Prisons, jobs and privatization: The impact of prisons on employment growth in rural US counties, 1997-2004

► These research findings challenge claims that prisons bring benefits to host communities. ► In states pursuing privatization, prisons are negatively related to employment growth. ► Privatization places downward pressure on staffing, pay and benefits for all prisons in the state. ► In states pursuing privatization, prisons are not helping and may be harming host communities.