Last year, I went to the American Correctional Association Conference for the first time. I decided to attend because it was in Chicago and also because I felt that it would be important to check out some of the vendors who were advertising at the conference.

When people balk at descriptions of our current carceral state as the “prison INDUSTRIAL complex,” I always suggest that they pay close attention to those sectors that profit most from our mass incarceration binge.

I have mentioned the fact that the ACA Conference offered a football field size expo with vendors that included food providers, security companies, clothing suppliers, bus companies, telecommunication firms which were exhibiting their wares. One of the most prominent companies that sells to prisons is Aramark. Most college students will recognize Aramark as one of the biggest providers of food services to campuses across the U.S. Below, you will find a very short (under two minute) promo created by Aramark which I have uploaded in order to illustrate the “INDUSTRIAL” aspect of the PIC.

The PIC In Action on Vimeo.