In the book “Imagining Medea” Fraden states that she is unsure if the prison industrial complex advocates the normalization of people remaining prisoners even after they live the cell (p.131). This theory may even explain why many people continue the endless cycle of prison life, constantly in and out. Does the prison industrial complex breed people to become cheap labor for the rest of their lives instead of helping to rehabilitate these citizens back into society?
The prison industrial complex uses people in prison as cheap labor. They are able to provide them with benefits that they would not be able to support on the outside; i.e.: health care, drug rehabilitation, and some cases even a place to live. Thousand of small farm towns beg the government to build jails in there community just to bring more wealth to there town. One growing population that we are beginning to see more and more in prison is young women. Many are in prison for non-violent crimes, such as drug use, and victimless crimes, such as prostitution. Instead of helping these women get back on there feet and help them help themselves, their families, and their communities they are use in one of the most profitable markets as of right now, the prison system. The Madea Project, may help these women open their eyes to world that may have been shut from them, but until society begins to see these women as much more that prostitutes and junkies they will continue to roam of city streets as such.