People do often overestimate how many prisoners are in privately-run prisons, but at the same time, if the US suddenly had 10% fewer prisoners, those privately-run prisons would likely be the first to go.
As far as lobbying, the other 92% of prisoners are guarded by very powerful public sector unions, whose incentives are the same.
As far as lobbying, the other 92% of prisoners are guarded by very powerful public sector unions, whose incentives are the same.