism...don't wanna make it sound like a bad thing because its not but at the same time I understand that it can be a corrupt force when abused.

[@stephenliamos1442]

The fact some of these are Publicly traded stock companies/conglomerates is WILD to me. As an accountant I can’t buy or own stocks on companies that we do audit engagement services on; I sure as shit hope law enforcement (and the politicians who pass our criminal laws) don’t personally invest or own any of these stocks but I’m not holding my breath.

[@discowolf25]

As someone who’s had their fair share of brush ups w the law all I gt say is racism is profitable. 19:17 those people don’t understand labor is a commodity and that’s insane. Edit- KZbin is giving warnings for comments now? What?? Welp…

[@AsterInDis]

My friend's sister is currently in jail, waiting on her trial. She's had a mental break and had been wandering the state for weeks. The jail didn't call her mom to let her know she was there. This is the third time she's gotten jailed since her mental break happened. The system has completely failed her.

[@CamJames]

doing way more harm than good every time i hear something new about the system

[@AsiaAlexBar]

I put off watching this one for a whole day because I knew I would be furious, but I knew I had to watch it. Excellent research and delivery on a difficult topic

[@CamJames]

Thank you for taking the time to watch 🥂

[@NihilistZealot]

Any person is still a human being and deserves to be treated with dignity. Work is work indeed. Slavery never went away, they just obscured the process and continued to exploit the labor of people in a way that was "legal" but highly immoral and unethical. Privatizing PUBLIC services is dangerous and ONLY leads to poorer outcomes for those utilizing the service. Hospitals, utilities, infrastructure, communication, prison systems, SCHOOLS. These services should NOT be operated for profit. That's NOT the appropriate motive, providing a public good is. Do these systems create a drain on the economy? YES, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE FOR THE PUBLIC AND BE FUNDED THROUGH TAXES.

[@mic_at_nite]

19:13 I think the split labor market theory is also important to consider here as well. If 2 people are doing the same work, and one is not getting paid for it or is being under-compensated... then it justifies the other guy not earn as much either since there is someone else who will do it for less. And, considering how disenfranchised you are upon release, if prisoners are gonna work then they need to be able save money for after release to provide them any semblance of a footing when they will have a hard time with housing, credit, transportation, employment, healthcare, etc. Especially when the state loves that good ole civil asset forfeiture which destroys the wealth these individuals have cultivated by whatever means (on top of potentially being evicted due to not paying rent or meeting mortgage payments, losing romantic partners and friends, losing your job if you had one before going to prison, etc etc). Great video as always! Glad you're drawing attention to these important topics. It's really nice when the creators I follow make the videos I would try to make if I were skilled enough and charismatic enough to be a creator. My heart is in sociology and academia though so I will be supporting from the sidelines lol.

[@CamJames]

We appreciate the support from afar! These are great points and I'm glad you brought them up.

[@AaronMDubya]

The production quality was always great, but im glad to see it climbing!! Early congrats on 100k subs

[@jirehguy]

One major point not brought up is that pathetic profit motive in prisons makes it against the corporations’ interest to have a smaller population and do anything to decrease recidivism.

[@CamJames]

kinda implied fam, you right though lol

[@carsonjamesiv2512]

"SLAVERY". That word will LIVE FOREVER!😮

[@MrMysterious420]

I worked in the weed industry from 2011 to about 2022 and I've seen the fuck shit that goes on. One thing that I learned that still isn't common knowledge is that in CO, some portion of the cannabis sales tax from dispensaries goes to directly fund the police. and in some spots the cannabis tax can be 30% - 35%

[@Anngrl69]

Wow, that’s the type of knowledge that would have my stoner ass consider moving states. Would have to quit the habit all together or move states so none of my money goes to the PD.

[@gavinburns2165]

That's something on which to do a video.

[@easyon12]

Good work as usual. As a young black teen and eventually adult man I heard from people around me how f'ed up the system was so I did everything possible to prevent myself from being caught up in the system (the police, courts and jail/prison). The information about that f'ed up life was and still is readily available. For the innocent person (people) who happen to get caught up in the system a la the Central Park 5, I sincerely feel for them. For the multiple offender, TOUGH, TOO Bad! For those who are or was stupid enough to believe in gangsta rap gangsta mentality and the gangsta thug way of living willingly exposing themselves to the known corrupt "justice" system, dumb doo doo (as children is fond of saying).

[@MegaJohnnycage]

America has privatized just about everything at this point, at least to some degree. I personally think the state should own most of the economy,, however private prisons gotta be the worst thing you can privatize, don't think many people would be advocating for this complete travesty.

[@b00biejingles]

They'll advocate for it if it puts money in their pockets.

[@EliteBlackSash]

“Factoring in cost of living” is exactly how they continued slavery after slavery was abolished. Many could not find work, so they would rent themselves out to their former plantations or others, for their labor. And then, said plantations, would charge them for the cost of… everything they used… effectively keeping them trapped in debt as a wage slave. Kind of like a record deal 🤔

[@charsiuwu8084]

Another absolute banger. You and your team remain some of the absolute best in the game.

