Summary:
In this episode of [F]law School, hosts Gauri Sood and Haley Florsheim explore the chilling reality of publicly traded private prisons with third-year law student Jheri’ Richards. Together, they reveal how corporations like GeoGroup profit from mass incarceration, relying on government contracts and the stock market to drive their growth. Drawing haunting parallels between private prisons and historical slave auctions, Jheri’ exposes how GeoGroup commodifies human lives. From shell companies and lobbying to the widespread involvement of everyday investors, this episode uncovers how law enables diabolical systems.
Editors:
Very special thanks to Nolan Mascarenhas for production and editing assistance.
Guest Bio:
Jheri’ Richards (theflaw.org/flaw_authors/jheri-richards/) is a student at Harvard Law School in the Class of 2025. She is also a graduate of Yale University. Before law school, Jheri’ worked at Google in advertising technology. She is interested in criminal justice reform, democracy work, and family law.
Music:
Our theme music is "I Been Waiting" by Crystal Squad, and you'll also hear segments of "Palms Down" by Blue Dot Sessions.
[F]law Resources:
• Jheri’ Richards (theflaw.org/flaw_authors/jheri-richards/) . Publicly Traded Private Prisons (theflaw.org/?post_type=articles&p=4585&preview=true)
• Adriel Williams (theflaw.org/flaw_authors/adriel-williams/) , The Costs of Carceral Communications (theflaw.org/articles/the-costs-of-carceral-communications-how-a-prison-telecommunications-company-exploits-incarcerated-people-and-their-loved-ones/)
• Tuhin Chakraborty (theflaw.org/flaw_authors/tuhin-chakraborty-2/) , When Healthcare Doesn’t Care (theflaw.org/articles/when-healthcare-doesnt-care/)
• Ennely Medina (theflaw.org/flaw_authors/ennely-medina/) , Bed Mandates and Corporate Profits (theflaw.org/articles/bed-mandates-and-corporate-profits/)
• Connie Cheng (theflaw.org/flaw_authors/connie-cheng/) , From Walls to Shackles (theflaw.org/articles/from-walls-to-shackles-the-big-business-of-electronically-monitoring-immigrants/)
• Austin Nielsen-Reagan (theflaw.org/flaw_authors/358/) , The Profitability of Inhumanity (theflaw.org/articles/the-profitability-of-inhumanity/)
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