I am not under that impression at all; private corporations profit greatly from government prisons. Private companies administer the phone systems, bail bonds, cafeteria / commissaries, etc. Since they profit from it they lobby hard for harsh sentencing laws, against marijuana legalization, etc. ensuring a steady supply of prisoners to feed the complex. They affect future prisoners even before they have been accused of a crime, supporting the campaigns of those they know will support tough prison sentences including judges, sheriffs etc.