[@CamJames]

thank you infinity. y'all's support is what makes it all possible!

[@Deathsight580]

You deserve all the views and subs. Commenting to help the algo!

[@kedate1979]

Tough but very informative. Excellent work. Had to be some rough research.

[@nathan.dunahoo]

Yo, I've been subbed for a minute and love what you've been doing. I'm a mid twenties white guy, and getting perspective into the lives & thoughts of other cultures is huge. I moved in with my partner months ago, and it was crazy seeing first-hand how her life is so different from mine, simply due to being a woman. I'm very aware being told a perspective is very different from experiencing it, yet learning from you with research built in has me talking about your videos all the time. The video on hair is constantly on my mind, crazy how deeply ingrained and money-focused so much is.

[@AcappellaTidbits]

Haven't watched it fully yet. But yes, they do.

[@computersciencestudentriverbat]

I'm so happy I stumbled on this channel. Really dig how how clear and concisely you offer a lot of information for people. I also really respect how you don't pull punches but you don't go over the top either. That restraint is noticed and appreciated.

[@CamJames]

thank you for noticing, these decisions are sometimes tough to make. glad you found us!

[@jamesy3851]

Aye! Thought I’d share: for a long time I never thought of the complexities of the prison system or the abhorrent injustices. It wasn’t until I was an intern with the US marshals and state parole that I started to see cracks in the facade. I’m looking forward to watching this video because I’m confident it’ll only grow my understanding in just how horrible this mechanism of oppression truly is.

[@gallen2101]

This should have Millions of Subs! Great Content Thanks again for shedding light on those without voices. We as a society will be considered Barbaric in the future

[@TokyoJuul8008]

Love the perscriptive policy suggestions. Its been wonderfulbto see your platform grow.

[@jermanijohnson.3481]

this was absolutely stunning work. I loved every second of it and was glued to my screen. I've been subscribed for a little while now but, this was definitely a favorite, thank you, James. I praise you and your team for pulling this off. The editing is great.

[@CamJames]

thank you! it's meant to be a new direction for us creatively so i edited it solo.

[@jdyn8691]

One of the most inspirational creators on the platform in a long time I’m glad I’ve come across this guy and have been given awareness on so much I learned a lot, mahalo from Hawaii thank you for what you do braddah

[@CamJames]

thank you for giving me a chance.

[@badger297]

Really looking forward to that next deep dive. Great stuff again Cam! Thank you! -a former inmate

[@WoeIsGie]

It needed to be publicized 🗣️. Thank you for your bravery

[@andrewali2748]

You’re becoming one of my favorite KZbin channels. Great video as always bro!

[@CamJames]

thank you sincerely for the feedback!

[@seand67]

Great episode Cam. VERY INFORMATIVE

[@CamJames]

thank you fam!

[@Lloyd_Jane]

Dude keep the videos coming.

[@CamJames]

trying my best!

[@Alreez15]

You’re awesome man, I’ve seen a few of your pieces and based off your subject matter alone you may be my favorite journalist for lack of a better word

[@CamJames]

thank you, for real. we're working hard to make a difference and the feedback helps!

[@Alreez15]

@@CamJames keep it up man, you’re In a league of your own. All blessings to you

[@indiabrazilsaudi]

this is beautifully edited and researched. thank you for the free content!!!

[@CamJames]

thank you for watching it! much love

[@jonathanschubert9052]

The majority of the Bill of Rights are the Rights of the Accused for a reason.

[@Riku_michael]

I love your content so much you need more views ima say it again YOU NEED MORE VIEWS please dont stop being creative

[@CamJames]

thank you for the love! it means a lot, these are hard work every time

[@polpocari]

Very educative video and topic as usual. Living in Europe i had no idea about any of this

[@vahagnkaurmajyan2811]

That uncle ruckus impression was on point lol

[@CamJames]

thank ya kindly, i just discovered i can do that

[@bullydungeon9631]

chills man, i don't understand how your opinions aren't just the norm, it hurts how horrible people will treat people

[@ghosttiger84]

Excellent video as well. Would love to see your research, content and production format in a positive light in celebrating the life of Virgil Abloh.

[@dfoster4001]

Important topic. Thanks for the deep dive. You doing voices now?? Feel better, sound like you had a cold recently. Stay up!

[@dtrell2897]

Great video bro

[@MarcusCq]

Just got on your videos last month. Love the work you’re doing

[@CamJames]

Thank you fam, welcome 🥂

[@Leahcimmichael]

Thanks for the great work Mr. James

[@samuelguerra4302]

I absolutely adore your channel. I am a masters student in criminal justice. All I'm gonna say is great job as always man.

[@CamJames]

thank you for supporting us, it's really appreciated!

