Prison-Industrial Complex: how do you-all define the concept?

[Unclebananahead]

I would like to get an idea of how people on here define the phenomenon of 'the prison-industrial complex,' particularly as it exists in the United States. I also have a few other questions, such as when did such a thing come into existence, how does it operate, who does it benefit, and so forth.

[Ostrinski]

Large scale (complex) run-for-profit (industrial) prisons (prison) as well as firms that manufacture products that are sold to these prisons (surveillance and food companies etc.). Basically the entire industrial process that goes into running a prison system on a profit basis.