The Economic Impact of Rural Prisons

Abstract

Prison construction skyrocketed in the 1980s and was seen by some as a way to boost the local economy of the area that the prison was constructed in. This was done predominately in struggling, rural areas and was thought to be a possible way to bring jobs into an area, have people move in, and support the overall financial system of the municipality. So several decades since the prison boom, one asks, what was the effect? After a diligent investigation, I argue that prisons - over an extended period of time - do not support industry and growth in rural areas. This project observes the history of the prison boom, the history of rural exodus and economic decline, recent literature and data on the economic effects of rural prisons and a case study including interviews from a rural town affected by a prison being constructed.