[@grimloxx]

These intros bro 👌🏽💯

[@fortysevensfortysevens1744]

i don't tend to comment on serious videos but i think the topics you're touching on (throughout your videos, not just this one) deserve much more coverage - and you're doing a good thing by talking about them

[@CamJames]

thank you, for real. Not every video will be a hit but we're trying our best to add value to KZbin

[@stollidinero]

Famlayyyy good to see a new post from ya bred. High quality as always. Such a crucial topic rn. Bless. R Kelly of inmates fuuuuuuuuuuu settle down bruh 😂

[@gojosatoru__]

profiling .. where can i start! during a rush people used to avoid my register like a PLAGUEEE when i was in high school. now? whenever i work the rental counter at my current job people will ignore me no matter how much i speak to them. sometimes they’ll line up at my white coworkers and leave me standing there just shouting that i can help them :|

[@adifferentperspective8448]

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again prison is what I call modern slavery. smh 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@jevinday]

There were some facts in this one that were harder to listen to than others. It breaks my heart that the system takes advantage of people like that

[@UnknownVir]

Thanks for the community post again, YT will show me that but not your video 💜

[@cmanenarwhale]

seems like u have lived quite a fruitful life. ur so inspiring 🐐🐐🐐

[@ohheyitsnicol]

Yessir always a good day when cam uploads

[@banurobymusic]

great work as always

[@Thanoshadapoint]

I know it’s not exactly apart of the P.I.C., but the kind of power we give to the police,judges, etc(not in a voting way but a bootlicking way) needs to be studied. Literally just getting arrested/indicted is enough to be presumed guilty by public opinion and that gives so much societal leverage to people who already have plenty.

[@CamJames]

The police will get an episode, trust me.

[@VinnieGer]

This pissed me off a lot. Congrats!!! But I feel I’ve learned a lot and I’ll definitely share with my friends anytime misinformation or questions come up!!

[@CamJames]

all i could ever ask for. thank you!

[@jonnie6224]

My brother’s wrongly convicted in FL. He’s 12 years into a 35 year sentence.

[@TemperedWambat]

what is he accused of?

[@b00biejingles]

Better hit up the Innocence Project and have them look into the case

[@TinaMcCall.]

I recommend everyone read Necropolitics by Achille Mbembe to understand: it's not just THIS issue. It is the very nature and exercise of sovereignty and power under this totalitarian capitalist hellscape. It doesn't have to be this way, but we must use and create the tools to make the luxury gay solarpunk future of our dreams possible. May the next generations laud us!

[@link5688]

Its always an immediate click when i see that Cam has uploaded

[@CamJames]

and it's immediate gratitude over here

[@rewindcat7927]

Excellent as usual.

[@jirehguy]

I can’t tell exactly what you did different with the camera but I love it

[@Thisisjefftaylor]

When people ask me who the best KZbinr is, I say Cam James.

[@Pyramidiaankh]

First I opened my eyes to private prisons, orange is new black...aka..when Netflix was good

[@greggutube]

Good call out.

[@daddyteddy85]

Very very informative video

[@jonm1999]

Great vid!

[@ZaavanMusic]

The fact that they don’t even have to pay millions to influence congressional members is wild

[@breadpilled2587]

I'd love to see you do a video on the relationship between the IDF and our police system.

[@cmis5245]

Good stuff. In part two do convict leasing and the actual slavery in the fast food and industrial agriculture systems. Ref: Alabama prisoner lawsuit.

[@gunz.]

he finally covered it. we eating good this month, yall.

[@battlescorn]

Great segment that I hope motivates more to act by calling or contacting policy makers. This our tax dollars they are exploiting.

[@brocks1810]

Wish our government cared more about its people

[@b00biejingles]

Cared more? Lol its every citizen and immigrant for themselves out here.

[@skylarsaysstuff]

Love this video. Looking forward to the marijuana/imprisonment one!

[@SusanMcDermott-u1m]

Just found you today Cam, I'm loving it, thank you, plus the first time even began to explain anything about that 2025 bullshit. Thanks again.

[@keyvonsilva3297]

i like just watched "Life" It such a good film. and amazing messaging . great work Cam. always appreciate this.

[@CamJames]

amazing. i rewatched recently and it helped me make this. strong message and funny as hell

[@vonnydedragos9228]

You can tell a lot about the values of a country or society based on how they treat the most powerless people.

[@mathewhex7045]

Some dont deserve to be there and the ones that do probably would be good to treat better for everyone. I hope you touch on the economic problem of having people compete for jobs getting 1 dollar a day in the normal world

[@novalinnhe]

Yo Cam!! I'm about half way through the vid but wanted to ask - you used to live in the UK? That's so crazy, I'm from the UK too and had family members who moved out to the US when they were younger. I get mixed opinions on it when I ask people about their experience living out there! Do you ever find you miss the UK, or do you feel more at home in the US now? 🙂 I hope our little island treated you well while you were over here in any case!

[@archietech5495]

I did time in CT state prison.. my mom played a major role in getting the phone calls free

[@rattmcpossum]

preach it bro, i know there’s a connection between modern rap and the private prisons (how funny it is that uk drill is now the biggest genre, and oh wow! uk has private prisons)